The auction room of the Stack’s Bowers Galleries Official United States Currency Auction at the ANA World’s Fair of Money bustled with activity the evening of August 2, as bidders eagerly competed for a diverse offering of collectible paper money.
Prices realized for the auction totaled $2,300,756. All prices quoted include the buyer’s fee.
The eagerly anticipated sale of the Cleo Collection of Confederate Paper Money was met with intense bidding and saw multiple price records set for various types including $30,550 for a T-31 1861 $5 graded Choice About New 58 by PCGS (lot #10119).
A T-32 1861 $5 graded About Uncirculated 53 by PMG was sold for $28,200 (lot #10120). Both lots carried pre-auction estimates of $7,000-$10,000. Other impressive results from the Cleo Collection included $39,950 paid for a T-2 1861 $500 graded Very Fine 30 by PMG (lot #10090) and $32,900 realized for a T-35 1861 $5 graded PMG Very Fine 25 Net (lot #10123).
In total, the Cleo Collection brought more than $420,000.
The highest grossing large size type note of the auction was lot #10321, a Fr.1133-A 1918 $1000 FRN from Boston. The PCGS Extremely Fine 40 PPQ graded note is the finest graded for the catalog number and sold for $76,375. Also among large size currency, a scarce Fr.1192 1882 $50 Gold Certificate graded Very Fine 30 "Minor Restoration" by PMG garnered $28,200 (lot #10328).
In small size currency, high denomination notes were the top earners with lot #10374, a Fr.2200-L 1928 $500 FRN from San Francisco graded PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ, selling for $25,850. A small size note was also the highest grossing single lot of the auction; a lovely Fr.2220-F 1928 $5000 FRN from Atlanta graded PCGS Very Fine 30 PPQ realized $129,250 (lot #10401).
National Currency saw a number of five-figure prices. A newly discovered serial #1 1882 $10 Brown Back from the American National Bank of Deadwood, South Dakota, CH #4983, graded Very Fine 30 PPQ by PCGS, sold for $64,625 (lot #10533).
A desirable serial #1 Red Seal from the First National Bank of Bellingham, Washington, CH #7372, graded Extremely Fine 45 PPQ by PCGS, brought $39,950 (lot #10547).
Stack’s Bowers Galleries (www.stacksbowers.com) is now accepting consignments of US currency for their November Official Currency Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo. The consignment deadline for that auction is September 12, 2017. Consign your notes to this event by contacting Currency Specialist Brad Ciociola today at 919-650-9418 or email bciociola@stacksbowers.com.
