$1,000 Gold Certificate Realizes $378,200 To Lead Heritage’s CSNS U.S. Currency Auction Above $7.6 Million

An extraordinary $1,000 1882 Gold Certificate realized $378,200 to lead Heritage’s April 28-May 1 CSNS U.S. Currency Signature^® Auction to $7,637,564, as collectors competed for rare U.S. currency, Confederate notes, National Bank Notes, Gold Certificates and high-denomination Federal Reserve Notes.

The top lot, a Fr. 1218e $1,000 1882 Gold Certificate PMG Very Fine 30, features a large portrait of Alexander Hamilton and a striking orange back with an eagle vignette. Just five survivors are presently recorded in the census, with two held by Federal Reserve Banks and another unseen for decades, leaving only two examples known in private hands.

“This is an exceptional addition to any collection — a historically significant note that is exceedingly difficult to acquire because of its rarity,” says Dustin Johnston, Senior Vice President of Numismatics at Heritage Auctions. “To be from a minuscule population, more than half of which is out of reach of collectors, makes this an unquestioned treasure for its new owner.”

A Fr. 1133-D $1,000 1918 Federal Reserve Note PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ brought $231,800. The Cleveland district note is one of only 14 examples recorded in the Track & Price Census, and PMG has graded only eight representatives of the number. This example is the finest encapsulated by PMG and the highest grade currently recorded for Fr. 1133-D.

National Bank Notes delivered one of the auction’s strongest results when a San Juan, PR - $10 1902 Date Back Fr. 616 The First National Bank of Porto Rico at San Juan Ch. # (S)6484 PMG Fine 12 realized $170,800. From the only national bank on the island of Puerto Rico, it is the only 1902 Blue Seal known from the charter, with the other recorded notes being 1902 Red Seals.

The auction’s exceptional Confederate currency offerings were led by a T1 $1,000 1861 PF-1 Cr. 1 PMG Choice About Unc 58 EPQ, which sold for $170,800. The only $1,000 note emitted by the Confederate Treasury, it was part of the Montgomery series issued from Montgomery, Alabama, and showcases portraits of John C. Calhoun and Andrew Jackson. Signed by actual register Alexander B. Clitherall and treasurer Edward C. Elmore, the note is the sole finest example PMG has encapsulated.

A Serial Number 1 Denver, Colorado Territory - $20 Original Fr. 426 The First National Bank Ch. # 1016 PMG Very Fine 25 reached $109,800. One of just three Serial Number 1 Original Series $20s known for the entire country, it is the only one reported from a Territorial bank and remains a trophy-level National Bank Note.

A Fr. 127 $20 1869 Legal Tender PCGS Banknote Superb Gem Unc 67 PPQ brought $82,350. The Rainbow $20 has earned the highest grade reported by Track & Price for the Friedberg number and is one of just four notes to achieve the grade from a major grading service.

Another Confederate rarity, a T35 $5 1861 PF-1 Cr. 271 PMG Very Fine 25, sold for $79,300. Known as the “Indian Princess” note, it is prized for its short production run of just 7,160 examples and is free of the repairs, restorations and impairments often encountered on the type.

Complete results can be found at HA.com/3601.