Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
August 2020 Auction 5-6 Aug 2020
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ZANZIBAR. The Zanzibar Government. 10 Rupees, 1916. P-3. PCGS Banknote Choice Fine 15 Details. Foreign Substance, Rust, Writing in Pencil.
This tiny area is a semi-autonomous archipelago off the coast of Tanzania. Microlithic tools have proven that Zanzibar has been home to humans for over 20,000 years. Zanzibar was formally under control by the Portuguese Empire during the exploration age, then the Sultanate of Oman, later the British Empire, then ruled as a constitutional monarchy under Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah before the Zanzibar Revolution. However, it currently governs itself and is made up of the Revolutionary Council and House of Representatives. You do not need to know the entire history of Zanzibar to know how rare and special banknotes from the region are. The country was a trading point between the surrounding continents for many different imports and exports ranging from spices to slave trafficking. Zanzibar did not print its own money until 1908. Denominations released were 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 Rupees. Of the notes printed from 1908 to 1928, only around 500 are known to have survived. Fast forward nearly 100 years later, it is certain that number has decreased significantly. We are fortunate enough to offer a very rare, 1916, 10 Rupees banknote.
This tiny area is a semi-autonomous archipelago off the coast of Tanzania. Microlithic tools have proven that Zanzibar has been home to humans for over 20,000 years. Zanzibar was formally under control by the Portuguese Empire during the exploration age, then the Sultanate of Oman, later the British Empire, then ruled as a constitutional monarchy under Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah before the Zanzibar Revolution. However, it currently governs itself and is made up of the Revolutionary Council and House of Representatives. You do not need to know the entire history of Zanzibar to know how rare and special banknotes from the region are. The country was a trading point between the surrounding continents for many different imports and exports ranging from spices to slave trafficking. Zanzibar did not print its own money until 1908. Denominations released were 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 Rupees. Of the notes printed from 1908 to 1928, only around 500 are known to have survived. Fast forward nearly 100 years later, it is certain that number has decreased significantly. We are fortunate enough to offer a very rare, 1916, 10 Rupees banknote.
The majority of known and previously offered examples have for the most part contained the 1908 or 1928 date, which compared to 1916, are common. This date is certainly missing from the majority of Zanzibar collections, of which there are few. While we have encountered a few 1928 examples, and an equal number of 1908 examples, we know of only 1 other 1916 example. This particular note has certainly seen some use with notes of "Foreign Substance, Rust, Writing in Pencil" on the PCGS holder, but bright inks pop through the holder and all pertinent detail required to please a collector remains. We believe this is the nicest 1916 date known, but due to the absence of data regarding the date-varieties, we of course cannot be certain.
Estimate: $40000.00- $60000.00