ESM Goh raises S$36,000 for children with cancer by auctioning his bicentennial S$20 notes

A set of three bicentennial $20 notes were just sold at a charity auction for S$36,199.

Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong auctioned his uncut sheet of three $20 notes, which were initially sold by the Singapore Mint for S$280 per set.

The former Prime Minister sold off his set at a charity lunch for Arc Children’s Centre on Sunday (June 30), where he was the guest of honour.

The centre supports children with cancer and life-threatening illnesses.

In a Facebook post on Sunday (June 30), ESM Goh wrote that the notes were bought by local property developer City Developments Limited (CDL).

He wrote, “CDL won the silent auction for my donation of uncut bicentennial $20 notes with a bid of $36,199”.

He added that the notes were priced as such because “‘3’ is for the 3 notes and ‘6199’ is the last four digits of the third note”.

“Looks like a lucky 4D number too”, he quipped.

According to a report by The Straits Times, ESM Goh said he had not originally brought anything for the auction, but came up with the idea of auctioning off his notes – which he had just bought – on the spot.

ESM Goh also added that at the first Arc lunch in 2011, he donated a first day cover of Neptune Orient Lines stamps. The latter was Singapore’s national shipping line. He wrote, “One generous donor bid $10,000 for it”.