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Auction: 23888 - The Michael E. Bonine Collection of Persian and World Banknotes
Lot: 10

(x) Imperial Bank, Kingdom of Persia, [Top Pop] (SCWPM Plate Note) 1 Toman, Bushire, 1st January 1896, serial number A 260659, a Plate Note of both the 16th and 15th editions of the SCWPM catalogue, and possibly previous editions, while the Banknote Book only has an image of a specimen note.

What sets this note apart is its extraordinary and distinctive design, making it stand out from all the other first Qajar series notes, especially from its more familiar variety Pick 1 with the iconic lion and sun motif.

Notably, Pick A1 does not feature the iconic lion motif, but instead boldly displays the English word 'ONE' in bold capital letters encircled on the reverse.

The latest edition of General Issues SCWPM, its 16th Edition, lists the year 1896 as the last date for the A1 series, suggesting that this year marks the end of the design that featured the English word 'ONE'
(Pick A1, BNB 101, Bonine Figure 6), A note by the cataloguer - Regular specimen notes show up in very rare moments and you would be considered lucky if you see one in a decade.
However, the issued notes (of which, there are less than a handful known to date) are usually kept in a very special place of sophisticated collectors' minds, where perhaps it remained in the far corners of their imagination when they had a chance to see it once with their own eyes in a private collection or heard a story of one extant.
One of the rarest and possibly the most sought-after Persian banknotes that ever comes to grace the market, especially with as a branch issue, and no other that Bushire itself! In PMG holder 30 Very Fine, minor repair, incredibly rare!

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£52,000

Starting price
£8000