Archives International Auctions Auction 106 September 24, 2025

Archives International Auctions - Sale 106 36 September 24, 2025 Archives International Auctions www.archivesinternational.com Kingdom of Hawaii The Lahainaluna Seminary notes of 1843–44 represent one of the most fascinating intersections of education, printing, and early Hawaiian finance. Issued at Lahainaluna Seminary on Maui, the first institution of higher learning west of the Rocky Mountains, these notes were not merely a medium of exchange but a teaching tool. Founded by American missionaries in 1831, the seminary sought to bring literacy, commerce, and Western education to the Hawaiian Kingdom. Printing presses introduced at Lahainaluna produced textbooks, newspapers, and, remarkably, the Kingdom’s earliest paper currency. This complete set of six denominations—1 Keneta through 1 Dala—captures that unique moment when a mission school, dedicated to “industry and labor,” became the birthplace of Hawaiian banknotes. Each note carries the simple yet symbolic imagery of a beehive, reflecting diligence and community. Over the last three decades, complete graded sets have appeared at auction only a handful of times, underscoring both their rarity and their historical importance. For collectors of Hawaiian material, early U.S. missionary history, or world banknotes of great cultural significance, the Lahainaluna Seminary series offers an exceptional opportunity to own a cornerstone of Hawaiian numismatics—currency that bridges the Kingdom’s past and the dawn of modern finance in the Pacific. 172