Spink Sale Offers Incredible Group of Rare PMG-certified Zanzibar Notes

Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) has certified an incredible group of all seven denominations of the Zanzibar rupee that were issued in the early 20th century. The notes are being offered in Spink's World Banknotes at NYINC sale, being held January 14, 2022. Bidding is already underway.

An island region off the east coast of Africa that is part of modern-day Tanzania, Zanzibar was a protectorate of Great Britain in the early 1900s. The Zanzibar Rupee was its currency from 1908 until 1935, and banknotes were issued in seven denominations. Today, these banknotes, which share a common design, are rare.

The Spink sale includes an example of each Zanzibar / British Administration rupee denomination:

• a 1920 500 Rupees graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine (lot 314) with an estimate of $100,000 to $200,000
• a 1908-16 100 Rupees graded PMG 45 Choice Extremely Fine (lot 315) with an estimate of $70,000 to $120,000
• a 1908-16 50 Rupees graded PMG 15 Choice Fine (lot 316) with an estimate of $70,000 to $120,000
• a 1908-28 20 Rupees graded PMG 30 Very Fine (lot 317) with an estimate of $50,000 to $80,000
• a 1908-28 10 Rupees graded PMG 20 Very Fine (lot 318) with an estimate of $20,000 to $40,000
• a 1908-28 5 Rupees graded PMG 15 Choice Fine (lot 319) with an estimate of $15,000 to $25,000
• a 1920 1 Rupee graded PMG 15 Choice Fine (lot 320) with an estimate of $5,000 to $10,000

Zanzibar / British Administration 1920 500 Rupees graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine Click image to enlarge.

Zanzibar / British Administration 1908-16 100 Rupees graded PMG 45 Choice Extremely Fine Click image to enlarge.

Zanzibar / British Administration 1908-16 50 Rupees graded PMG 15 Choice Fine Click image to enlarge.

Zanzibar / British Administration 1908-28 20 Rupees graded PMG 30 Very Fine Click image to enlarge.

Zanzibar / British Administration 1908-28 10 Rupees graded PMG 20 Very Fine Click image to enlarge.

Zanzibar / British Administration 1908-28 5 Rupees graded PMG 15 Choice Fine Click image to enlarge.

Zanzibar / British Administration 1920 1 Rupee graded PMG 15 Choice Fine Click image to enlarge.

Other PMG-certified highlights in the sale include:

• a group of three Sarawak ND (1945) Printer's Designs (1, 5 and 10 Cents) and three Sarawak ND (1945) Front Archival Photographs (1, 5 and 10 Cents) graded PMG 55 About Uncirculated to PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ (lot 282) with an estimate of $60,000 to $90,000
• a Great Britain, Bank of England 1934-43 £500 - Liverpool graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated (lot 158) with an estimate of $13,000 to $18,000
• a Great Britain, Bank of England 1835-53 £5 - London graded PMG 15 Choice Fine NET (lot 108) with an estimate of $9,000 to $14,000
• an Iraq, Government of Iraq 1931 (ND 1941) 1/4 Dinar graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine (lot 202) with an estimate of $10,000 to $14,000
• a Great Britain, Bank of England ND (1928-29) 10/- Shillings and £1, both with Serial Number 21, graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated and PMG 62 Uncirculated (lot 132) with an estimate of $8,000 to $12,000
• a Great Britain, Bank of England 1925-29 £100 - Leeds graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine (lot 141) with an estimate of $8,000 to $12,000
• a Sarawak, Government of Sarawak 1919 1 Dollar graded PMG 15 Choice Fine (lot 280) with an estimate of $9,000 to $12,000

All estimates are provided by the auction house in US dollars.