Arab currencies in the Spink auction, April 2023
A variety of Arab and foreign currencies were offered at the Spink auction held in Hong Kong, China on April 13, 2023, in auction number 23008 Many banknote enthusiasts around the world competed for it.
Arab currencies at auction
The Arab coins at the auction attracted the attention of many enthusiasts, as a variety of coins were offered for Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Tunisia, Syria, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman. Some pieces also witnessed record-breaking prices.
Although most Arab coins were sold at the Speck auction, some pieces were reluctant to sell, such as some Egyptian, Palestinian, and Syrian pieces. Some Palestinian pieces, such as a five-pound note issued in 1944 on January 1, were expected to be sold for an amount ranging between 8,000 and 12,000 pounds sterling, although they were not sold.
Among the distinctive Arab coins was a single-sided printer's edition of the twenty-five riyal note issued by the Gulf Cooperation Council. You can learn more about the metal version of this issue in the article on Gulf currency. Issue number eight From the Arab Collector magazine.
Twenty-five riyals - Arabian Gulf Council
Arabian Gulf Currency Board, one side of a proposed 25 riyal issue, ND (1965), showing on the right a drawing of an oil tower and in the center a sailing ship, very similar in content to the Qatar and Dubai currency issue of July 1966. It is clear that these banknotes were a trial for the later issues of 1966. The text in Arabic reads Arabian Gulf Currency Board, upper right and 25 riyals, lower left, in holder PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated.
The note was sold for £7,000 plus £25% auction house commission.
Fifty Egyptian pounds – National Bank of Egypt
Fifty Egyptian pounds, issued by the National Bank of Egypt in 1951, serial number EF/4 093592, in a PMG 35 Choice Very Fine holder
The note was sold for £1,500 plus 25% auction house commission.
First edition of Somaliland
A complete set of Italian Somaliland banknotes consisting of five notes: 1 Somali, 5 Somali, 10 Somali, 20 Somali, 100 Somali.
The Somali Currency Board was established on April 18, 1950, as a monetary council based in Rome, under the joint control of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Treasury. Following World War II, the United Nations established a trusteeship to administer Italian Somaliland as a UN Trust Territory in Somalia. On January 27, 1950, Italy was granted monetary control of the territory. A new currency, the Somali, was introduced, pegged to the East African shilling. Banknotes denominated in East African shillings and Italian lira were replaced by the new Somali banknotes from May 22 to August 22, 1950 (pieces offered at auction).
These pieces did not sell, even though the expected price was between 9,000 and 12,000 British pounds.
Five Somalis – Somaliland
A single five Somali note from Italian Somaliland, in crimson, issued in 1951, was sold for £750 plus £25% auction house commission.
half a Kuwaiti dinar
An experiment with both the front and back of a half Kuwaiti dinar note (1960) from the Kuwaiti Currency Board bearing an unreleased image.
The two papers were sold for £5,200 plus £25% auction house commission.
One Kuwaiti Dinar – Sample
A sample of a one Kuwaiti dinar banknote from the Kuwaiti Currency Board. The note was sold for £1,200 plus £25% auction house commission.
Ten Kuwaiti Dinars – Printer Model
Unissued design of the banknote printing press (one side) mounted on a 10 dinar card, 1968, in blue and pink on a multi-color print, bearing Arabic text in the middle (Central Bank of Kuwait Ten Dinars), a falcon sitting on the left, the emblem of the State of Kuwait on the right.
The note was sold for £2,100 plus 25% auction house commission.
Ten Kuwaiti Dinars – Printer Model – Back
Unissued design of the banknote printing press (one side) mounted on a 10 dinar card, 1968, in blue on a multi-color print, bearing English text in the middle (Central Bank of Kuwait Ten Dinars), and a picture of a sailboat with three sails raising the flag of the State of Kuwait.
The note was sold for £2,100 plus 25% auction house commission.
One hundred liras – Bank of Syria and Lebanon
The note was sold for £5,500 plus £25% auction house commission.
Sultanate of Oman and Muscat
One hundred baisa 1972 – Sample
The note was sold for £950 plus £25% auction house commission.
Half a Saidi Riyal 1972 – Sample
The note was sold for £2,000 plus £25% auction house commission.
Real Saidi 1972 – Model
The note was sold for £3,000 plus £25% auction house commission.
Five Saidi Riyals 1972 – Sample
The note was sold for £4,000 plus £25% auction house commission.
Ten Saidi Riyals 1972 – Sample
The note was sold for £7,000 plus £25% auction house commission.
Five hundred Palestinian mills, 1939
The note was sold for £4200 plus £25% auction house commission.
One Palestinian pound 1939
The note was sold for £1100 plus £25% auction house commission.
Five hundred Qatari Riyals – Single-sided printing sample
The note was sold for £5,800 plus £25% auction house commission.
Five hundred Qatari Riyals – Single-sided printing sample
The note was sold for £4,000 plus £25% auction house commission.
Ten Qatari Riyals - Sample
The note was sold for £5,000 plus £25% auction house commission.
Ten Qatari Riyals
The note was sold for £2,600 plus £25% auction house commission.
Fifty Qatari Riyals and Dubai
The note was sold for £2,400 plus £25% auction house commission.
One hundred Qatari Riyals
The note was sold for £1600 plus £25% auction house commission.
Fifty Saudi Riyals 1968 - Sample
The note was sold for £1900 plus £25% auction house commission.
Five Saudi Riyals 1983 – Sample
The note was sold for £2,100 plus £25% auction house commission.
One hundred Saudi Riyals 1983 - Single-sided print sample
The note was sold for £2,300 plus £25% auction house commission.
One Lira – Bank of Syria and Lebanon – Syria 1930
The note was sold for £280 plus £25% auction house commission.
One Lira – Bank of Syria and Lebanon – Syria 1947 Model
The note was sold for £1000 plus 25% auction house commission.
Ten Lira – Bank of Syria and Lebanon – Syria 1947 Model
The note was sold for £1500 plus £25% auction house commission.
Fifty francs – Bank of Algeria and Tunisia
The note was sold for £600 plus £25% auction house commission.
Fifty centimes – Tunisia 1918
The note was sold for £400 plus £25% auction house commission.
Ten Riyals – Yemen 1969 Sample
The note was sold for £400 plus £25% auction house commission.
Arab coins are always the jewels of the currencies offered at international auctions, achieving record prices due to their rarity in high condition and because most of their issues are limited.
For more similar topics, you can browse the Arab collector's website. the Link the next:
The idea of issuing a 500 pound banknote
