PMG-graded Notes Expected to Realize Six-Figure Prices in January Auctions

Two US gold certificates certified by PMG are likely to sell for prices well into the six figures at auction in January.

The gold certificates, from the economically turbulent late 19th century, are the centerpiece items of Heritage Auctions’ FUN Currency Signature Auction. These notes, which will be offered on January 5, 2018, are:

• An extremely rare 1882 $1,000 Gold Certificate, Fr#1218e, graded PMG 30 Very Fine. Thousands of these notes featuring an image of Alexander Hamilton were printed over a quarter century. The rare combination of the Rosecrans and Nebeker signatures indicates that this note is from the early 1890s. Only five such examples are known. Heritage Auctions estimates this note will sell for at least $500,000.



1882 $1,000 Gold Certificate, Fr#1218e, graded PMG 30 Very Fine. Click image to enlarge.



• An early example of an 1882 $20 Gold Certificate, Fr#1776, graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ. It features an image of President James Garfield, who was assassinated six months after the start of his term in 1881. Heritage Auctions estimates this note will sell for at least $250,000.

This auction also features two 1934 $10,000 Federal Reserve Notes, Fr. 2231-B — one graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated and the other graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated. Being offered separately, both notes have a colorful history: They were part of a $1 million display of $10,000 notes at Binion’s Horseshoe casino in Las Vegas. Heritage Auctions estimates each will sell for at least $100,000. A Binions note graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated was sold at last year’s FUN Auction for $188,000.

Meanwhile, Heritage Auctions’ FUN World Currency Signature Auction, January 4-8, features a group of four rare German New Guinea notes being offered as a single lot on January 4.

The canceled notes, which have written dates of October 14 or November 5, 1914, are a 5 Marks graded PMG 45 Choice Extremely Fine, a 10 Marks graded PMG 53 About Uncirculated as well as a 20 Marks and a 50 Marks, both graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine. They date from the time of the Australian occupation of nearby German New Guinea during World War I. Heritage Auctions estimates the notes will sell for at least $200,000.

Not all the auction action is in Florida. Keep an eye on PMG-graded rarities in two Stack’s Bowers’ auctions in New York City. A very rare 1984 1 Dollar British Honduras note graded PMG 20 Very Fine NET leads the offerings in Stack’s Bowers NYINC - Session B - World Paper Money auction, to be held of January 12, 2018. Stack’s Bowers estimates it will sell for $30,000 to $50,000. (Read more here.)

Hundreds of Colombian notes graded by PMG are featured in the Stack’s Bowers NYINC – Session A – The Eldorado Collection auction. (Read more here.) They include:

• Lot 10044 - A 1919 Banco de la Republica 5 Pesos, graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine. Stack’s Bowers estimates it will sell for $6,000 to $9,000.
• Lot 10025 - A 1895 Banco Nacional 1,000 Pesos, graded PMG 25 Very Fine. Stack’s Bowers estimated it would sell for $1,000 to $1,500, but online bidding four weeks before the auction reached $8,000.

Lot 10025 – Colombia, Banco Nacional, Pick# 241, 1895, 1000 Pesos, Graded PMG Very Fine 25, front Click image to enlarge.

All images are courtesy of their respective auction houses.

Related link
November and December PMG Auction Highlights