Rare £5 bank note issued in Leeds sells for £32k at auction

Bidding on he note was "extremely fierce", the auction house said

An "exceptionally rare" historical £5 note from the Bank of England branch in Leeds has sold at auction for £32,000.

The note, dated 12 July, 1900, was originally signed by Horace G Bowen, the chief cashier at the Bank of England from 1893 to 1902.

The £5 had been expected to fetch about £16,000 but sold for double the amount at auctioneers Noonans on Thursday.

It was bought by an "advanced collector of English banknotes", the firm explained.

During the sale day, another rare £5 note dated July 28, 1862, also beat a £15,000 top estimate after going under the hammer for £20,000.

Also issued in Leeds, it was signed by Matthew Marshall, who was chief cashier of the Bank of England between 1835 and 1864.

Andrew Pattison, head of banknote department at Noonans, said: "Bidding was extremely fierce, with the notes going to two different buyers, both of whom are advanced collectors of English banknotes.

"There were multiple bidders on each note right to the top, which just shows that interest in rare and unique collectable banknotes is extremely strong."

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