2017-06-02 Fri

A collection of 2,000 rare banknotes called the Covered Bridge Collection was hidden inside a safety deposit in New Brunswick from mid-1980s. The collection will be auctioned this year and is expected to fetch over $1 million in total. Geoffrey Bell Auctions in Toronto, Ontario, Canada is going to offer part 1 of the collection on 2nd June 2017 at the Toronto Coin Expo.

Highlights of this collection include two 1935 $20 Canada notes, with serial number 000005, the first notes printed at Bank of Canada. The notes depict young Princess Elizabeth. Two series of banknotes were issued in 1935, one stating "Bank of Canada" for English Canada, and the other stating "Banque Du Canada" for French Canada. These extremely rare notes in uncirculated condition have an estimate value of $20,000+ CAD.

Another auction highlight is the 1870 $4 from La Banque Jacques Cartier. The bank was founded in Montreal in 1861 and funded many industrial projects in Montreal. It had to bear heavy losses in 1899. The only known example of an 1870 banknote with "plain 4s" is estimated at $30,000.

Some Union Bank of Newfoundland banknotes including the beautiful 1889 $20 note with front and back locomotive themes is also going to be offered at the Spring Sale at an estimate value of $20,000. Other highlights include rare Canadian Government and Private Chartered banknotes which have not been seen in the market for many years.