An anonymous donation of nearly 160 rare international banknotes handed into a charity shop in Edinburgh has raised an incredible £85,860 at auction. The collection, which was gifted to the British Heart Foundation (BHF) store at Straiton Retail Park, went under the hammer at specialist auction house Noonans, with all proceeds directly supporting lifesaving research into heart and circulatory diseases.
Shop volunteers initially received the albums containing the paper money and quickly recognized that the items might hold significant value. Lacking specific expertise in numismatics, the local store team forwarded the collection to the BHF’s eBay team in Leeds to investigate further. Once experts reviewed the contents, the true rarity of the pieces became apparent.
A Unique Collection of Global Banknotes
The auction featured nearly 160 lots of specimen and trial banknotes from around the globe. Among the standout items was an uncirculated note featuring a portrait of a young Queen Elizabeth II, issued by the Board of Commissioners of Currency for Malaya and British Borneo.
Other major highlights that drove competitive bidding included:
- An extremely rare 1947 Iraqi 10 Dinars colour trial.
- A 1961 specimen 100 Riyal note originating from Saudi Arabia.
- Two hand-painted designs for Royal Bank of Scotland notes that never entered public circulation.
The unreleased Scottish notes carried fascinating historical imagery. One design featured Enlightenment-era Scottish industrialist David Dale, alongside vignettes of the University of Glasgow and a statue of Lord Kelvin. The second design highlighted Archibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of Argyll-also known as Lord Ilay-backed by a detailed view of Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town as seen from Salisbury Crags.
Charity and Collectors Unite
David McCormack, manager of the Straiton Retail Park shop, expressed astonishment when the true value of the contribution came to light. He noted that the team was completely flabbergasted by the discovery and proud that the anonymous donor chose their store for such a remarkable gift.
To maximize the final contribution, specialist auction house Noonans completely waived its vendor commission for the sale. Andrew Pattison, head of the banknotes department at Noonans, remarked that international collectors responded exceptionally well to the material, often driving bids higher due to the charitable nature of the auction.
“Material of this quality is extremely rare and collectors all over the world have responded extremely well, with many of the notes selling for that little bit more than normal on account of the charitable nature of the sale.” – Andrew Pattison, Noonans
Allison Swaine-Hughes, Chief Commercial Officer at the BHF, praised both the donor and the retail staff for their vigilance. She emphasized that every pound raised through charity shops helps fund critical medical research, creating a lasting legacy that benefits cardiovascular patients worldwide.
