The most valuable banknote ever issued bearing the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II as Queen is set to be offered at auction by London-based Noonans on Saturday, March 22 in Singapore.
The highly coveted note—a $1000 denomination issued by the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo—is dated 21 March 1953 and carries an estimate of S$100,000–S$150,000 (C$100,000–C$153,000). It will be offered as Lot 134 during a live sale beginning at 6 p.m. local time (10 a.m. GMT) at the Orchid Junior Ballroom, Level 4, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
The note is part of the final instalment of the legendary Frank Goon Reference Collection of British Malayan Banknotes, considered one of the finest collections of its kind ever assembled.
The reverse of the 1953 Malaya & British Borneo $1000 banknote showcases intricate design elements and vibrant colours reflective of the era. (Photo courtesy of Noonans)
“This utterly iconic Malaya & British Borneo $1000 note features a beautiful portrait of Queen Elizabeth II,” said Barnaby Faull, senior specialist in Noonans’ Banknotes Department. “Issued in 1953, within the first two years of her reign, this high-denomination note has always been highly sought after by collectors. This particular example is the finest surviving specimen and is certain to generate significant interest.”
Faull added, “It is the most expensive note to bear the portrait of Elizabeth II as Queen and marks the first time this note has been offered at public auction.”
The Frank Goon collection spans the currency of Malaya, the Straits Settlements, Sarawak, British North Borneo, Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei. The first two parts of the sale, comprising 538 notes, realized a combined total of S$3,925,570 (C$3,925,570). The third and final session features 246 lots ranging from issued notes to rare specimens, proofs, and archival photographs of designs never released. The sale is expected to achieve between S$1.8 million and S$2.4 million (C$1.8 million–C$2.45 million).