Auction Name: 2026 March 26 World Paper Money Signature® Auction

Lot Number: 24362

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/4058*24362

Lebanon Banque de Syrie et du Liban 250 Livres 1939 Pick 21 PMG Extremely Fine 40.
Lebanon's highest denomination banknote is an iconic rarity and a type virtually unseen in any grade. This was the only 250 Livres issue from the Banque de Syria et du Liban and the highest denomination issued in Lebanon until the rampant inflation in the 1970s and 1980s. This was the crowning denomination of the first 1939 series printed by the Bank of France, with this note having 5x higher value than the next highest denomination of the series. A mere 112,000 notes of this type were supposedly printed and issued, with virtually all being redeemed many decades ago. At the time of writing, this is the second finest of only eight examples graded in the PMG Population Report. St. John's Church is engraved on the front of this imposing banknote, with a Sea Castle in Sidon on the back. Crisp paper and only minor circulation are present on this example. The pastel colors and design elements are on full display on this striking note. One of only a few known extant.

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