7 most expensive banknotes in the world, and here's how much they cost
7 most expensive banknotes in the world, and here's how much they cost
When one new thing is being created each day, things of the past that are one of a kind, become invaluable. From jewels worn by kings and queens to coins and notes used in the early times, each object with a stamp of history on it is currently of high value with people being interested to find out how the societies of the past functioned. With the world having moved towards digital currencies, notes are something that we will sooner or later find in museums. However, what about those that are already being preserved by museums and collectors and have been bought for unthinkable prices at auctions? According to valuewalk.com, These are the 7 most expensive banknotes in the world:
Image credits: Canva
1890 Grand Watermelon $1,000 Bill, USA
The 1890 Grand Watermelon $1000 bill is a rare gem in American history. Named for its zeroes, which resemble watermelons, this bill was a part of a series issued between 1890 and 1893. The rare note was sold for a shocking price of $3.3 million in 2014 at the Heritage Auctions. Image credits: National Museum of American History
1891 Red Seal $1,000 Banknote, USA
With a depiction of Major General George Gordon Meade, the 1891 Red Seal $1,000 treasury note is a relic of the Civil War era. With only two more similar creations, this note was sold for $2.5M in 2014 by the Heritage Auctions.
Image credits: National Museum of American History
1882 $500 Gold Certificate, USA
This note holds a unique place in US monetary history, with it being the only Federal Reserve gold certificate of its denomination. It features a portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the face, which was engraved by Charles Burt from a photograph taken by Mathew A. Brady. The note was sold for $1.41 million in an auction in 2013.
1924 £1,000 Banknote, Australia
The 1924 £1,000 Banknote is one of the most expensive Australian banknotes ever sold. It came out in 1924 and was circulated only for a short time before the government limited it to internal money transfer between banks. It was purchased by Australia's The Rare Coin Company in 2008 for $1.2M.
1817 Modern 10 Shilling Banknote, Australia
On the first day of the Bank of New South Wales in 1817, a hundred 10 shilling notes were printed with the first bearing the serial number M000001. This note symbolized the dawn of modern Australian currency and was sold for $334,000 in Sydney in 2014.
Image credits: AAP
1908 20 Rupees Zanzibar Banknote
The 1908 20 Rupees Zanzibar banknote is the most expensive African banknote in the world with only a handful of similar ones left. It was sold for a surprising $225,000 at a public auction in 2011.
Image credits: Heritage Auctions, HA.com
1948 One Million Pound Banknote, UK
This £1 million banknote was released by the Bank of England in 1948 as part of the Marshall Plan in post-war UK. One of the total nine notes, it was sold for a modest $150,000 at an auction in 2011.
