DALLAS, TX.- A magnificent example of the highest-denomination note from an important series in Malaya and British Borneo will vie for top-lot honors when it crosses the auction block in Heritage's HKINF World Paper Money Signature® Auction Dec. 5-9.

The Board of Commissioners of Currency in Malaya and British Borneo replaced Straits Settlements with notes of the same denominations in 1953, including the Malaya and British Borneo Board of Commissioners of Currency 1000 Dollars 21.3.1953 Pick 6a B106 KNB6a PMG About Uncirculated 50 EPQ from The Peh Family Collection that is offered in this auction. Queen Elizabeth II replaced King George VI on this series, which was in service from at least 1953-67 at minimum, and possibly until 1973 in some cases. The stunning 1000 Dollars was the highest denomination of the series to be available for use by the public, as the $10,000 note was used strictly between banks. Paper notes of the Straits Settlements, Malaya, and Malaya & British Borneo were worth nearly £117 / $328 USD in 1953, or nearly $4,000 in today's dollars. It was a hefty sum of money in this region, or frankly, in any country or colony. As such, issuance of this denomination was small, as most transactions demanded a more exchangeable denomination of paper notes and coins. Only 22 examples of this note are graded by PMG, with only two pieces earning higher grades. This note is rarely offered and it is coveted by collectors worldwide.

This magnificent note is just one of more than 200 lots from The Peh Family Collection, which is widely regarded as one of the finest numismatic assemblages in the world.

"This is a superb note from a superb collection, one that stands out, even in this auction that is so impressive in both quantity and quality," says Dustin Johnston, Senior Vice President of Numismatics at Heritage Auctions. "This collection has been very well put together, with extensive consideration for great material, and the knowledge, patience and dedication to pursue the top notes available."

Also from the Peh Family Collection comes a Straits Settlements Asiatic Banking Corporation, Singapore 500 Dollars ND (ca. 1860s) Pick S79r KNB5 Remainder PMG Choice Uncirculated 63 that is the only example graded in the PMG Population Report, and is either the only example or one of very few extant, an exceptional rarity from the first few decades of British rule in Singapore. During the brief existence during the mid-1860s of the Asiatic Banking Corporation, which operated in British India, Ceylon, Hong Kong, Shanghai, London and the Straits Settlements, banknotes were prepared for Britain's Asian colonies, although it appears that no notes were issued officially. Two sets of denominations for each bank branch were prepared by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Company in 1985, but otherwise, few, if any, examples are known to exist. This offering is a $500 prepared for the Singapore branch of the bank. It bears a serial number of 000207, but it is undated and unsigned.Fully issued Deutsch-Asiatische banknotes, like the China Deutsch-Asiatische Bank, Shanghai 20 Taels 1.3.1907 Pick S292 S/M#T101-13c PMG Choice Very Fine 35 offered in this auction that is the only example graded in the PMG Population Report, are exceptionally rare, as issuance was not extensive. Banknotes notably were issued denominated in both Dollars and Taels; this offering from the Shanghai branch of the bank is denominated in Taels and is the highest degree of rarity. This auction marks the first time this variety in issued format has been offered at Heritage Auctions.

A China People's Bank of China 10,000 Yuan 1951 Pick 858a S/M#C282 PMG About Uncirculated 55from the Peh Family Collection is a superb example of the second-highest denomination of the extensive People's Bank series that was issued from 1948-51. Six denominations of the 1951 series were dedicated to the Outer Provinces of Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia. This beautiful 10,000 Yuan, featuring a herd of camels on the front, is one of the scarcest notes of the entire inflationary series, with just over 100 examples graded in the PMG Population Report, only six of which have received higher grades.

A massive China Yunnan Official Currency Bureau 7 Mace 2 Candareens=1 Dollar 1907 Pick UNL PMG Very Fine 25 from The Peh Family Collection is an impressive and exceptionally rare Qing Dynasty note from Yunnan Province in Southern China. Nothing from this issuer ever has been offered before at Heritage, making this an important opportunity to acquire a type perhaps unseen by most collectors until now. This gigantic, vertical Currency Bureau immediately grabs attention to the beautiful dragon design elements on the front of this note, and lengthy printed text on the back. A Malaysia Bank Negara 1,000 Ringgit ND (1976-81) Pick 18 KNB18a-b PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ is an exceptional example — it is tied for the finest grade in the PMG Population Report — of a banknote that is as appealing as it is rare. Its ultra-high contemporary spending power led to small production figures and relatively few saved for posterity. In addition, the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis forced the withdrawal of existing 500 and 1,000 Ringgit banknotes, further reducing the number of remaining examples available to collectors. The offered example is the final variety for the design, and the first note in a consecutive serial number pair offered in this auction.

An absolute rarity, the China Shensi Official Currency Bureau 10 Taels (1911-12) Pick UNL S/M#S22 PMG Very Fine 30 is an almost-unseen type note from Shensi, present-day Shaanxi Province. Exceptionally pretty engravings are seen on the front side of this beautiful note, highlighted by dragons and ocean waves. Heritage has not previously offered this type, which boasts the highest degree of rarity. This example has a three-digit serial number, which also may indicate that this type was issued in small quantities.

The Peh Family Collection produces many of the auction's top attractions … but not all.

An Egypt National Bank of Egypt 100 Pounds ND (1913-19) Pick 16s Specimen PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 is an especially popular note with collectors due to its rarity, grand size and imposing spending power. The second series of this denomination, issued between 1913 and 1919, features the Muhammed Ali Mosque in Cairo front and center. This type is rare in issued form as well as in Specimen form, as it was only in circulation briefly before being replaced by an updated variety first issued in 1921. Just one example grades higher in the PMG Population Report.

An exceptionally rare India Government of India, Calcutta 50 Rupees ND (1930) Pick 9d Jhunjhunwalla-Razack 3.9.2B PMG About Uncirculated 50 is a key denomination featuring King George V. The 50 Rupees of this series proves challenging, as print totals were fewer than that of the 10 and 100 Rupees. PMG has graded only 24 examples of this 50 Rupees from Calcutta, of which just one earned a higher grade than the offered example.

The Mercantile Bank of India issued banknotes in China and Hong Kong during the 20th century, but typically in small batches, making extant examples like the China Mercantile Bank of India Limited, Shanghai 5 Dollars 1.7.1916 Pick S442 S/M#S54-3 PMG About Uncirculated 53 that is in play in this auction rarely seen today. This impressive 5 Dollars of 1916 is bettered by only two examples in the PMG Population Report. This is the only date for Shanghai notes of this issuer and few are extant to be collected today.