Large-denomination Notes Graded by PMG Realize Six Figures Each in Stack's Bowers Auction

Three high-denomination notes certified by Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) took the top spots in a Stack's Bowers auction of US currency that was held November 17, 2023. In all, nine of the top 10 lots in the sale were PMG-certified.

The top lot in the auction was an 1882 $1,000 Gold Certificate graded PMG 25 Very Fine (lot 20236), which realized $204,000. Only five examples of this catalog number are listed in the PMG Population Report, and a total of a mere 11 examples are known to exist, according to the auction house.

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Meanwhile, a 1934 $10,000 Federal Reserve Note (Philadelphia) graded PMG 45 Choice Extremely Fine (lot 20294) realized $180,000. The note is pedigreed to Johnny Chan, a professional poker player who has won 10 World Series of Poker bracelets, the most recent in 2005. Only three examples of this catalog number appear in the PMG Population Report.

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Also realizing $180,000 was a 1934 $5,000 Federal Reserve Note (Chicago) graded PMG 45 Choice Extremely Fine (lot 20293). PMG has certified just 42 examples of the 1934 Series $5,000 denomination from the Chicago Federal Reserve District, and only 124 $5,000 Small-Size Federal Reserve Notes in all. The Small-Size $5,000 and $10,000 Federal Reserve Notes are major trophies for advanced collectors and tend to share the spotlight in whatever auction they appear in.

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Other PMG-certified notes in this auction included:

• a 1775 Continental Currency $20 graded PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated EPQ★ (lot 20008), which realized $156,000
• a 1918 $500 Federal Reserve Note (San Francisco) graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated (lot 20209), which realized $150,000
• a Carmen, Oklahoma 1902 Red Seal $10 National Bank Note graded PMG 50 About Uncirculated (lot 20340), which realized $57,600
• a Pennsylvania Colonial Note 1739 20 Shillings graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine (lot 20006), which realized $55,200
• an 1880 $100 Silver Certificate pedigreed to the Mike Coltrane Collection graded PMG 30 Very Fine (lot 20178), which realized $51,600
• a group of five 1934 $1,000 Federal Reserve Notes (Boston) with consecutive serial numbers graded PMG Choice Uncirculated 63 EPQ to PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated EPQ (lot 20285), which realized $51,600
• a group of four 1934 $1,000 Federal Reserve Notes (Boston) with consecutive serial numbers graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated EPQ to PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated EPQ (lot 20286), which realized $51,600
• a 1918 $500 Federal Reserve Note (Kansas City) graded PMG 30 Very Fine (lot 20208), which realized $36,000

Prices realized include buyer's premium.