The Stack’s Bowers Galleries official currency auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo came to a close on Monday with the conclusion of the live Internet only session. In all the March currency auction realized $4.69 million in sales with the 17.5% buyer’s premium included. Director of Currency Auctions Peter Treglia stated: “We were very happy with the results of the sale. I thought that prices were strong in categories across the board and that bidders were eager for the material that we had to offer.”
Market strength was seen in prices realized across all categories, reflecting quality and rarity as well as a number of finely curated collections that were offered. A rare seal skin Russian-American Company 10 Kopeck “Note in America” graded Choice New 63 PPQ by PCGS from the Henry P. Kendall Foundation Collection sold for $44,062. The final offering of magnificent obsolete proof notes from the Peter Mayer Collection saw spirited bidding and strong prices for numerous rarities including $10,575 for a Choice Uncirculated $50 Color Proof from the Marble Head Bank of Marblehead, Massachusetts.
Among Confederate Currency a rare T-27 1861 $10 graded Very Fine 25 Apparent by PCGS realized $8,812.50. Additionally several price records were set for top population third party graded Confederate type notes, notably $3,055 paid for a T-65 1864 $100 graded Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ by PMG.
Large size currency saw two fascinating half packs of Fr. 947 1914 $10 Federal Reserve Notes from Dallas sell for $44,062.50 each. Additionally a vibrant Fr. 1197 1882 $50 Gold Certificate graded PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 realized $19,975.
While small size currency often takes a back seat to large size in most auctions, it was the small format notes that stole the show in the evening session of Thursday’s three-session day. Led by 200 lots of high denomination and ultra-high denomination notes from the Holecek Family Foundation Collection, small size notes realized the highest prices for the sale. An outstanding original half pack of Fr. 2202-B 1934A $500 FRNs from New York brought $117,500. The top lot of the auction was a stunning Fr. 2221-H 1934 $5000 FRN from St. Louis graded PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 EPQ that realized $258,500. The finest graded Fr. 2231-A 1934 $10,000 Federal Reserve Note from Boston graded PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 EPQ sold for $223,250. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was the $58,750 realized for the finest known 1929 $100 FRBN Star Note. The Fr. 1890-G* Replacement was graded PMG Gem Uncirculated 65 EPQ and had a pre-auction estimate of $15,000-$20,000. In all, eleven small size currency lots sold for more than $50,000.
The top grossing National Currency lot was an exceptional Fr. 382 Original Series $1 from the First National Bank of Pueblo, Colorado Territory, Charter #1833, and graded PMG About Uncirculated 55 EPQ, which sold for $28,200.
Stack’s Bowers Galleries is now accepting currency consignments to our upcoming Official Currency Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles July Expo in Baltimore, as well as our Official Currency Auction of the ANA World’s Fair of Money in August in Rosemont, Illinois.
