Rare PMG-certified Banknote from the Philippines Featured in Spink China Sale

Hundreds of banknotes from Asia and elsewhere that have been certified by Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) are being offered in Spink’s Numismatic Collectors’ Series sale. Online bidding has already begun for the auction, which takes place in Hong Kong on November 5, 2021.

The top note in the auction is a rare 1904 5 Pesos — one of only two graded by PMG. Printed by Barclay and Fry of London for the Banco Español Filipino, this Philippines 1904 5 Pesos graded PMG 20 Very Fine (lot 6534) has an estimate of HK$220,000 to HK$350,000 (about $28,000 to $45,000 USD). These large 1904 notes, which were issued alongside smaller-sized American notes, were unpopular because of their bulk.

Philippines, Banco Español Filipino 1904 5 Pesos graded PMG 20 Very Fine

Another interesting note in the auction is a Hong Kong 50 Dollar Color Trial Specimen printed by the famous Waterlow & Sons of London for the Mercantile Bank of India. Very few of these Color Trial Specimens remain because they were generally mounted in presentation booklets that eventually were lost or destroyed. This China, Hong Kong ND (1912-30) 50 Dollars Color Trial Specimen graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated (lot 6296) has an estimate of HK$200,000 to HK$300,000 (about $26,000 to $39,000 USD).

China, Hong Kong ND (1912-30) 50 Dollars Color Trial Specimen graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated

Other PMG-certified notes featured in the auction include:

• a Malaysia, Bank Negara ND (1972-76) 1,000 Ringgit graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated (lot 6506) with an estimate of HK$160,000 to HK$240,000 (about $21,000 to $31,000 USD)
• a China 1950 50,000 Yuan graded PMG 20 Very Fine (lot 6109) with an estimate of HK$140,000 to HK$200,000 (about $18,000 to $26,000 USD)
• a Straits Settlements/British Administration 1898-1900 5 Dollars graded PMG 20 Very Fine (lot 6553) with an estimate of HK$170,000 to HK$200,000 (about $22,000 to $26,000 USD)
• a China, Hong Kong 2007 1,000 Dollars Replacement/Star Note with a Solid-6 Serial Number graded PMG 67 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ (lot 6408) with an estimate of HK$110,000 to HK$180,000 (about $14,000 to $23,000 USD)
• a China 1949 20 Yuan graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ (lot 6054) with an estimate of HK$100,000 to HK$150,000 (about $13,000 to $19,000 USD)
• a pair of China, Hong Kong ND (1941) 1 Cent Notes with Duplicate Serial Numbers each graded PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated (lot 6283) with an estimate of HK$90,000 to HK$120,000 (about $12,000 to $15,000 USD)
• a Sarawak, Government of Sarawak 1929 10 Dollars graded PMG 30 Very Fine (lot 6539) with an estimate of HK$80,000 to HK$120,000 (about $10,000 to $15,000 USD)
• a Straits Settlements/British Administration 1930 10 Dollars graded PMG 30 Very Fine (lot 6559) with an estimate of HK$80,000 to HK$120,000 (about $10,000 to $15,000 USD)
• a British North Borneo/British Administration 1902-26 5 Dollars graded PMG 25 Very Fine (lot 6444) with an estimate of HK$70,000 to HK$100,000 (about $9,000 to $13,000 USD)

All estimates provided by the auction house.