PMG-certified Venezuela Note Realizes Over $80,000 in Stack’s Bowers Sale

Rarities from Venezuela and Ethiopia were the top lots among over 750 world banknotes that are certified by Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) in a recent Stack’s Bowers auction. The premier paper money sessions of the auction house's January 2023 NYINC Auction were held on January 14 (Session C) and January 15, 2023 (Session G).

Realizing $84,000, the top note in the auction was a Venezuela, Banco Nacional 1841 5 Pesos graded PMG 12 Fine (lot 30158) that realized $84,000 — many times its pre-auction estimate of $1,000 to $2,000. This uniface note is the only issued example of this catalog number in the PMG Population Report and is pedigreed as the plate note for "Billetes de Venezela."

Venezuela, Banco Nacional 1841 5 Pesos graded PMG 12 Fine. Realized: $84,000 Click images to enlarge.

Another top highlight of the auction was an Ethiopia, Bank of Ethiopia 1932-33 500 Thalers graded PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ, which realized of $43,200. This is the sole-finest graded among the 25 examples in the PMG Population Report of this high-denomination note. It was issued shortly before the Italian occupation began in 1935.

Ethiopia, Bank of Ethiopia 1932-33 500 Thalers graded PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ. Realized: $43,200 Click images to enlarge.

Other PMG-certified highlights in the sale included:

• a Venezuela, Banco de Maracaibo 1917 400 Bolivares graded PMG 20 Very Fine (lot 30138) that realized $36,000
• a Colombia, Banco de Panama ND (ca. 1869) 20 Pesos graded PMG 30 Very Fine (lot 30269) that realized $28,800
• a Panama 1941 20 Balboas graded PMG 25 Very Fine (lot 30283) that realized $26,400
• a Venezuela, Banco de Maracaibo 1925-33 20 Bolivares graded PMG 30 Very Fine EPQ (lot 30145) that realized $26,400
• a Panama 1941 20 Balboas Specimen graded PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ (lot 30279) that realized $24,000
• a Venezula, Banco de Maracaibo 1917 40 Bolivares graded PMG 20 Very Fine (lot 30130) that realized $20,400
• a Ukraine / German Occupation World War II 1941 5 Chervontsiv graded PMG 50 About Uncirculated (lot 31252) that realized $19,200

Prices realized include buyer's premium.