At the Baltimore Convention Center, Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ Baltimore Currency Auction saw a remarkable showcase of small-size currency during its March 26 and March 30 sessions, achieving a total sales figure of nearly $4.7 million.
Among the highlights was a 1934 $5,000 note from St. Louis, Fr. 2221-H, graded PMG Choice Uncirculated 64EPQ, which commanded $258,500, leading the auction in terms of value.
Following closely was the finest graded Fr. 2231-A 1934 $10,000 Federal Reserve Note from Boston, graded PMG Choice Uncirculated 64EPQ, fetching $223,250, showcasing the enduring appeal of high-denomination banknotes among collectors.
The March 26 session, featuring 200 lots from the Holecek Family Foundation Collection, presented a range of high denomination and ultra-high denomination notes.
Notable sales included an original half pack of Fr. 2202-B 1934A $500 Federal Reserve Notes from New York, selling for $117,500, and the finest known 1929 $100 Federal Reserve Bank Note star note, which realized $58,750.
A particularly rare find was the Fr. 1890-G* replacement note, graded PMG Gem Uncirculated 65EPQ, exceeding its pre-auction estimate of $15,000-$20,000 by fetching a final price of $44,062.
Peter Treglia, Director of Currency Auctions for Stack’s Bowers, expressed satisfaction with the auction results, noting strong prices across various categories and keen bidder interest in the offerings.
Market strength was evident in several areas, including the sale of a rare seal skin Russian-American Co. 10 kopeck “Note in America,” graded Choice New 63PPQ by PCGS, from the Henry P. Kendall Foundation Collection, which sold for $44,062.
The final offering of obsolete proof notes from the Peter Mayer Collection saw robust prices for numerous rarities, such as a Choice Uncirculated $50 color proof from the Marble Head Bank of Marblehead, Mass., which fetched $10,575.
Confederate Currency also attracted significant attention, with a rare T-27 1861 $10 note, graded Very Fine 25 Apparent by PCGS, realizing $8,812.50.
Additionally, several price records were set for top population third-party graded Confederate type notes, notably $3,055 for a T-65 1864 $100 note, graded Gem Uncirculated 66EPQ by PMG.
Large-size currency saw strong demand as well, with two half packs of Fr. 947 1914 $10 Federal Reserve Notes from Dallas selling for $44,062.50 each.
An Fr. 1197 1882 $50 Gold Certificate, graded PMG Choice Uncirculated 64, realized $19,975.
One of the top-grossing national currency lots was a Fr. 382 Original Series $1 note from the First National Bank of Pueblo, Colorado Territory, charter 1833, graded PMG About Uncirculated 55EPQ, which sold for $28,200, underscoring the enduring appeal of historical banknotes from regional banks.