An "exceptionally rare" £5 note from 1900 has been sold at auction for an astounding price, fetching 6,400 times its original value.
The banknote, dating back to July 12, 1900, was purchased for £32,000, making it an incredibly valuable find.
Notes from this time period, when Horace G Bowen was the Bank of England's chief cashier, are extremely scarce, and very few of them remain in private hands.
The £5 note in question was issued by the Bank's branch in Leeds, West Yorkshire, and was later stamped 25 miles away in York, North Yorkshire, after being paid into a bank there.
What makes this note even more unique is the text it carries, which reads: "I promise to pay to Bearer on demand the sum of Five Pounds here or in London."
The note was previously in the collection of British businessman Sir David Kirch before being sold a decade ago. It has now been put back on the market by another major collector.
The auction held at Noonans in London saw a fierce bidding war, resulting in the note selling for double its estimated value.
According to Andrew Pattinson, head of Noonans' banknote department, this is an exceptional note, particularly because very few Bowen notes from the Leeds branch are in private hands.
The sale of rare banknotes and coins has been gaining attention as an unexpected way for people to cash in. Recently, there has been advice on valuable £10 and £20 notes, with some potentially worth hundreds of pounds.
This latest sale follows the discovery and sale of an extremely rare English Civil War coin from 400 years ago, as well as a 500-year-old coin collection found in Worcester.
Experts have urged individuals to be on the lookout for rare and lucrative coins, such as £2 and 20p pieces with rare glitches. The Royal Mint has also issued limited-edition coins, including a rare Olympics-themed 50p coin and coins celebrating Kew Gardens.
According to coin experts, certain 20p coins could fetch sellers as much as £1,400, while an unusual 10p piece has been valued at 300 times its face value.
In addition, the Royal Mint has recently unveiled eight new coins featuring King Charles.
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