Watch List notes:

GERMAN EAST AFRICA. Deutsch-Ostafrikanische Bank. 500 Rupien, 1912. P-5. PMG Choice Uncirculated 63.
The single finest German East Africa 500 Rupien, dated 1912, and graded Choice Uncirculated 63 by PMG. Despite a minor restoration noted on the holder for a small corner outside of the design, it is by far the nicest seen of this classic banknote which circulated for a few short years prior to World War II.

This banknote represented a huge sum of money at the time and only the largest transactions in the colony would have required a 500 Rupien banknote, equivalent to about 170 US dollars at the time. Less than 1,000 pieces were reportedly issued into circulation, making this one of the true great rarities in African and German numismatics.

Most of German East Africa would become the present-day country of Tanzania. Another former European colony, Zanzibar (under British rule until 1963), is located just off its coast and issued some of the most well-known rarities in African banknotes. While no examples are presently known of the Zanzibar 500 Rupees in issued form this German East Africa rarity with similar face value at the time would make a great addition to any advanced collection of African banknotes.

Estimate: $30000.00- $50000.00