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Turkey, 50 kurus, 1930, series A5, serial 195882, PMG Choice VF 35, ex-SS City of Roubaix shipwreck

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Paper Money - World Currency Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:70.00 - 100.00 USD
Turkey, 50 kurus, 1930, series A5, serial 195882, PMG Choice VF 35, ex-SS City of Roubaix shipwreck
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This item SOLD at 2022 Jul 01 @ 15:45UTC-4 : AST/EDT
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Turkey, 50 kurus, 1930, series A5, serial 195882, PMG Choice VF 35, ex-SS City of Roubaix shipwreck (1941). SCWPM-133. In 1940, the Turkish government contracted Bradbury Wilkinson to print new 50 kurus with President Inonu's portrait. This shipment, along with new 100-lira notes printed by Thomas de la Rue, were then shipped to Turkey aboard the SS City of Roubaix. On April 6, 1941, the vessel was docked in the harbor of Piraeus, Greece, when German intelligence notified the Luftwaffe that a British ship, the SS Clan Fraser, was unloading weapons and explosives in the same harbor. German bombers were scrambled and commenced a bombing run on the target. The SS City of Roubaix had the misfortune of being docked alongside the SS Clan Fraser. Both vessels were bombed, caught fire, and sank. Shortly thereafter, the 50 kurus and 100 lira from the SS City of Roubaix began to float ashore, their shipping crates breached during the attack. Many notes were recovered by Greeks who then traveled to Turkey to spend them. As such, both denominations entered circulation unofficially, forcing the Turkish government to annul them and print a new version (SCWPM-134). Modestly circulated note with light staining around the edges, one of the few available examples of shipwreck paper money. From: S.S. City of Roubaix, sunk in 1941 off Piraeus, Greece. Please use this link to verify the certification number