BARBADOS. Government of Barbados. 20 Dollars, 1.6.1943. P-5a. PMG Fine 12.The two highest denominations of the 1938-1949 series of Barbados, with the portrait of King George VI, are major rarities in world paper money that are surely missing from even the most advanced cabinets. The $100 in particular is extremely rare and very seldom offered for sale in issued format. The $20, offered in the present lot, is not much more available, and there have been just two grading instances at PMG of issued notes (specimens are a bit more available, but it would be a stretch to call them common). The confirmed printing of this type (they were printed in England by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co.) was just 10,000 notes; all with the 1st of June, 1943 date. It is possible another printing of 10,000 notes was prepared in 1949 (specimens have been seen), but no issued notes with that date have ever appeared in the marketplace, and we suspect that they were never actually issued.<p> A tremendous commonwealth rarity, the note is graded Fine 12 by PMG. While not problem-free, its rarity more than makes up for it. It is not unique in issued format (a VF was in the Christensen Collection, sold in 2009, where it brought nearly $30,000 in a lesser developed market, and we suspect this is the other note in the PMG population report) but it might be the first time that one has been publicly offered for sale in at least a decade. Despite wear from circulation, most of the printed design elements are present, and the color is quite good for a note at this grade level. PMG mentions small rust, but it appears stable and has not eaten in the paper. The rough edges are not too distracting, and if anything, they even add some charm to the note, which survived extensive circulation on the island that the locals call Bim or Bimshire. Despite its faults a tremendous rarity and an offering that we do not expect to repeat anytime in the near future, missing from even the most advanced collections. PMG Comments "Rust, Ink."
