PMG-certified World Banknotes Highlight April CGB.fr Auction

Nearly 200 world banknotes certified by Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) are part of an upcoming CGB.fr auction, including many from places with historic ties to France. Bidding is already underway for the sale, which concludes on April 6, 2021.

PMG-certified notes from Africa

The PMG-certified note with the highest estimate is a rare Upper Senegal and Niger / French Administration 1917 0.50 Franc graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated NET (lot 4450013), with an estimate of €5,500 (about $6,500 USD). Upper Senegal and Niger was a French colony established in 1904 before becoming French Sudan in 1920. According to the PMG Population Report, only six of these notes have been certified by PMG.

Upper Senegal & Niger / French Administration 1917 0.50 Franc graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated NET Click image to enlarge

Another fascinating offering is a West African States / Mauritania 1959 1,000 Francs graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated EPQ (lot 4450149), with an estimate of €3,800 (about $4,500). Mauritania was a French colony from 1904 until it gained independence in 1960. This is the only note of its kind graded by PMG’s experts.

Other PMG-certified highlights from Africa include:

• a Reunion, Institut d’Emission ND (1960) 5,000 Francs graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated EPQ (lot 4450516), with an estimate of €2,500 (about $2,900)
• a West African States / Mauritania 1965 1,000 Francs graded PMG 40 Extremely Fine EPQ (lot 4450151), with an estimate of €2,200 (about $2,600)
• a West African States / Mauritania ND (1961-65) 1,000 Francs graded PMG 45 Choice Extremely Fine EPQ (lot 4450153), with an estimate of €2,200 (about $2,600)
• a Gabon, Banque Des États De L’Afrique Centrale ND (1974-78) 5,000 Francs graded PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ (lot 4450363), with an estimate of €2,200 (about $2,600)

PMG-certified notes from North America

Another compelling highlight in the sale is a Saint Pierre & Miquelon ND (1961) 100 Nouveaux Francs on 5,000 Francs Specimen graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated EPQ (lot 4450553), with an estimate of €1,900 (about $2,200).

Saint Pierre & Miquelon ND (1961) 100 Nouveaux Francs on 5,000 Francs graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated EPQ Click image to enlarge

The archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a self-governing territory of France. The islands are south of the Canadian Island Newfoundland and are the last French territory in North America outside of the Caribbean. Five PMG-certified Saint Pierre and Miquelon notes are available in the auction.

Other PMG-certified highlights from North America include:

• a Georgia Colonial September 10, 1777 $2 Note graded PMG 40 Extremely Fine (lot 4450177), with an estimate of €2,500 (about $2,900)
• a Georgia Colonial September 10, 1777 $4 Note graded PMG 55 About Uncirculated (lot 4450178), with an estimate of €2,500 (about $2,900)
• a Georgia Colonial 1776 $4 Note with Liberty Cap graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine (lot 4450176), with an estimate of €1,600 (about $1,900)
• a South Carolina Colonial April 10, 1778 15 Shillings Note graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine (lot 4450181), with an estimate of €1,000 (about $1,200)

PMG-certified notes from Europe

The auction’s selection of European notes includes a Northern Ireland Ulster Bank Ltd. 1982 50 Pounds graded PMG 68 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ (lot 4450415), with an estimate of €400 (about $470). Founded in 1836, Ulster Bank was one of the first local banks in Northern Ireland and issued its own currency from the very beginning. This particular example is tied with one other as the highest-graded in the PMG Population Report.

Northern Ireland, Ulster Bank Ltd. 1982 50 Pounds graded PMG 68 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ Click image to enlarge

Other PMG-certified highlights from Europe include:

• a Slovakia / Republic 1931 (ND 1939) 100 Korun graded PMG 50 About Uncirculated (lot 4450557), with an estimate of €1,200 (about $1,400)
• a France, Banque de France 1959 5 Nouveaux Francs on 500 Francs graded PMG 55 About Uncirculated (lot 4450304), with an estimate €900 (about $1,000)
• an Ireland - Eire, Currency Commission 1938-40 10 Pounds graded PMG 50 About Uncirculated (lot 4450409), with an estimate of €900 (about $1,000)

PMG-certified notes from Asia

Also among the highlights is a Macau, Banco Nacional Ultramarino 1958 25 Patacas graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated EPQ (lot 4450452), with an estimate of €1,200 (about $1,400). The Macanese Pataca became the official currency of Macau in 1901, but it wasn’t issued until 1906 by the Banco Nacional Ultramarino.

Macau, Banco Nacional Ultramarino 1958 25 Patacas graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated EPQ Click image to enlarge

Other PMG-certified highlights from Asia include:

• a French Indo-China, Banque de l’Indochine ND (1951) 5 Piastres graded PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated (lot 4450397), with an estimate of €800 (about $950)
• a Macau, Banco Nacional Ultramarino 1905 1 Pataca graded PMG 15 Choice Fine (lot 4450451), with an estimate of €800 (about $950)
• a Burma / Government of Thailand ND (1964-65) 5 Tep graded PMG 55 About Uncirculated (lot 4450049), with an estimate of €500 (about $600)

 All estimates provided by auction house.