World Record for Single Most Valuable Piece of United States Currency Falls at 2013 Heritage Chicago Signature Auction

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Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new world record holder! The 2013 Chicago Heritage Signature Currency Auction had some incredible rarities up for grabs, and bidders weren’t shy about taking advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When the hammer fell on one lot, a new world record was set and a lucky collector now owns the most valuable note on public record.

Did you go to the 2013 Chicago Heritage Signature Currency Auction? If so, were you in attendance when the hammer fell on lot #18130? No doubt there was a round of applause: at $2,585,000, this one was a barn burner, and it smashed – in no uncertain terms – the old record for single most valuable piece of United States currency sold in public.

We discussed this note a couple weeks ago. It was the “Not actually a Grand Watermelon” note with the much rarer 1891 Open Back design. It was formerly part of the formidable Greensboro Collection, which unloaded its heavy hitters at this amazing auction event.

New World Record: $2,585,000 Fr. 379c 1891 $1,000 Treasury or Coin Note, Tillman-Morgan PCGS Ex. Fine 45 PPQ

(Previous holder: Fr. 379b 1890 $1000 Treasury or Coin Note, “Grand Watermelon” Rosecrans-Nebeker PMG Very Fine 35)

 

Amazingly, this wasn’t the only note to crack the $2 Million barrier. Fr. 1166c 1863 $100 Gold Certificate with engraved signatures of VanDyck and Spinner claimed a whopping $2,115,000 final price. This quintessential rarity attracted a ton of attention, edging out the 3rd highest value sale (a real Grand Watermelon 🙂  – see below) .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rounding out the top 3 was an equally impressive note, that would have taken the grand prize at almost any other auction EXCEPT this one. Fr. 379a 1890 $1,000 Treasury or Coin Note true “Grand Watermelon”, signatures of Rosecrans-Huston PCGS Ex. Fine 45 Apparent realized: $1,527,500.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All of the above were offered from the Greensboro Collection Part II, an astounding compilation of some of the hobby’s most sought after notes. Heritage will be cutting the seller a big check very soon. Hopefully a profit will be realized after Uncle Sam gets his share!