Lebanese 250 Livres among elusive treasures offered in Heritage's World Paper Money Auction

An exceedingly rare example of the highest-denomination Lebanese banknote is among the treasures that will land in new collections once they are sold in Heritage’s March 26 World Paper Money Signature® Auction. The Lebanon Banque de Syrie et du Liban 250 Livres 1939 Pick 21 PMG Extremely Fine 40 offered in this auction is beyond elusive, even to the most serious collectors, an iconic rarity that rarely is seen 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, the crowning denomination of the first 1939 series printed by the Bank of France. The denomination is five times higher than the next-highest in the series. It has been said that just 112,000 notes of this type were printed and issued, with virtually all being redeemed many decades ago. The one offered here is the second-finest of just eight examples graded in the PMG