Notable Currency Collectibles Available at Noonans, Including Rare Russo-Chinese Bank Note From 1903

The Russo-Chinese Bank was founded in 1896 to oversee the loans intended to back China’s indemnity to Japan following the First Sino-Japanese War. The bank would eventually become the second largest in China with headquarters in St. Petersburg and branches in China, East Asia, Calcutta, San Francisco, Paris and London. The bank also issued legal tender at the time, including a $5 note such as the example issued in September, 1903, on offer in the Banknotes auction from Noonans. Very few examples of this note are known to exist, and Noonans has been unable to find records of its sale in decades.

Other rare items in the auction include a National Bank Limited £3 note, a Banque de l’Indochine 100 Piastres note, a United Arab Emirates Currency Board 1000 Dirhams note from 1973, and more. With over 1,204 lots in the auction, there are many nations and periods represented, such as a Bank of Ireland color trial from 1978, a Government of Ceylon 100 Rupees note from 1945, and an Imperial Bank of Persia 1 Toman note from 1930. View any of these lots and register to bid on Noonans.