Rare Australian Banknotes and Other Collectables

July 23, 2023 12:00 PM AEST
Timed Auction

449 Lots

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Smalls Auctions

Location: Sydney, Australia

Phone: +61 (0)2 9357 5492

Payment

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  • Accepts online payments
Accepted Forms of Payment: American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Other, Paypal, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

AUSTRALIA :

Purchases within Australia will be charged a MINIMUM SHIPPING FEE of $10.00 and will be sent by Registered Post.

Additional insurance is optional at the buyer's expense.

Larger lots may incur an additional charge.

OVERSEAS :

Overseas purchases will be charged a MINIMUM SHIPPING FEE of $35.00 and will be sent by standard International Post.

Additional insurance is optional at the buyer's expense

Larger lots may incur an additional charge.

If we are unsure of the bona fides of a successful bidder we may request identification such as a Passport Photo or Drivers's Licence that matches the Credit Card details registered with Invaluable before we despatch an item.

Both Australian and International packages are traceable in transit and may require a signature on delivery.

Welcome to Smalls Auctions Sale 226. The highlight of the Sale is a signed South Australian Banking Company £1 in good Fine condition dated 18th November 1862. The South Australian Banking Company started out as department of the South Australian Company which brought free settlers to Australia to establish the Colony but it was not until the Bank separated from the Company that it was finally granted a Royal Charter in 1847. The London office adopted the official name of the South Australian Banking Company under which the Charter was granted while the Adelaide office chose to continue with the colloquial title of the Bank of South Australia and banknotes were issued with both titles. The South Australian Banking Company £1 on offer is the only known signed and issued note bearing this title and is exceedingly rare. Another item of intertest is the $10 forgery on offer which is emblematic of the duality of the Australia that evolved from a penal colony. While the Australian population was being inundated with information about a new Decimal Currency to be introduced on the 14th of February 1966 the criminal classes were also taking instruction on a rare opportunity to dupe their fellow citizens. The characteristics and security features of the new notes were being heavily publicised in advance to inform the public and so nothing could have been more galling for H.C. ‘Nugget’ Coombs, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, than to see his signature appearing on passable counterfeits of the decimal banknotes that had only just been released. The seriousness of the situation was conveyed in a quickly organised circular that offered a $10,000 reward “for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the persons responsible.” It listed examples of the serial numbers of spurious notes that had been picked up in circulation asking the public to memorise the Prefix “letters SA and SB followed by E,N,V or Z with a list of numbers that followed. The $10 note in our sale ‘SBE 178414’ appears prominently on the circular and is thought to be one of only two examples that were not retrieved by the Reserve Bank. The circular is also a rarity, listing in detail what to look out for when handling the new notes directing that “if you detect a counterfeit note inform the Police immediately.” It goes on to explain that “if you cannot see a distinct vertical metallic thread when the note is held to the light, the note is counterfeit. If there appears to be a metallic thread, check for other faults (such as) * Waxy smooth feel * Imitation watermark – on front only * Irregular edge on “Times Bakery” * Course vertical patterns of blue and white wavy line on back.” It is not often that a fake is worth far more than an original, but this rare example of the counterfeiter’s craft is one such example. These are but two highlights in a bumper sale of 450 diverse collectables which should cater for most tastes. We hope you enjoy the items on offer. Smalls Auctions.
Buyer's Premium
$0-99: 20.0%
$100-499: 20.0%
$500-999: 20.0%
$1,000-4,999: 20.0%
$5,000+: 20.0%
Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
A$0 A$249 A$5
A$250 A$999 A$10
A$1,000 A$4,999 A$25
A$5,000 A$9,999 A$50
A$10,000 + A$100

Conditions of Sale

VAT and taxes: The Buyer's Premium is inclusive of the Australian G(oods) & S(ervices T(ax) incurred by our service.

Shipping Terms: AUSTRALIA :

Purchases within Australia will be charged a MINIMUM SHIPPING FEE of $10.00 and will be sent by Registered Post.

Additional insurance is optional at the buyer's expense.

Larger lots may incur an additional charge.

OVERSEAS :

Overseas purchases will be charged a MINIMUM SHIPPING FEE of $35.00 and will be sent by standard International Post.

Additional insurance is optional at the buyer's expense

Larger lots may incur an additional charge.

If we are unsure of the bona fides of a successful bidder we may request identification such as a Passport Photo or Drivers's Licence that matches the Credit Card details registered with Invaluable before we despatch an item.

Both Australian and International packages are traceable in transit and may require a signature on delivery.

Buyers Premium: All purchases are subject to an all inclusive 20.0 % Buyer's Premium on the hammer price.

Tax Details: Taxes, Duties and Customs Charges that apply in the country of delivery are the express responsibility of the buyer.

Please notify us if you require a specific description on the outside of the package for customs purposes.