Aventine's ANE Sale this 26-27 April includes an exclusive fixed price offering of the "Galway Hoard", a previously undiscovered lot of more than £30 just in face value of predominantly colonial New Zealand trading bank issued banknotes along with a couple of early RBNZ issues, discovered in an old villa on Galway Street, Onehunga.

This "hoard" will be on exhibition at the ANE 2025 unless sold prior as an intact lot.

Available for Private Treaty Sale: $15,000 NZD

For much of the 19th and early 20th centuries, New Zealand’s monetary system was shaped by the now-unfamiliar practice of private trading banks issuing banknotes for public circulation. The Union Bank of Australia, established in 1840 in Petone (then known as Britannia), was the first trading bank in New Zealand. Over a century later, in 1951, it merged with the Bank of Australasia to form the institution New Zealanders recognise as ANZ Bank. They further expanded by acquiring the National Bank of New Zealand in 2003.

The earliest £1 note is from the Union Bank of Australia, issued in Wellington and dated 1 March 1905, with the latest being the first prefix of the RBNZ Series II £1 by Wilson, appointed as Chief Cashier in 1953.

14 notes from the Union Bank of Australia, domicile Wellington, 10 from the Bank of New Zealand, 1 from the Bank of Australasia, domicile Wellington, and 1 from the National Bank of New Zealand. From the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, seven of the "Lefeaux" Series I, and one from the "Wilson" Series II as the first prefix of its type.

A truly remarkable modern-day discovery, reminiscent of finds from decades long past and the likes of which aren't seen on the market today—and unlikely to be repeated again soon.

Serial Numbers: 265533, 712,611, 887,208., 12B 299251, 5A 667485, 5C 051662, 6B 876395, 7B 602868, 9A 302321, 9B 628073, A552,164, A946,102, B444,174, C839,092, C862906, D126618, E366399, E607041, E658920, 3/N 873316, 4/N 171011, 4/N 291979, 4/N 309445, 4/N 359371, 4/N 429860, 4/N 434011, 4/N 436933, 4/N 438447, 4/N 448879, 4/N 466292, 4/N 498860, 4/N 506489, 5/N 26475.