2022-01-31 Mon

Zanzibari rupee was the currency of Zanzibar from 1908 to December 31, 1935. In 1908, banknotes were introduced by the government of Zanzibar in denominations of 5, 10, 20, and 100 rupees. 50- and 500-rupee notes were added in 1916, and 1-rupee notes were issued in 1920. All Zanzibari notes were withdrawn in 1936. All of these notes are very rare and valuable.

The rarest of them, a 500-rupee note, sold for $140,000 more than expected, at $240,000. Only one other is believed extant and in private hands. It bears the date 1 SEPTEMBER 1920 and has SPECIMEN hand-stamped above its hole canceled red serial number A8012. As evidenced by the Magistrates Court stamp on the back, it was used as a court exhibit note.

Image Courtesy: numisbids.com