Heritage Auctions offer the only 1863 $100 Gold Certificate in private hands known to exist. The Fr. 1166c Series 1863 $100 Gold Certificate will take top lot honors during Heritage Auctions' second Platinum Night Currency auction, held in conjunction with the Central States Numismatic Society Convention, April 24-28 in Schaumburg, IL.
Three examples of this note are known to exist, two of which reside in the Smithsonian Institution. The second example, the currently offered note, bears serial number 46425. It is hand dated December 13, 1866 and it has the engraved signature of H.H. VanDyck. The engraved signatures were permitted by law only on the $20 and $100 denominations of this issue. The higher denomination notes from $500 through $10,000 required the hand signature of the assistant treasurer. The Whitman Encyclopedia erroneously cites this note, the currently offered example, as hand signed.
There is considerable evidence that the $20s and $100s actually circulated. In J. Cooke: Financier of the Civil War, Volume One by Ellis Oberholtze, the author cites an instance in which Philadelphia importers "vigorously complained to Mr. Cooke" that they were unable to procure 1863 gold notes from the New York assistant treasurer, and that these certificates, like the gold coins themselves, were becoming subjects of speculation. Further evidence that these notes actually circulated is the fact that all known $20 and $100 1863 Golds are actually circulated. This cataloger gives more weight to the second piece of evidence than the first. In John J. Knox's US Notes: The History of the Various Issues of Paper Money By the Government of the United States printed in 1885 he mentions this issue on pages 115 and 116 "the Act of March 3, 1863 authorized the issue of Gold Certificates...to be used for clearing-house purposes. They were authorized to be issued in sums of not less than $20 corresponding with the denominations of US notes. The coin and bullion deposited were required to be retained in the Treasury for the payment of the same on demand." And states further, "Most of these certificates issued for clearing-house purposes were in denominations of $1000, $5000, and $10000."
Another highlight is the 379c Series 1891 $1000 Treasury Note. Only two examples of this design-type are known to exist. The first is this note, whose pedigree lists most of the important names in the history of US currency collecting. It was in the 1944 Barney Bluestone sale of the Grinnell Collection, then to Robert Friedberg, then to Amon Carter, Jr., followed by Jim Thompson, then on to Dean Oakes who sold it to Dr. Edward and Joanne Dauer (the only collectors who ever formed a complete collection of all known U.S. type notes), and finally to the Greensboro Collection. The second existing example has a much simpler history. It has resided in the National Numismatic Collection of the Smithsonian Institution since it was transferred there by the Treasury Department.
More than 3,500 lots — from Colonial Currency to Nationals and Type Notes — will cross the block with high value Large Size and Small Size type notes featured in the April 26 Platinum Night Session.
Another anticipated record-setting highlight is the Fr. 379a $1,000 1890 "Watermelon" Treasury Note PCGS Apparent Extremely Fine 45. It features intricate "Green Back" designs resulting in one of the most iconic designs on U. S. currency. Its ornate design resembles the rind of a watermelon, earning it its nickname. On 16 December 2006, Heritage Auction Gallery sold a US Grand Watermelon note for a world's record price of $2,255,000; World Most Expensive Banknote.
The finest known San Francisco $50 Original National Gold Bank Note, a Fr. 1160 The First National Gold Bank Ch. # 1741 from San Francisco, is one of the irreplaceable highlights of the Greensboro Collection. Just five examples of this San Francisco $50 National Gold Bank Note are listed in the Kelly and Gengerke censuses, along with the unique 1875 example which is in the ANA museum. This note traces its pedigree back to the holdings of the late Fort Worth publishing magnate Amon Carter, Jr.
A number of Federal Reserve notes offered in the auction represent the top specimens available, including a rare Fr. 2220-A $5000 1928 Federal Reserve Note graded PCGS About New 58PPQ, a lushly decorated, well-centered example with colors as bright as the day the note left the press nearly 80 years ago.
Two Large Size notes sporting rare serial number 1 — a Series 1901 $10 "Bison" Legal Tender and a Series 1899 $5 "Chief" Silver Certificate represent the pinnacle of rare currency notes. The Bison note is from the top position of a four-note sheet with the Lyons-Roberts signature combination — only two of the other notes from that sheet have ever been reported to exist. The K1 Chief note is the only one available to collectors, although three are known to exist.
A number of other Small Size rarities will be offered, including the Fr. 2308* $10 1934 North Africa Star Silver Certificate in PCGS Very Fine 25PPQ, a stunning Fr. 2221-E $5,000 1934 in PMG Choice Uncirculated 64, and a Fr. 2231-B $10,000 Federal Reserve Note in PCGS About New 55 that was previously part of the Binion Hoard.
In addition to the $50 National Gold Bank Note, the April 25 evening session includes a Colorado Territory First Charter $20. Graded Extremely Fine 45 by PCGS, the note is considered an uncommonly high grade for a Territorial example.
