Catalogue
Ten Shillings, Miller/Collins (1923), issued Specimen note, with numbers A/15 614418, serial number in black and signatures in brown, watermarked basketweave pattern around edges '10/-' '10/-' above 'Commonwealth' below 'of Australia'. The note is perforated with the word 'Cancelled' (153 mm long) an upset cancellation, with 22mm high letters, two holes 9mm in diameter to left of the note and with 1mm black diagonal lines on both sides of the note, (R.4, Vort-Ronald 4, McDonald 11). Crisp, nearly uncirculated and of the utmost rarity, the only specimen note of this type ever offered at auction.
Estimate $17,500
SOLD $27,000
One pound, Miller/Collins (1923), issued Specimen note, with numbers H/36 823016, serial number in black and signatures in green, watermarked basketweave pattern around edges '£1' '£1' above 'Commonwealth' below 'of Australia'. The note is perforated with the word 'Cancelled' (153 mm long) an upset cancellation, with 22mm high letters, two holes 9mm in diameter to left of the note and with 1mm black diagonal lines on both sides of the note, (R.23a, Vort-Ronald 20c, McDonald 36). Crisp, nearly uncirculated and of the utmost rarity, the only specimen note of this type ever offered at auction.
Estimate $17,500
SOLD $30,200
Five pounds, Kell/Collins (1925), issued Specimen note, with numbers Q/2 783817, serial number and signatures in black, watermarked basketweave pattern around edges '£5' '£5' above 'Commonwealth' below 'of Australia'. The note is perforated with the word 'Cancelled' (153 mm long) an upset cancellation, with 22mm high letters, two holes 9mm in diameter to left of the note and with 1mm black diagonal lines on both sides of the note, (R.38a, Vort-Ronald 34a, McDonald 58). Crisp, nearly uncirculated and of the utmost rarity, the only specimen note of this type ever offered at auction.
Estimate $20,000
SOLD $37,000
Ten pounds, Kell/Collins (1925), issued Specimen note, with numbers U/1 000218, serial number and signatures in black, watermarked basketweave pattern around edges '£10' '£10' above 'Commonwealth' below 'of Australia'. The note is perforated with the word 'Cancelled' (153 mm long) an upset cancellation, with 22mm high letters, two holes 9mm in diameter to left of the note and with 1mm black diagonal lines on both sides of the note, (R.54, Vort-Ronald 46 [Fig.68 illustrated U/1 000211 without diagonal black lines], McDonald 77b). Crisp, nearly uncirculated and of the utmost rarity, the only specimen note of this type ever offered at auction.
Estimate $30,000
SOLD $48,000
One Thousand pounds, Kell/Collins (1924), issued Specimen note, with numbers 2A 58383, 2A prefix in blue, serial number in black, black signatures, inverted watermarked of three rows of multiple crown over A, 142 x 223 mm, The front has its main print, intaglio and lithograph. In the centre of the note in black intaglio with cursive script except for 'One Thousand Pounds' which is in old English style is the reading: 'Australian Note. The Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia promises to pay the Bearer One Thousand Pounds in gold coin on demand at the Commonwealth Treasury at the seat of government'. Light blue lithograph medallions around the borders. The Australian Coat-of-Arms appears at the bottom centre and 1000 within four medallions appears in each corner. There is no imprint appearing on this note. The background print in letterpress has in large orange bordered letters 'ONE THOUSAND POUNDS'. The back in black intaglio has as its main feature a large flock of sheep within an ornamental surround with large 1000 at each side, and 'one Thousand Pounds' in block letters at the bottom in the centre. The background colours feature letterpress tints in pale lime, salmon, pale lime rainbowed vertically. On both back and front appear blue centering lines projecting from the edge 8 - 13mm. The note is perforated with the word 'Cancelled' (122 mm long) twice with each cancellation 35-53mm (18mm high letters) from the bottom edge of the note on the front and from the top edge of the note from the back. In addition the note has four cancellation holes 13mm in diameter near the 1000 numbered medallions. (R.70b, Vort-Ronald 62, McDonald 99). Slight thinning on back near edge from gum attached at an earlier time, with centre longitudinal fold, three vertical folds, otherwise good very fine and of the utmost rarity, the only circulated one thousand pound note ever offered at auction.
Estimate $90,000
SOLD $86,000
Fifty pounds, Coombs/Wilson (c.1956), Specimen with number 000000, grey black border with lilac and green backgrounds/olive green; uncertain watermark, front states 'Commonwealth of Australia Legal Tender in the Commonwealth and in all Territories Under the Control of the Commonwealth Fifty Pounds', in the frame around 'Australian Note' above and 'Fifty Pounds' below, the main statement of denomination 'Fifty Pounds' is written across in a tablet under the portrait of Sir Henry Parkes, the arms of Australia to left in the watermark tablets, and the denomination £50 placed in each corner; back reads on frame above 'Commonwealth of Australia' and below Fifty Pounds, the denomination £50 placed on corners, the design represents Architecture and Art, with a allegorical figure holding a temple on the left and another figure with canvas frame and pallette with brushes on right, (R.-, Mc.TBA [p.203]). Has been mounted on the left edge with glue on the back, has also had minor retouching by hand probably by the artist on top left area and with four small circular spots two on the upper right and two lower right edge areas, otherwise nearly uncirculated and the only example known in private hands.
Estimate $100,000
SOLD $0