An exceptionally rare £100 banknote from the Liverpool branch of the Bank of England, dating back to 1855, is set to go under the hammer later this month and is expected to fetch more than £20,000. This historic note is one of the key lots in an auction of British and Irish banknotes scheduled for June 26.
Notable Highlights of the Auction
In addition to the rare £100 note, the auction will feature other significant lots, including:
- Series of Notes from Liverpool (1882): A collection of £10 notes signed by the later disgraced Chief Cashier Frank May, estimated to fetch more than £15,000.
- £1,000 Note (1922): This high-value note is expected to sell for around £20,000.
- Early £10 Note (1789): Another rare piece dating from 1789, also estimated to fetch around £20,000.
Remarkable £100 Note from 1855
Andrew Pattison, head of the banknotes department at Noonans, the auction house hosting the sale, described the remarkable history and condition of the 1855 £100 note:
“This remarkable note is of the highest quality and is dated from January 26, 1855, making it almost 170 years old. It was signed by Matthew Marshall, who was Chief Cashier of the Bank of England between 1835 and 1864, and is one of the highest denominations he signed.
He further explained a unique feature of the note: “The note has been cut in half and then taped back together. This is because £100 was so much money (around £15,000 today) that the two halves of the note were posted separately for security and then put back together later on so the note could still be used.”
(Image: Noonans Mayfair)
Valuable Coin Collection
The auction also provides an interesting list of the top 10 most valuable 50p coins, according to the Royal Mint:
- Olympic Aquatics (2011)
- Kew Gardens (2009), 210,000 minted
- Olympic Wrestling (2011), 1,129,500 minted
- Olympic Football (2011), 1,161,500 minted
- Olympic Judo (2011), 1,161,500 minted
- Olympic Triathlon (2011), 1,163,500 minted
- Peter Rabbit (2018), 1,400,000 minted
- Flopsy Bunny (2018), 1,400,000 minted
- Olympic Tennis (2011), 1,454,000 minted
- Olympic Goalball (2011), 1,615,500 minted
Collectors and history enthusiasts alike are eagerly anticipating the upcoming auction, which promises to be a significant event in the world of numismatics.
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