U.S. Paper Rarities Bring Strong Prices in Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ Spring 2024 Showcase Auction

Costa Mesa, CA – The Stack’s Bowers Galleries Spring 2024 Showcase Auction saw intense collector interest, realizing $32 million over 14 sessions of U.S. coins, banknotes, numismatic Americana, and physical cryptocurrency. Included were two live U.S. currency session in which a number of impeccable and historic rarities realized strong bids against their initial estimates. (All prices include the buyer’s premium.)

A number of Legal Tender rarities attracted strong prices, including $96,000 for lot 21084, a Fr. 148a 1862 $50 Legal Tender Note assigned a grade of Very Fine 30 by PMG with a comment and net designation for “Repaired.” A rare type and denomination even in its own time, this example represents the finest of two known recorded examples for the individual Friedberg number. Lot 21007 a Fr. 19 1874 $1 Legal Tender Note assigned a grade of Superb Gem Uncirculated 67 EPQ by PMG and the finest representative of its Friedberg number, realized $26,400 against an original estimate of $12,500 to $17,500. Lot 21053, a Fr. 93c 1862 $10 Legal Tender Note graded Choice Uncirculated 64 EPQ by PMG, also the finest of its Friedberg number, realized $63,000 against an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000. This example of Fr. 93c, a type commonly encountered in low grades, readily demonstrates the strong and consistent demand for exceptional notes that stand firmly above their circulated peers.

Lot 21174, a Fr. 334 1891 $50 Silver Certificate assigned a grade of Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ by PMG realized $66,000. Examples of this Friedberg number saw circulation only in limited circumstances at the end of its time of issue in the early 20^th century and are usually seen in circulated grades. Lot 21102 represented a special offering, one of the earliest printings of one of the most iconic notes produced by the Bureau of Engraving & Printing. This uncut sheet of four notes representing Fr. 226 1899 $1 Silver Certificates featured serial numbers 9 through 12 and was assigned a grade of Choice Uncirculated 64 by PMG. It is the third sheet ever printed of this iconic design and realized $28,800 in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries Spring Auction.

Among Small Size rarities, lot 21403 a Fr. 2408 $1000 Gold Certificate graded Extremely Fine 40 by PMG realized $34,800. The historical context in which these were issued sets this note apart, as most high denomination gold certificates were held by banks at the time of President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 6102, and thus were subject to easy redemption and prompt destruction. As a result, this Friedberg number stands as one of the most difficult small size types available to collectors.

Complete prices realized from the Spring 2024 Official Whitman Expo Auction are available at StacksBowers.com. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is now accepting consignments to the Official Auction of the Whitman Summer 2024 Expo, the August Global Showcase Auction (as an official Auctioneer Partner of the ANA World’s Fair of Money), and their ongoing series of Collectors Choice Online Auctions. For more information or to consign your coins to a future sale, contact Stack’s Bowers Galleries at Consign@StacksBowers.com or call (800) 458-4646.