"Agency Bank of Athens sent their Head Office one bank note five thousand drachmas circulated in New York
Seems very probably genuine but brings number evidently false
Number is 210482 without letters and number of series
Please note that banknotes five thousand drachmas already prepared have not yet been put into circulation
Communicate urgently with Bank Athens and Banknote Company and cable
We think this banknote is stolen in the factory during fabrication and before numbering".
A copy of the 1928 and 1931 telegrams are included in this lot (the 1931 telegram is in Greek, whilst the 1928 is in English).
This note lacks the aforementioned third signature, series, and genuine serial number. It is safe to assume the National Bank and ABNC would have destroyed these notes upon receiving them after they had been falsely issued, and although this note has been cancelled, it has somehow still survived today. This miracle is one of two examples graded by PMG, and it is the first that we can recall handling. We can surmise that even the most advanced collections are missing this piece from their holdings, and we can expect to see spirited bidding on this lot.
PMG comments "Cancelled, Trimmed, Minor Discoloration". PMG Pop 1/None Finer.
Estimate: $75000 - $100000