A retired couple have been left in shock after a collection of rare Bristol-issued banknotes they discovered more than 30 years ago sold for £51,000 on Channel 5’s Cash In The Attic. The sale marks a series record for the programme, which helps people try to sell potential hidden treasures from their homes at auction.
Retired builder Vic Witt and his wife Janet Witt discovered the banknotes, which date back to between 1916 and 1918, while renovating their otherwise ordinary two-bedroom house in Beaminster, Dorset. On closer inspection it was discovered that eight of the notes were issued in the couple’s local mint in Bristol, with one issued in London.
While white banknotes in London from the early 1900s are relatively common, often with an estimated value of between £50-£100, Bristol-issued white banknotes are much rarer. As a result of their rarity, appraisers on the show found it difficult to offer an accurate estimate.
