PMG Grades Highlights from the Lou Manzi Collection of United Kingdom Notes

Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) has certified over 280 selections from the Lou Manzi Collection of United Kingdom Notes. The amazing group includes numerous rarities from the United Kingdom, many of them iconic “White Notes” from the Bank of England.

Over more than three decades, Lou Manzi assembled what is likely the finest and most important collection of top-quality British currency outside of a museum.

PMG certified highlights from the collection at its recent London on-site grading events, which were held at the office of NGC International UK Limited (NGC UK), the London-based affiliate of PMG. NGC UK hosts PMG on-site grading events periodically in London; the next is this summer.

About half of the PMG-certified selections from the Manzi Collection are being offered as part of a larger May 9 auction by Spink, a global auction house founded in London in 1666. Spink will feature the remainder in another sale later this year. Images of these extraordinary notes can be viewed in a gallery at PMGnotes.uk/manzi.

1902-18 Great Britain £100 – Portsmouth Specimen, graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated EPQ. Click image to enlarge.

Among the PMG-certified highlights is a 1902-18 Great Britain £100 – Portsmouth Specimen, graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated EPQ. Spink estimates this extremely rare note will sell for £35,000 to £45,000 (about $45,000 to $58,000 USD).

“These notes, some of which are more than two centuries old, offer amazing insight into the history of the Bank of England,” said Spink’s Director of Banknotes, Barnaby Faull. “We are delighted that PMG was able to grade them on-site in London.”

“We are honored that Spink has entrusted PMG to certify some of the greatest British banknote rarities,” said Steven R. Eichenbaum, CEO of PMG. “Collectors can bid with confidence knowing that all of these notes are backed by the comprehensive PMG Guarantee of authenticity and grade.”

Most of the Manzi notes in the first Spink auction are PMG-certified, including the top 10 lots. In addition to the Portsmouth note, the other top lots are:

• an 1829-35 £100 - Manchester, graded PMG 20 Very Fine NET. Estimate: £35,000 to £45,000 (about $45,000 to $58,000 USD)
• a 1925-29 £1000 - London, graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine. Estimate: £25,000 to £30,000 (about $30,000 to $39,000 USD)
• a 1934-43 £1000 - London, graded PMG 50 About Uncirculated. Estimate: £18,000 to £22,000 (about $23,000 to $28,000 USD)
• a 1835-53 £10 - London, graded PMG 25 Very Fine. Estimate: £14,000 to £18,000 (about $18,000 to $23,000 USD)
• a 1925-29 £50 - London Specimen, graded PMG 45 Choice Extremely Fine. Estimate: £12,000 to £16,000 (about $15,000 to $21,000 USD)
• a 1955-56 £5 - London, Serial Number 1, graded PMG About Uncirculated 55 EPQ. Estimate: £12,000 to £15,000 (about $15,000 to $19,000 USD)
• an undated (1914) 10/- Shillings Treasury Note, Serial Number 1, graded PMG 53 About Uncirculated. Estimate: £10,000 to £15,000 (about $13,000 to $19,000 USD)
• a lot consisting of an undated (1928-29) 10/- Shillings and a £1, both with Serial Number A01 000087, graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ and PMG 67 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ★, respectively. Estimate: £10,000 to £15,000 (about $13,000 to $19,000 USD)
• an undated (1924) £1 Printer's Design, graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated EPQ. Estimate: £10,000 to £14,000 (about $13,000 to $18,000 USD)

PMG has also certified highlights from several other significant collections during its recent London on-site grading events. Among these are notes from the Ibrahim Salem Collection of British Commonwealth Banknotes – Part I and the Michel Muszynski Collection of Sub-Saharan African Notes, which were sold by Spink in April. Image galleries can be viewed at PMGnotes.uk/salem and PMGnotes.uk/africa.

For more information about NGC UK and PMG services in the UK, visit PMGnotes.uk.

For more information about Spink and to bid in this and other upcoming auctions, visit Spink.com.