New Zealand

Lot 3851    Session 14 (4.30pm Thursday)    New Zealand

Estimate $16,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

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

Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 91 (lot 2620).

Only around 10 notes are known to exist of this rare prefix variety, another example was sold by Noble Numismatics in July 2007 for $21,000 hammer (Sale 85, lot 3919). The example now being offered, was prior to our Sale 91, in the hands of the owner for over 50 years, having been found by him whilst working as a bank teller in Auckland in the 1950s.

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'.