A 50 fils Government of Iraq banknote from 1944 sold for £45,600 at Spink's World Banknotes auction on 2nd October 2013. The specimen banknote show a portrait of King Faissall II as a child to the left and perforated "specimen" at the bottom. The specimen made for a particularly suspenseful atmosphere, ultimately selling at almost ten times its estimated value, a record for the sale.
Lot 839: 1944, Government of Iraq, specimen 50 fils
Government of Iraq, specimen 50 fils, law of 1931 (1944), serial number (on reverse) A000001,654321,E000000-E1000000, olive green pink and pale blue, King Faisal II as a child at left, value at right. (Pick A22s), ink date '8.2.44' in top margin, perforated SPECIMEN, good extremely fine and the 'missing' note from most (all?) collections, exceptional.
Sold for £45,600
Spink's World Banknotes auction is the biggest and most diverse world note sale in recent history and featured some truly remarkable items. The sale included fantastic collections of Egypt, India and South Africa, the Alan Cole collection of Romania, and the extensive John Glynn collection of World Notes. Many of the notes sold for many thousands above estimate, including the following eye-catching highlights:
,+serial+number+A+008389.jpg "100 dinars Government of Iraq 1936")
Lot 837; 100 dinars Government of Iraq 1936
Government of Iraq, 100 dinars, law of 1931 (1936), serial number A 008389, blue, pale green and multicoloured, King Ghazi at right, value at each corner, signature 5, Leopold Amery and Ali Jawadat al Ayubi signature low left, reverse blue and white, value at centre. (Pick 12, GOI B12a), small split at centre margin otherwise an original very fine, very rare
Sold for £12,000,+no+serial+numbers.jpg "1900 Sarawak Government issue, unissued $25")
Lot 1419: 1900, Sarawak Government issue, unissued $25
Sarawak Government issue, unissued $25, 19- (ca 1900), no serial numbers, black and white, value in maroon protector at centre, Charles Johnson Brooke top left, allegorical maiden with symbols of trade and prosperity top centre, arms top right, value at each corner, printed signature of Charles Brooke,Rajah low left margin, Jawi translation of the denomination low right in margin. (Tan K4 for type, Goon p.149-151 for series, the $25 not listed in the collection), a lovely Perkins, Bacon & Co. engraving. Red CANCELLED overprint low left and right, an original and most attracive good very fine and of the greatest rarity.
Sold for £31,200.jpg "1885, The New Oriental Bank Corporation Limited, specimen $1")
Lot 1449: 1885, The New Oriental Bank Corporation Limited, specimen $1
The New Oriental Bank Corporation Limited, specimen $1, Singapore, 18- (ca 1885), serial number A 100001, black and pink, head of Minerva at right, eagle and serpent at left (the arms of Mexico), value at centre and at each corner, reverse red and white central design of man with parasol and horse. (Pick S181, Tan NOB1), pencil date 'Oct 5-85', perforated SPECIMEN B.W.&Co.LONDON, uncirculated and extremely rare.
Sold for £31,200
The sale was highly popular among a wide range of bidders in Spink busy London Auction Room, on the phone and on Spink Live.
On April 2013, a rare 1929 Palestine £100 specimen banknote sold for £65,000 in Spink's World Banknotes auction in UK: Rare 1929 Palestine £100 note sold £65,000.
