White banknotes were issued across the country
|
A �5 note is expected to fetch up to �10,000 when it goes under the hammer on Tuesday.
The rare "white fiver" was issued in 1849 by the Bank of England branch in Newcastle.
Bonhams - where the note is being auctioned - said it was the Bank of England Newcastle note ever to be sold at auction.
The note in question is clean and crisp, but has been split down the middle.
This was common practice in Victorian times for paper money sent through the post, and would have been rejoined at the bank on presentation of the two halves.
Lowest denomination
The Bank of England started printing banknotes at regional centres across the country in the early 19th century.
Notes were issued from the Newcastle branch when it opened in 1828 the practice continued there until World War II.
The fiver was first issued in 1793 in the wake of a commercial crisis following the outbreak of war with France.
Until then, the lowest denomination of banknote was �10.
One-Minute World News
News services
Email this to a friend
Printable version
