Rare 拢500 Leeds banknote sells for 拢24k at auction

At a glance
  • The 拢500 note was issued by the Bank of England in Leeds in 1936
  • The note had been expected to fetch up to 拢22,000 at auction
  • Only three branches of the bank issued the note
  • The note is only the second of its kind known to exist
  • Author, Pritti Mistry
  • Role, 大象传媒 News

Image source, Noonans

Image caption, The 拢500 notes were only ever issued from Bank of England branches in Leeds, Liverpool and London

A rare 拢500 note from a branch of the Bank of England in Leeds has been sold at auction for 拢24,000.

The note, dated 1936, is only the second of its kind known to exist, and the first one to be put up for sale.

Auction house Noonans said the "extremely rare" note, which had been expected to fetch up to 拢22,000, was bought by a major collector of Bank of England notes.

The note bears the signature of Kenneth O Peppiatt, who was the bank's chief cashier at the time.

Andrew Pattison, from Noonans, said the item came from a "long-term collector" and described it as "fantastic".

The 拢500 notes were only ever issued at three branches of the Bank of England - in London, Liverpool and Leeds, Mr Pattison said.

"Of those available, Leeds branch, like this one, are the rarest," he added.

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