PMG-certified British North Borneo Note Leads Unique Signature Auction

A rare note from what is today Malaysia is among more than 250 banknotes certified by Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) that are featured in a Unique Signature Auction, which is focused on Malaysia and other east Asian nations. Bidding is already underway for the auction, which is being held on December 27, 2025.

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One of the top lots in the auction is a British North Borneo / British Administration 1905-29 25 Dollars graded PMG 20 Very Fine (lot 580479), with an estimate of RM30,000 to RM50,000 (about $7,400 to $12,300). British North Borneo, located in what today is the easternmost part of Malaysia, was a British protectorate from 1888 until it was ceded to a crown colony after World War II. This is the highest denomination from the protectorate era in the PMG Population Report, which lists a mere 33 issued examples of this catalog number.

Other PMG-certified highlights in the sale include:

• a pair of Straits Settlements / British Administration 1906 1 Dollar notes with consecutive serial numbers graded PMG About Uncirculated 50 and PMG About Uncirculated 55 (lot 580428), with an estimate of RM20,000 to RM40,000 (about $4,900 to $9,800)
• a Malaya / British Administration 1940 1 Dollar graded PMG 50 About Uncirculated (lot 580402), with an estimate of RM20,000 to RM30,000 (about $4,900 to $7,400)
• a British North Borneo / British Administration 1940-42 25 Dollars graded PMG 25 Very Fine (lot 580480), with an estimate of RM15,000 to RM20,000 (about $3,700 to $4,900)
• a British North Borneo / British Administration 1902-26 5 Dollars graded PMG 25 Very Fine (lot 580472), with an estimate of RM8,000 to RM12,000 (about $2,000 to $2,900)
• a British North Borneo / British Administration 1902-26 5 Dollars graded PMG 15 Choice Fine (lot 580471), with an estimate of RM6,000 to RM10,000 (about $1,500 to $2,500)
• a Straits Settlements / British Administration 1901-24 5 Dollars graded PMG 30 Very Fine (lot 580445), with an estimate of RM5,000 to RM8,000 (about $1,200 to $2,000)
• a British North Borneo / Nissan Estate ND (1942) 5 Dollars graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine (lot 580482), with an estimate of RM5,000 to RM7,000 (about $1,200 to $1,700)
• a British North Borneo / British Administration 1918-21 10 Dollars graded PMG 20 Very Fine (lot 580476), with an estimate of RM3,000 to RM5,000 (about $700 to $1,200)
• a Straits Settlements / British Administration 1906 1 Dollar graded PMG 30 Very Fine (lot 580427), with an estimate of RM2,000 to RM4,000 (about $500 to $1,000)

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