Retired artist earns £542,500 from bank notes auction

A remarkable assortment of banknote designs and specimens achieved a sale price of 542,500 at auction, exceeding initial expectations by more than double. The collection belonged to Richard Adams from Wiltshire, who began his career in 1972 at the New Malden-based British banknote printing firm Bradbury Wilkinson & Co at the age of 24 and retired in 2016.

The auction, conducted by Special Auction Services (SAS) in Newbury, had anticipated a total of around 200,000 for approximately 300 items, including designs, essays, models, and test prints from Bradbury Wilkinson.

Among the highlights was a one-sided specimen proof of a 100 Riyals banknote made for the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority. Originally expected to sell for 300500, it ultimately reached an impressive 50,000.

Another notable piece was a rare, hand-painted essay of a banknote design, likely a prototype for a Saudi Arabia One Riyal note from the 1930s, which sold for 28,750.

Thomas Forrester, director at SAS, expressed his satisfaction with the results, stating, "It has been a pleasure working with Richard Adams, whose expertise and dedication to his craft have been truly inspiring. The exceptional prices achieved reflect the enthusiasm and originality he brought to the collection, which generated significant interest in the market."

Author: Ethan Caldwell