Ahead of the 2025 New York International Numismatic Convention, Aventine Numismatics offers an exclusive preview of one of the most iconic New Zealand banknotes to be exhibited and sold there—a Lefeaux Kiwi Fifty Pounds. 

The first series banknotes issued by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, dated 1st August 1934, were issued in denominations of Ten Shillings, One Pound, Five Pounds, and Fifty Pounds by printers Thomas de la Rue London.

The 50 Pounds, in cerise, depicts a portrait of King Tāwhiao, the second Māori king, by Gottfried Lindauer and an illustration of a Kiwi by John Gerrard Keulemans. Previously, New Zealand private banks held the rights to issue banknotes until the sole note-issuing authority was given to the RBNZ.

This short-lived emergency series was replaced in 1940, with any 50 Pounds exceedingly rare today. Only a mere 60 of these notes are recorded to have survived, according to banknote specialist Robert Pepping in his latest publication in 2024, "New Zealand Pre-Decimal History Noted".

In 2025, this rare £50 note will be featured in an upcoming auction by Spink and Son Ltd in their World Banknotes NY INC auction on 17th January. We invite our New Zealand clients to enquire with us for bidding, credit, and shipping arrangements as Spink’s New Zealand Agent.