Status International Coins & Banknotes Auction 381

Australian Military Administration of German New Guinea: 1914 FIVE MARKS '14th October 1914', s/n 00793, Treasury Note 'Payable in coin at the Treasury, Rabaul', signed by Walter Fry as treasurer and by Ben Price as entered, issued note without the 'cancelled' endorsement. P-1a. These provisional treasury notes were issued at Rabaul shortly after the occupation of German New Guinea by Australian Forces. They circulated for only the final two months of 1914, before being withdrawn & exchanged for Australian pound notes/coins when supplies of cash were delivered from Australia. The withdrawn treasury notes were defaced in red ink as being cancelled on '1.1.15', and stocks was later destroyed apart from couple examples kept as souvenirs by the treasurer. While of the non-cancelled notes only several examples are recorded, and only of the 5Mk value. 2022 Ceremuga certificate of authenticity, plus Graded PMG VF30 NET, with restoration comment as the note has been expertly repaired at top well away from the printed design elements, which are all fully original. Only 2 examples have been graded by PMG (& none by PCGS), with this being the highest graded, and believed to be the best quality of the existing examples. Historically very important Australian & World note of great rarity. (P)
Estimate A$60000