A BANKNOTE worth just ten shillings when it was issued is expected to fetch up to �10,000 at auction.

The rare note will go under the hammer at Lockdales Auctioneers in Martlesham on Saturday.

The Leeward Islands note was inherited by a family and dates from January 1, 1921. It is the first note of the first issue – with serial number 00001 of issue A/1.

Chris Elmy of Lockdales said: “Its current owners are descendants of former Auditor General of Antigua, W.D. Auchinleck, who must have kept it realising its significance.”

Mr Auchinleck’s signature is printed on the note as he was a Commissioner of Currency in the Leeward Islands, which Antigua used to be a part of.

Only five shillings and ten shilling notes were issued in the Leeward Islands in 1921.

“All are very rare and seldom seen on the market,” Mr Elmy said. “To find the first serial number of a banknote, which is itself an extreme rarity, is something truly unique.

“There has been a lot of interest among international banknote collectors over this opportunity.”