Rare Colorful Dragon Note Graded by PMG Leads Stack's Bowers Sale

More than 800 Chinese and other world banknotes certified by Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) are being offered in an ongoing Stack’s Bowers Galleries sale. Online bidding is already underway for the October 2024 Hong Kong (SAR) Auction, which includes Session A and Session B, set to end on October 18 and 19, respectively.

Highlighting the auction is a China, Shensi Official Currency Bureau 1911-12 1 Tael graded PMG 30 Very Fine (Session A, lot 30387), with an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000. Also known as the “Five Color Dragon Note,” this iconic Tael — originally a Remainder note from the Qing era — was repurposed by the Shensi Official Currency Bureau after the revolutionaries took over the provincial capital of Xi’an in 1911. Because the note was repurposed, there are various black overprints and red handstamps across it. It is estimated that fewer than 20 of the Five Color Dragon Notes still exist today, according to the auction house.

Click images to enlarge.

Other highlights in the auction include:

• a Hong Kong 1912-30 50 Dollars Specimen graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ (Session B, lot 31160), with an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000
• a Japan, Bank of Japan ND (1927) 50 Yen Specimen graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ (Session B, lot 31311), with an estimate of $50,000 to $80,000
• a Hong Kong 1923-29 50 Dollars Specimen graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated (Session B, lot 31003), with an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000
• a Netherlands Indies, Javasche Bank 1938-39 1000 Gulden graded PMG 25 Very Fine (Session B, lot 31405), with an estimate of $35,000 to $50,000
• a Kiau Chau, Deutsch-Asiatische Bank 1907 25 Dollars graded PMG 20 Very Fine (Session A, lot 30250), with an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000
• a Hong Kong, Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp. 1884-89 5 Dollars graded PMG 12 Fine (Session B, lot 31043), with an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000
• a Hong Kong 1915 500 Dolars Specimen graded PMG 62 Uncirculated (Session B, lot 31047), with an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000
• a China, Hupeh Government Mint 1889 $1 = 7 Mace 2 Candareens graded PMG 40 Very Fine (Session A, lot 30353), with an estimate of $10,000 to $15,000

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