New Zealand Banknotes - Reserve Bank Issues

Lot 2620    SESSION 8 (2.30pm Wednesday 22 July)    New Zealand Banknotes - Reserve Bank Issues

Estimate $15,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $13,000

G. WILSON (1955-56), one pound, number over letter, 0/K 227687 (Robb.R.225; L.620; P.169b). Creases and folds, an original note free of any major problems, still with good body, nearly very fine and very rare.

Less than 10 notes known to exist of this rare prefix variety, the last one having been sold by Noble Numismatics in July 2007 for $21,000 hammer (Sale 85, lot 3919). The example now being offered is new to the market and has been in the hands of the current owner for over 50 years, having been found by him whilst working as a bank teller in Auckland in the 1950's. Robb states that the prefix was issued in error and that the correct prefix should have been K/0 (letter over number). He estimates that approximately 300,000 were printed around 1955. Robb also notes that the prefix run is "the end of a sub type, as well as the mintage figure, has created the rarest Reserve Bank note. In 1998 only 7 notes were known".