DALLAS, TX.- An exceedingly rare Indian banknote issued in connection with a pilgrimage required of able Muslims will make the trek to the auction block in Heritage’s December 7 HKINF World Paper Money Signature® Auction - Hong Kong.

The India Haj Pilgrim Issue 100 Rupees ND (1959) Pick R6 Jhunjhunwalla-Razack 6.13.2.1 PMG Very Fine 30 that will be in play in the auction is one of two issued by the Reserve Bank of India to be taken on the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia — a religious trek required of all Muslims who are able.

“A bright blue 10 Rupees note and a red 100 Rupees, like the one we are offering here, were meant to be exchanged for Saudi Riyals, and then returned to India via Saudi banks,” says Dustin Johnston, Vice President of Currency at Heritage Auctions. “This note is as rare as it is beautiful, with PMG grading only 15 examples. This auction marks the first time Heritage ever has offered this historically important note.”

The offered example is further differentiated from normal 100 Rupees banknotes circulating in India because of the “HA” prefix.

A China Asiatic Banking Corporation, Shanghai 500 Taels ND (ca.1860s) Pick S117Er Remainder PMG Choice Uncirculated 63, from 50-lot The Norman Lin Collection, is the highest denomination remainder from a series of notes prepared for issue from Shanghai. Part of what makes it remarkable, and so eagerly coveted by collectors, is the fact that it is unknown if any notes ever were issued. The example offered in this auction is the first and only example of this denomination graded by PMG. It is worth mentioning that the Asiatic Banking Corporation — from which bank notes are exceedingly rare, regardless of the country of issue — operated only from 1860-66, after which it failed when the price of cotton normalized at the conclusion of the American Civil War.

Also available in this auction is one of the most sought-after of all Chinese notes, a China People’s Bank of China 10,000 Yuan 1951 Pick 858Aa S/M#C282 PMG Very Fine 25. The 1951 banknote series of the People’s Bank for Inner Mongolia is one of the most sought after for all of China, regardless of era. This note is a famed rarity of this series, from which surviving notes are extremely scarce: as of the time of Heritage’s cataloging, PMG has graded just 37 examples of the type.

The first banknote series of the People’s Bank spanned four years and dozens of variations, issued throughout China’s vast landscape. This incredible China People’s Bank of China 5000 Yuan 1951 Pick 857Ba S/M#C282 PMG Choice Very Fine 35 is a key denomination, with Mongolian and Uyghur texts on the back, in the “Outer Provinces” series, issued for Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang. Accounting for the scarcity of this note is its short stint in circulation; it was issued in May of 1951 and redeemed in May of 1955. At the time of cataloging, PMG has graded a mere 57 examples of this desirable rarity. Heritage has offered examples of this banknote only three times previously, with this fourth offering being the finest of the group.

The Government of India’s 50 Rupees is a key note in the series, scarcer than the denomination on either side. This handsome India Government of India, Bombay 50 Rupees ND (1930) Pick 9b Jhunjhunwalla-Razack 3.9.2A PMG Choice Extremely Fine 45 EPQ is among the finest known for any variety of the type, with its desirability elevated by its EPQ status.

An incredible Thailand Government of Siam 100 Ticals 1.4.1902 Pick 12a PMG Very Fine 20 is the first date of issue for the type, with the second signature variety. At the time of cataloging, this is the first Pick 12a graded and encapsulated by PMG. Heritage has not offered this type note with a date earlier than 1919.

Banknotes from the Kwangtung Currency Bureau are renowned for their beautiful design elements on both sides. Any extant example from this issuer — including the China Kwangtung Currency Bureau 1 Dollar, Shanghai 1907 Pick S2392A S/M#K51 PMG Very Fine 30 offered in this auction, which is the finest graded issued 1 dollar — is desirable, as few exist to be collected today. Heritage has auctioned six notes from this 1907 series, all of which were the $10 denomination, but has not offered any 1907 dated $1 notes, and therefore has not offered this highly specialized Pick number. This unusual variety has an unknown serial number, along with mounting remnants and cancellations. This example is the first offered at Heritage and the first and only example of this Pick number graded in the PMG Population Report at the time of cataloging.

An exceedingly rare Philippines Philippine Islands Silver Certificates 10 Pesos 1912 Pick 36a PMG Very Fine 20 is one of the notes from the early 19thcentury from the island nation that as popular among collectors as they are elusive. This elusive note features the seldom-seen signature combination of William Cameron Forbes and John L. Barrett. Forbes’ tenure as Governor-General and Barrett’s stint as Treasurer only overlapped for parts of 1912 and 1913, leading to the rarity of this signature combination. USBEP records indicate that just 300,000 notes were printed, and after this stock was exhausted, an updated signature variety note was printed and issued; at the time of cataloging, just four examples of this variety are graded in the PMG Population Report. The example offered in this auction is tied for the second-finest grade in that census, and the first ever offered at Heritage.