Two old “Lady Lavery" Irish Free State banknotes are expected to sell for up to £16,000(€18,400) in an auction in London on Thursday.
London Auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb will hold the auction tomorrow containing Irish, British and world banknotes.
The auction will include 111 Irish banknotes, three of which are extremely rare and valuable.
A £100 Irish banknote (lot 341) will go under the hammer this week with an estimate of £12,000- £16,000 in value.
The Currency Commission, Irish Free State note dates back to 1928 and is described as an extremely rare note.
The auctioneers have described the note as “an absolutely spectacular example of an extremely rare £100 note from the Irish Free State, dated 10 September 1928.”
The 93-year-old note will be actioned off alongside a £50 note (lot 340) from the same date and has an estimated value of £8,000-£10,000.
Andrew Pattison, Head Department, Banknotes, Dix Noonan Webb, said: "These two notes are some of the first issued by the independent Ireland in 1928 and are also the first to feature the iconic image of Lady Lavery leaning on harp.
“There are now thought to be less than ten of each of these denominations still in existence from this early date.”
Renowned Irish portrait artist Sir John Lavery was commissioned to paint an image of a female personification of Ireland for the banknotes.
He chose to paint his wife Lady Hazel Lavery, and so she appears on the front of the notes dating to 1928.
Lady Lavery continued to appear on Irish money as a paper watermark until the introduction of euro notes in 2002.
A Bank of Ireland colour trial of a £10 note will also go to auction with an estimated value of £3,000- £3,600.
The note is described as of “superb paper quality, extremely rare and attractive”.
These rare notes are sure to attract the attention and the purse strings of collectors across the world.
Various other Irish banknotes will also be auctioned off tomorrow, ranging in price from £120- £3,500.
