The trend has been going for quite a while, so I am sure that avid collectors are already weary of this fact, but paper money featuring the young Queen Elizabeth II fetches much more value than money of the same value, from the same era, but without her majesty. Of particular note are banknotes from the Bahamas and Jamaica (pre-1961 issue), which have been fetching tidy sums of money on eBay in any condition above VF. Unfortunately I cannot afford to buy one of those notes, so I have settled on something different, which I hope will go up in value in the same fashion: a Malta p27a which is a five pound banknote from 1961. The banknote features a young Queen Elizabeth II at right and hasn’t soared to the values of the Bahamas and Jamaica counterparts, but I have a feeling that this will change. Good investment? Only time will tell …

Malta p27a: 5 Pound banknote from 1961

Although this series of paper money from Belize does not have any particularly scenic imagery, is printed in pretty much one color, and the back is very plain, there is still something very attractive about these banknotes. And, given that they were issued only 35 years ago, it is strange that there are so few available for purchase on eBay, and almost none of them are better than VF condition. In this case the one I bought is in F condition, but it is a $5 bill. The denominations of this issue are $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, and almost all of the banknotes from this issue on eBay are of the $1 variety. Anyways, this banknote cost me $30:

Belize $5 from 1975 (p35a)

As I have stated, and continue to state, banknotes with British royalty on them will, in my opinion, be quite valuable down the road, especially from countries that are no longer in existence. And with that thought in mind I came across, and purchased Malaya and British Borneo’s p3a which is a $10 bill featuring Queen Elizabeth II. This is the highest denomination of the 1953 set which can often be found on eBay, though I have seen a few rare examples of the $50 bill and the $100 bill up for auction, and selling at a very high premium. Too rich for my blood! Its $10′s for me!

Some banknotes are still available for a great price! This one is proof. It is a Government of Bahamas banknote, with a denomination of 4 Shillings from the 1953 issue of their paper money. In the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money this one is pick 13d. It features Queen Elizabeth II at right, in her youth. I love the ship drawn at right on the face of this note. I managed to get this banknote, which I would gage as VF condition, for $12.39. I consider that a steal.

Bahamas 4 Shillings from 1953; p13d.