Archives International Auctions Auction 71 November 23, 2021 U.S. & Worldwide Banknotes, Scripophily, Security Printing Ephemera, and Historic Financial Ephemera

Archives International Auctions - Sale 71 19 November 23, 2021 Archives International Auctions www.archivesinternational.com Great Britain 99 99 “Operation Bernhard” Quartet of German WWII Counterfeit British Pound Notes, Various dates but ca.1942 Germany and Great Britain. Lot of 4 “Operation Bernhard” counterfeit English notes, Includes: 1). 5 Pounds, 1936, P-335a; 2). 10 Pounds, 1935, P-336a; 3). 20 Pounds, 1933, P-337a; 4). 50 Pounds, 1930, P-338a. Operation Bernhard was an exercise by Nazi Germany to forge British bank notes. Included in the lot is an autograph from Hans Walter, who was a prisoner in the concentration camps and worked on these notes. The initial plan was to drop the notes over Britain to bring about a collapse of the British economy during the Second World War. The unit successfully duplicated the rag paper used by the British, produced near-identical engraving blocks and deduced the algorithm used to create the alpha- numeric serial code on each note. The unit closed in early 1942, but was reopened later that year. However, the aim was changed from forging money to financing German intelligence operations. Instead of a specialist unit within the SD, prisoners from Nazi concentration camps were selected and sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp to work under SS Major Bernhard Krüger. The unit produced British notes until mid-1945; estimates vary of the number and value of notes printed, from £132.6 million up to £300 million. By the time the unit ceased production, they had perfected the artwork for US dollars, although the paper and serial numbers were still being analyzed. The counterfeit money was laundered in exchange for money and other assets. Counterfeit notes from the operation were used to pay the Turkish agent Elyesa Bazna—code named Cicero— for his work in obtaining British secrets from the British ambassador in Ankara, and £100,000 from Operation Bernhard was used to obtain information that helped to free the Italian leader Benito Mussolini in the Gran Sasso raid in September 1943. ����� Est. $450-750 100 100 Bank of England, 1951 Issued Banknote Great Britain….. 10 April, 1951. 5 Pounds, P-344. Black print with bank title at top and allegorical figure at top left. Crisp Choice VF to XF condition. ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Est. $110-220 101 101 Bank of England, ND (1980-87) Pair of Consecutive Issue Banknote Great Britain. ND (1980-87). Pair of Consecutive 5 Pounds, P-378c B343, Issued banknotes, Blue and gray on face, S/N JU71 429804 & JU71 429805, Sign. Somerset - Thin Sec. Thread, PMG graded Gem Uncirculated 65 EPQ. (2). ��������� Est. $120-200 Greece 102 102 National Bank of Greece, 1905-18 Specimen Banknote Greece. 1905- 18. 5 Drachmai, P-54s, Specimen banknote, Blue on face, S/N HTH1951 00000, PMG graded Gem Uncirculated 65 EPQ. Printer: ABNC. ���������������������������������������������� Est. $230-375 103 103 National Bank of Greece, ND (1926) Bisected Emergency Issue Banknote Greece. ND (1926). 500 Drachmai, P-82, Emergency Issue Banknote - Bisected P-77, Olive and red, S/N EM045 559056, PMG graded Choice About Uncirculated 58. Printer: ABNC. Only 4 notes grade higher in the PMG census out of 21 graded. �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Est. $200-400 104 104 Bank of Greece, 1935 Issued Banknote Greece….. 1935. 1000 Drachmai, P-106a. M/c print with girl in national costume at center on front and back. Choice VF to XF condition. Printed in France. Attractive note. ������������������������������������������������ Est. $75-150