Banknotes Featuring King Charles III Go For £1 Million At Auction

A collection of rare banknotes is included King Charles III raised nearly £1 million at a recent charity auction.

“King Charles III auctions and polls raise £914,127 for charity! 🎉,” the official Bank of England Instagram account announced on Monday, August 12. “Following the release of our new banknotes, @spink_auctions is holding a charity auction and raffle of the new low-numbered banknotes. The proceeds will be shared between ten current and past charities of the year.”

The Bank of England has teamed up with Spink Auctions to put a limited number of £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes up for grabs. Their contribution included a selection of sheets.

Funds raised will go to several non-profit organizations including World Wildlife Fund, Childhood Trust, Brain Tumor Charity, Samaritans, Carers and more.

According to the Tatlerthe lowest serial number was on the £10 note, “HB01 000002.” The item eventually sold for £17,000. A £50 note with the serial number “000003” sold for £14,000 while a £5 note with the same number sold for £11,000. A sheet of 40 £50 notes achieved the highest bid at the auction at £26,000.

The currency’s serial numbers are what make the pieces so unique. Charles, age 75, currently has the serial number “000001.”

Charles’ face was added to British currency earlier this year. It is the first time that the Bank of England has changed the face of the king with loans. Charles’ late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was the first to appear on paper money.

In April, Charles began looking at the bills before they were delivered in June. Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England, and Sarah John, treasurer and chief banker, presented the notes to the king at Buckingham Palace.

“This is what is surprising. You’d think it’s going backwards,” Charles said of the BBC’s record-breaking new credits.

While comparing the new money with the old, Charles was impressed by the overall design including the famous face on the back of his bill.

“I wondered how it would turn out, yes. Excellent picture Jane Austen, Winston [Churchill],” he said. “These are very good, I must say.”

In addition to being on UK currency, Charles’ image has also been added to stamps and passports since he took the throne in 2022.