What is your favourite British Commonwealth note(s)?

Well,as a collector of banknotes from British Commonwealth countries,I have always had a special affection for the notes of Rhodesia & South Africa.One of my favourite notes is a South African Republic 1 Pond note dated 1900.What is your favourite banknote(s) from a British Commonwealth country (as opposed to English or British)?

Aidan.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Another series of British Commonwealth notes that has really caught my interest is the notes from the Chatham Islands,which are dual-denominated & they look very much like American currency to a certain extent.The Chatham Islands is the only place
in the entire British Commonwealth that has ever put an $8 note into circulation as currency.The first series notes ($2,$3,$10,& $15) are made of Tyvek,whereas,the second series notes ($3,$5,$8,$10,& $15) are made of a cotton-fibre paper.

Aidan.

 

Come on,guys & gals.What is your favourite British Commonwealth note(s)?

Aidan.

 

I would contribute if i could but i'm strictly a coin person.

 

Hi,Sylvester,we haven't heard from you for a while.I am fairly sure that you have been on holiday overseas in a British Commonwealth country.What banknote(s) look really attractive did you come across in your change.

Aidan.

 

Actually i haven't, well i've been to Jersey but i was only 3 at the time.

Also been to pain, generally though i don't do the holiday thing. So i still am no use to you, but i felt i should reply... cos i hate it when threads go uncommented on.

 

My favourite is the Straits Settlements 1925 to 1930 series banknotes. These heavily engraved banknotes were once used in Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia. This piece is part of my Straits Settlement collection in rare AU condition. Not many such rare condition exists in collectors' hands.

​

 

Derrick,that is a very nice Straits Settlements $5 note you have got pictured there.

Aidan.

 

Anything from Canada. I can spend them when I'm there.

 

What a fantastic note!!! Beautiful work I must say.
Thanks for posting that beauty!!

RickieB

 

Here is a closeup on the majestic tiger stalking on it's prey. The tiger once roam the jungle of Singapore.

 

Here is the $10 from the same series in striking purple. This is a large size note.

 

Very impressive note my friend!! The engraving is fantastic!!

RickieB

 

Derrick,I haven't yet bought a Straits Settlements banknote,but I do have a few notes from Malaya's 1941 issue (which was actually issued in 1945) & 2 Malaya & British Borneo $1 notes of the 1953 & 1959 issues.

I've been far too busy collecting Bearer Cheques from Zimbabwe lately.

Aidan.

 

Any Straits Settlements from 1898 to 1935 are scarce and expensive. Most of them in very bad condition which is the grading of good and very good. Some are even in fine condition. Most of the VF condition are already expensive. It is rare to find early Straits Settlements in EF condition. They are heavily priced and most of them are in the hands of collectors and will only appear if the old collector passed away. Most of the high grade Straits Settlements can only be found in reputable auction houses such as Spinks etc.

Straits Settlements banknotes are unique among the British Commonwealth. They are one of the world top 10 group of most sought after banknotes collectiables.

 

Very Nice!

Regards,
Ballabh Garg

 

There's always a very strong demand for New Zealand & Australian trading bank notes.They command prices of at least NZ$1,000,which is way beyond my price range.I have never paid more than NZ$150 for a banknote from any country.

Last year,a $5 banknote issued by the Bank of Montreal in Quebec in 1935 turned up in a stamp auctioneer's monthly postal auctions.I was pleased to get it for around NZ$60,plus buyer's premium & tax.I never imagined that I would ever get any Canadian chartered banknotes from any province.Quebec would have been the last province I would have expected to get represented.I could understand if it was from Ontario or Nova Scotia,but Quebec,I wasn't expecting.It was a pleasant surprise.

Aidan.

 

See323....
Since you posted this note I have been looking to find an example of that note for sale! I found it today in
AU condition for $1250.00 USD....what a spectacualr note you have there..it is indeed on of the most beautiful notes I have ever seen!!

Regards,

RickieB

 

Rick,are you going to buy it? The Straits Settlements & the Malayan States' banknotes are very difficult to find,as is banknotes from both British North Borneo & Sarawak.The market for banknotes from this region of the British Commonwealth is booming in a very big way.There's no way that prices will be coming down any time soon.

Aidan.