Most Expensive Notes

News: Welcome to the Canadian Paper Money Forum.

What's the most expensive Canadian note you've seen?

The most expensive notes I saw were Arthurs Devil Face Replacements at Torex this year.
I should have grabbed them and ran
But Only4Teeth was blocking me

A 1911 Dominion of Canada $500 bank note (DC-19) sold at the February 2005 Torex auction in Toronto.

If my recollection is correct, it was purchased by C & P Numismatics for CDN $150,000 plus the juice.

An excerpt from the auction catalogue reads as follows:

"The Dominion of Canada 1911 issue $500.00 note is rightly called the 'EMPRESS' of Canadian bank notes.  The 1911 issue $500.00 note has several similarities to the 'Emperor" of Canadian coins, the 1911 silver dollar.  Both are dated 1911 of course, the year of transition from the reign of Edward VII to George VI, and both are extremely rare.  There are two 1911 silver dollars, (and an example struck in lead), and only two surviving 1911 Issue $500 notes.  Ownership of the 1911 dollar or the 1911 $500 note represents the ultimate collecting achievement in two fields of Canadian numismatics.  There are also some distinct differences besides the obvious.  Neither of the 1911 issue $500.00 notes have transacted in a public auction sale and have seldom and only traded hands through private treaty sales, while the 1911 silver dollar has sold at auction three times since 1975, and several other times by private treaty.  There is no example of an issued $500.00 note of the 1911 issue in the Bank of Canada's National Currency Collection, or in any other museum collection, although the N.C.C. does have a 1911 silver dollar, as well as Specimen and Proof examples of the $500.00 note.  Both known 1911 issue $500.00 notes are near identical in grade.  The offered example grades VG/F, and has four strong corners and good body.  The auctioneer believes that it is extremely unlikely that any other known $500.00 note of the 1911 issue will be offered for sale, making this an unique opportunity to acquire an example of the 'Empress' of Canadian banknotes."

Here is an image of the note from the back of the auction catalogue.

The next most expensive note I have seen is a 1925 Dominion of Canada $500 Issue - DC-28   


{http://www.davgro.com/images/cpmf/1925_$500_A008203_Front.jpg}

{http://www.davgro.com/images/cpmf/1925_$500_A008203_Back.jpg}

Arthur:

When these notes are sold to collectors for that amount of money, What do they do with the note? Do they have it in a highly secured glass viewing case or is it put away and never viewed or what.. Hey maybe another Indiana Jones movie but with an extremly rare note as the treasure???lol  Just a question that has been bouncing around upstairs, are people allowed to take pictures of these rare notes?? Any info would be great!!!  Thanks for now.....


     Jeff

I guess like most expensive or rare notes they get banished to the dark confines of a safety deposit box.

Fortunately we now have high resolution scanners and digital cameras that allows us to enjoy the virtual
beauty of the note in absentia.

...Arthur