High-grade Qatar and Dubai Rarity Offered by Spink

Some of the greatest banknote rarities from the Middle East are among more than 300 collectibles certified by Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) that are being offered in an upcoming Spink sale. Bidding is already underway for the World Banknotes auction, scheduled for September 26, 2023.

The top lot in the auction is a Qatar & Dubai, Currency Board ND (1960s) 50 Riyals graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated (lot 321), with an estimate of £55,000 to £65,000 (about $68,000 to $81,000). Qatar and Dubai (which today is part of the United Arab Emirates) are located about 200 miles apart on the Persian Gulf. From 1966 to 1973, they shared a common currency called the Riyal; examples of the higher denominations are now scarce and particularly appealing to collectors. The PMG Population Report contains 39 issued examples of the 50 Riyals, only two of which are graded finer.

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Other PMG-certified highlights in the auction include:

• an Iraq, Government of Iraq 1932 1/4 Dinar graded PMG 25 Very Fine (lot 263), with an estimate of £12,000 to £18,000 (about $15,000 to $22,000)
• a Gibraltar / British Administration 1914 £1 = 1 Libra Specimen graded PMG 50 About Uncirculated (lot 102), with an estimate of £12,000 to £16,000 (about $15,000 to $20,000)
• a Guernsey / British Administration 1914-19 £1 graded PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated EPQ (lot 128), with an estimate of £11,000 to £16,000 (about $14,000 to $20,000)
• an Iraq, Central Bank 1987 / SH 1407 25 Dinars Front Printer's Model graded PMG Choice Uncirculated EPQ (lot 276), with an estimate of £9,500 to £12,500 (about $12,000 to $15,000)
• a Great Britain, Treasury Note ND (1914) £1 with Serial Number 2 graded PMG 62 Uncirculated (lot 122), with an estimate of £8,000 to £12,000 (about $10,000 to $15,000)
• an India / British Administration 1901-27 1,000 Rupees graded PMG 25 Very Fine NET (lot 226), with an estimate of £9,500 to £12,000 (about $12,000 to $15,000)
• an Iraq, Government of Iraq 1931 1/4 Dinar graded PMG 25 Very Fine (lot 262), with an estimate of £9,000 to £12,000 (about $11,000 to $15,000)
• an Iraq, Central Bank 1987 / SH1407 5 Dinars Front Printer's Model graded PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ (lot 274), with an estimate of £8,000 to £12,000 (about $10,000 to $15,000)
• an Iraq, Central Bank 1987 / SH1407 10 Dinars Front Printer's Model graded PMG 60 Uncirculated NET (lot 275), with an estimate of £8,000 to £12,000 (about $10,000 to $15,000)
• a Portuguese India 1938 20 Rupias Specimen graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated (lot 316), with an estimate of £8,000 to £12,000 (about $15,000 to $15,000)

All estimates are provided by the auction house. The $ symbol represents US Dollars.