PMG-certified Specimen Sells for Six Figures in Monetarium Auction

Rare Asian banknotes certified by Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®), including one from Malaya & British Borneo, saw impressive results in a recent auction presented by Monetarium in Singapore. Monetarium Auction 32 began on December 2, with the last session ending on December 11, 2022.

The leading PMG-certified note in the sale was a Malaya & British Borneo 1953 10,000 Dollars Specimen graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated (Day 3, lot 3428). The 1953 Elizabeth II series was the first series of banknotes to feature the queen, with this 10,000 Dollars note being the highest denomination and the rarest of the series. This is tied for the finest graded among 13 examples of this Specimen in the PMG Population Report. It realized SGD144,000 (about $106,400).

A Malaya & British Borneo 1953 10,000 Dollars Specimen graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated. Realized: SGD144,000 (about $106,400). Click images to enlarge.

Other PMG-certified highlights included:

• a Malaya 1942 10,000 Dollars Specimen graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated NET (Day 3, lot 3353) that realized SGD144,000 (about $106,400)
• a Sarawak, Government of Sarawak 1929 25 Dollars graded PMG 45 Choice Extremely Fine (Day 3, lot 3330) that realized SGD48,000 (about $35,400)
• a Malaya / British Administration 1940 10 Dollars graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated EPQ (Day 3, lot 3364) that realized SGD43,200 (about $31,900)
• a Singapore, Board of Commissioners of Currency ND (1980) 10,000 Dollars graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated EPQ (Day 2, lot 2323) that realized SGD40,800 (about $30,100)
• a Malaysia, Bank Negara ND (1967-72) 1,000 Ringgit graded PMG 53 About Uncirculated (Day 2, lot 2020) that realized SGD31,200 (about $23,000)
• a Sarawak, Government of Sarawak 1919 1 Dollar graded PMG 30 Very Fine (Day 3, lot 3345) that realized SGD28,800 (about $21,300)
• a Malaya / British Administration 1940 5 Dollars Specimen graded PMG 30 Very Fine NET (Day 3, lot 3369) that realized SGD28,800 (about $21,300)
• a Malaysia, Bank Negara ND (1996-99) 2 Ringgit Specimen Proof graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ (Day 2, lot 2177) that realized SGD28,800 (about $21,300)
• a Malaya & British Borneo 1961 10 Dollars with a Solid-9 Serial Number graded PMG 55 About Uncirculated (Day 3, lot 3489) that realized SGD28,800 (about $21,300)
• Two consecutive Straits Settlements / British Administration 1914-24 1 Dollar notes graded PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ (Day 3, lot 3266) that realized SGD26,400 (about $19,500)
• a Malaysia, Bank Negara ND (1967-72) 1,000 Ringgit graded PMG 40 Extremely Fine (Day 2, lot 2019) that realized SGD22,800 (about $16,800)

NGC-certified highlights included:

• a 1916 China Hung Hsien Silver Dollar graded NGC AU 58 (Day 1, lot 1017) that realized SGD40,800 (about $30,100)
• a China 1908 Silver Dollar graded NGC AU 55 (Day 1, lot 1012) that realized SGD13,200 (about $9,700)
• a Malaysia 1976 Gold 500 Ringgit – Malayan Tapir graded NGC MS 69 (Day 2, lot 2001) that realized SGD11,400 (about $8,400)
• a Straits Settlement 1903 5 Cents graded NGC MS 65★ (Day 3, lot 3222) that realized SGD10,200 (about $7,500)
• a French Indochina (1943-44) Half Tael graded NGC MS 62 (Day 1, lot 1068) that realized SGD9,600 (about $7,000)
• an undated China Fantasy Silver Dollar graded NGC UNC Details (Day 1, lot 1016) that realized SGD8,400 (about $6,200)
• a Singapore 1969 Gold 150 Dollars – Founding of Singapore graded NGC MS 66 (Day 2, lot 2009) that realized SGD2,640 (about $1,900)

All prices realized include a buyer’s premium. The $ symbol represents US Dollars.