The sale of a very rare 200 guilder note raised a record €44,280 at auction this week, says coin and stamp agency MPO.

Although thousands of 200 guilder notes were printed, just 20 are known to collectors, MPO said.

The sale price is the highest ever paid for Dutch currency. The 200 guilder note was made in 1908 and carries the signature of central bank director JGN de Hoop, who left the bank in 1909.

At the time the note was printed, a house cost an average €1,000 and a manual labourer earned around 20 guilders a week, Nos television said.