WORLD PAPER MONEY

SCARCE WWI NOTE FROM GERMAN BOHEMIA

With the collapse of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire at the end of World War I, Czechoslovakia declared itself independent on October 28, 1918. The ethnic German majority living in the Sudentenland, wanting to maintain their ties to Germany rather than be part of Czechoslovakia set up an independent German Bohemia, with Reichenberg (now Liberc, Czech Republic) as the Capital. The Czech army soon reincorporated the area into Czechoslovakia. In 1938 Hitler annexed the area into Germany, which helped spark World War II. Following the war, the area was returned to Czechoslovakia, who forcibly removed most of the Germans. This 10 Kornen note issued by the City of Reichenberg is dated October 30, 1918, during the brief period of independence. The note was good until February 15, 1919. The city’s arms are on the reverse of the 125mm x 80mm ( 5” x 3.1”) note.
Item PM-REICH REICHENBERG 10 KRONEN NOTE, 1918 VF $4.00

RARE NANSHA (SPRATLY) ISLANDS CURRENCY

Spratly (Nansha) Islands 5 Jiao and 10 Yuan

The Spratly Islands are a group of more than 100 small islands or reefs in the South China Sea. The islands are claimed in whole or in part by the Peoples Republic of China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. The islands sit atop large oil and gas deposits, are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and are located on major shipping lanes. Various islands are occupied from time to time by fisherman, military forces of the various claimants and oil exploration crews. In recent years there have been minor military clashes between some of the claimants. China calls the islands Nansha Islands, and bases their claim on fact that some old Chinese coins and pottery have been found on the islands. Recently some banknotes appeared that re-enforces their claim on the islands. They are current, regular issue Chinese 1, 2 and 5 Jiao, 1, 5 and 10 Yuan notes that are overprinted in English on the reverse and Chinese on the obverse "FOR USE ONLY IN NANSHA ISLANDS". The reverse of each the notes also bears a large red chop that refers to the South China Sea Fleet. We were able to obtain a limited number of this unusual and mysterious issue.
Item PM-CN-SP6 SET OF 6 NANSHA IS. NOTES 1 JIAO-10 YUAN AU-UNC $22.00
Item PM-CN-SP3 SET OF 3 NANSHA IS. NOTES 1 2 & 5 JIAO from above set $5.00

BANKNOTES OF THE PRIVATE BANKS OF HONG KONG

Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank 10 Dollars 1992

Hong Kong is one of the few places left in the world where private banks are still allowed to issue currency for general circulation. There are only two private, note-issuing banks left in Hong Kong. Both banks were founded in Hong Kong in the 19th Century, have grown into some of the largest banks in the world. The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, now known as HSBC, and the Standard Chartered Bank. We offer Crisp Uncirculated 10 Dollar notes from each of these unusual private banks.
Item PM-HK-HSBC HONGKONG & SHANGHAI BANK $10 1992 P191c CU $4.00
Item PM-HK-SCB STANDARD CHARTERED BANK $10 1993 P284a CU $5.00

RWANDA NOTE BARGAIN

Rwanda 3 Note Set: 100 - 5000 Francs 1988-89

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This set of three colorful Rwanda banknotes issued in 1988 and 1989 catalog for over $70. We are pleased to offer these attractive Crisp Uncirculated notes for MUCH less. Included is the 100 Francs that pictures Zebras and a woman and her child, the 1000 Francs pictures dancers and a mother and baby Gorilla, and the scarce 5000 Francs note shows the harvesting of coffee beans.
Item PM-RW-SET3 RWANDA 3 NOTE SET 100-5000 FRANCS P19-22, 1988-78 CU $29.50

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NEW COINS FROM RWANDA

UNUSUAL SARAWAK RUBBER EXPORT COUPON

Before World War II, The Malay States were the world's largest producer of natural rubber. In an effort to increase the world price of rubber, restrictions were placed on the export of rubber. Rubber growers were issued Rubber Export Coupons based on the size their rubber plantation and the age of their trees. The coupons had to be turned in when the rubber was exported. Many small producers found it easier and more profitable to sell or trade their rubber coupons than to actually harvest and sell their quota of rubber. The coupons became a form of currency in many rubber growing areas. We offer a 25 Katis Rubber Coupon from Sarawak. The coupon states "This Coupon is Valid for the Export of 25 Katis of Dry Rubber until 31st December 1941". 25 Katis is equivilent to about 33 pounds (15 Kg.) of rubber. Depending on the price of rubber, the coupon could trade for 25 Malay Dollars or more!
Item PM-RUBBER SARAWAK 25 KATIS RUBBER EXPORT COUPON, 1941 XF-AU $3.50
Item PM-RUBBERx10 10 of the above SARAWAK 25 KATIS RUBBER EXPORT COUPONS XF-AU $25.00

BANKNOTES OF BIAFRA

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After years of persecution by the Muslim majority who controlled Nigeria, the oil-rich and heavily Christian south-eastern portion of the country declared itself the independent Republic of Biafra, in May, 1967. The independence was to be short-lived however. After over two years of bloody civil war, in which as many as two million people died, Biafra was forced to surrender to Nigeria in January of 1970. During this brief period of independence they made two issues of paper currency. The 1967 issue consisted of just two notes: the 1 Pound, which featured the Biafran arms on the back and the 5 Shillings, which pictured four Biafran women. The front of both notes featured a palm tree and a bright orange rising sun. From the 1968-69 issue we offer a set of four notes that include the 5 Pounds which pictures a weaver at a loom, the 1 Pound which shows the national arms, the 10 Shillings that features buildings and the 5 Shilling, which again pictures Biafran women. These are the original notes that circulated in Biafran, not the unissued left-over notes that lack serial numbers. Biafran notes tend to be hard to find as most were destroyed following the war. The 5 Pound note in the 1968-69 series catalogs for more than we are asking for that entire set!
Item PM-BIA-SET2 BIAFRA 5 SHILLINGS & 1 POUND NOTES, 1967, P1 & P2 F-VF $10.00
Item PM-BIA-SET4 BIAFRA 4 NOTE SET, 5 SHILLINGS - 5 POUNDS, 1968-69, P3a - P6a VF-XF $16.00
Item PM-BIA3 BIAFRA 5 SHILLING 1968 FROM THE ABOVE SET, P3a VF-XF $3.00

CURRENCY OF THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION

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The Mexican Revolution caused a complete breakdown of the countries economy and banking system. In order to pay troops and provide for commerce various states and governments issued their own currency. We are pleased to offer 4 such notes. Venustiano Carranza's Constitutionalist Army of Mexico issued this 1 Peso note dated March 31, 1914 in the state of Chihuahua. It features an Eagle eating a snake, an allusion to Mexico's founding. We also have a Crisp Uncirculated 20 Peso "two little faces" note issued by Pancho Villa's forces in Chihuahua dated February 10, 1914. The note bears the portraits of the recently assassinated President Madero and Chihuahua governor Abraham Gonzalez. On the back the state capitol is shown, with several old cars driving in the street.   From the State of Mexico we have a Crisp Uncirculated 1 Peso note dated March 1, 1915. The note features a monument of Christopher Columbus on one side and the government building on the other. The state of Oaxaca, not wanting to get involved in the revolution, declared independence from the rest of Mexico. From Oaxaca we have a 1 Peso note dated 1915. One side of the note shows a decapitated woman's head. The other pictures Benito Juarez. The notes were printed on ledger paper whatever other paper they could find so are rather crude. In addition most have minor worm holes.
Item PM-CON1P CHIHUAHUA CONSTITUTIONAL ARMY 1 PESO 1914 (PS523) VG-F    $3.75
Item PM-CH20P CHIHUAHUA 20 PESO NOTE 1914 (PS536b)   AU-CU    $5.00
Item PM-MX-1P STATE OF MEXICO 1 PESO 1915 (PS881) CU    $5.00
Item PM-OAX-1P OAXACA 1 PESO 1915 (PS953) F (minor worm holes)    $3.75
Item PM-MEXREV ALL 4 OF THE ABOVE MEXICAN REVOLUTION NOTES    $16.00