‘Sexy’ R50 Seychelles banknote to be sold at auction |19 August 2015

A R50 Seychelles banknote with the word ‘sex’ secretly written in palm trees is to be sold at auction in England.

Issued between 1968 and 1973 and featuring an image of the Queen, the banknote is due to be sold at Duke of Dorchester in October. It has an estimated value of £200.

Timothy Medhurst of Duke's told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that it is not known for sure who left the hidden message in the note, but it could have been done by the printers.

He said some believe the word was added as Seychelles was trying to gain independence from Britain.

Another note in the series contains the word "scum", suggesting the additions were deliberate.

Fifty rupees is worth about £2.50 (US $3.80).

Mr Medhurst said: "This is a very collectable item for obvious reasons.”

“Amazingly the added message wasn't noticed, or was perhaps never mentioned, until after it stopped being printed. Many think the engraver Brian Fox of Bradbury & Wilkinson, the printers, put it in.

"It is an otherwise attractive note but would have disappeared into obscurity if it had not been for its secret message,” he added.

A collection of coins, notes and medals is to be auctioned on October 15.