The Stack’s Bowers Galleries Spring 2025 Showcase saw intense interest and bidding in three sessions offering U.S. Currency that together realized nearly $7 million. Rarities abounded throughout the auction which featured items from the Richard August Collection and remarkable rarities from The Shores Collection Part I, as well as selections from the Eric Agnew Collection, the Hararn Family Collection and other important properties. (All prices include the buyer’s premium.)
Among Colonial and Continental Currency, a remarkable New Jersey rarity issued during the 1730s (lot 20056) sold for more than three times its estimate at $31,200 and an uncut sheet of (16) CC-23 to CC-30 Continental Currency notes from the Richard August Collection (lot 20130) brought $72,000.
The Eric Agnew Collection offered opportunities that were decades in the making, as exceptional rarities from California attracted great interest from bidders. Leading these offerings was an uncut sheet of (4) Series of 1902 $5 Plain Backs (lot 21111) issued by the Marin County National Bank of San Rafael (Charter# 10177) which realized $55,200 in its first auction appearance.
Selections from the Shores Collection Part I and the Hararn Family Collection saw spirited bidding and created much excitement among bidders. Remarkable highlights from the Shores Collection included a $500 Silver Certificate issued under the Series of 1880 (lot 22343), the only example of its Friedberg Number available to collectors, that realized $528,000 and an extremely rare Series of 1878 $10 Silver Certificate with the penned countersignature of Assistant Treasurer J.C. Hopper (lot 22305) that brought $228,000. Among items from the Hararn Family Collection, a Series of 1918 $2 Federal Reserve Bank Note Double Denomination error from the Chicago district (with a back impression intended for a $1) realized $31,200 (lot 22092), while a rare Series of 1918 $50 Federal Reserve Note, one of only 4,000 printed, brought $27,600 (lot 22387).
Other noted highlights from the three sessions include:
Session I:
MA-211. Massachusetts. June 18, 1776. 36 Shillings. PMG Choice Extremely Fine 45. Realized $7,800 (Lot 20031).
CC-9. Continental Currency. May 10, 1775. $20. PMG Very Fine 25 Net. Severed & Reattached, Repaired. Realized $15,600 (Lot 20116).
San Francisco, California. Imperial Government of Norton I. 1870s 50 Cents. PMG Very Fine 25. Realized $8,400 (Lot 20161).
Tallahassee, Territory of Florida. Treasury Office. 1829 50 Cents. PMG Choice Very Fine 35. Realized $6,000 (Lot 20171).
T-2. Confederate Currency. 1861 $500. PCGS Banknote Very Fine 20. Penned Civilian Endorsements. Realized $26,400 (Lot 20225).
T-53. Confederate Currency. 1862 $5. PCGS Banknote Choice Very Fine 35. Col. Benjamin H. Grierson Signature. PSA/DNA Certificate of Authenticity included. Realized $3,120 (Lot 20268).
Session II:
Clifton, Territory of Arizona. $10 1882 Date Back. Fr. 545. First NB. Charter #5821. PMG Very Fine 25. Realized $52,800 (Lot 21006).
Concord, California. $5 1902 Date Back. Fr. 593. First NB. Charter #9945. PMG Fine 12. Realized $15,600 (Lot 21021).
Eureka, California. $10 1902 Plain Back. Fr. 631. Humboldt NB. Charter #10528. PMG About Uncirculated 55 EPQ. Serial Number 1. Realized $10,200 (Lot 21029).
Kingsburg, California. $50 1902 Date Back. Fr. 669. First NB. Charter #8409. PMG Choice Very Fine 35. Realized $33,600 (Lot 21041).
Monterey, California. $20 1902 Red Seal. Fr. 639. First NB. Charter #7058. PMG About Uncirculated 53. Serial Number 1. Realized $26,400 (Lot 21056).
Petaluma, California. $10 1874. Fr. 1149. First National Gold Bank. Charter #2193. PMG Very Fine 25. Realized $31,200 (Lot 21071).
San Francisco, California. $5 1870. Fr. 1136. First National Gold Bank. Charter #1741. PMG Very Fine 25 EPQ. Realized $24,000 (Lot 21089).
New York, New York. 1875 $100 Fr. 460. The NB of Commerce. Charter #733. PMG Choice Fine 15 Net. Pinholes & Back Discoloration. Realized $15,600 (Lot 21201).
Cambridge, Ohio. $2 Original. Fr. 389. Guernsey NB. Charter #1942. PCGS Banknote Gem Uncirculated 65 PPQ. Realized $26,400 (Lot 21216).
Cincinnati, Ohio. $50 Original. Fr. 442. Merchants NB. Charter #844. PCGS Banknote Very Good 10 Details. Edge and Internal Repairs. Realized $6,600 (Lot 21218).
Session III:
Fr. 45. 1875 $2 Legal Tender Note. PMG Gem Uncirculated 65 EPQ. Realized $37,200 (Lot 22150).
Fr. 168. 1869 $100 Legal Tender Note. PMG Choice Extremely Fine 45. Realized $192,000 (Lot 22210).
Lot of (2) ITE2 & ITE2a. Act of July 17, 1861 $5 Interest Bearing Note. PCGS Currency 63 & Gem New 65. Front & Back Proofs. Realized $38,400 (Lot 22216).
Fr. 305. 1878 $20 Silver Certificate. PMG Very Fine 20. Realized $66,000 (Lot 22319) .
Fr. 341. 1880 $100 Silver Certificate. PCGS Banknote Extremely Fine 40. Realized $84,000 (Lot 22339).
Fr. 1217. 1922 $500 Gold Certificate. PMG About Uncirculated 50. Realized $78,000 (Lot 22440).
Complete results for the Stack’s Bowers Galleries Spring 2025 U.S. Currency Showcase Auction are available at StacksBowers.com. For information about consigning to one of the firm’s Showcase or Online auctions call 800-458-4646 or email [email protected].
About Stack’s Bowers Galleries
Stack’s Bowers Galleries conducts live, internet and specialized auctions of rare U.S. and world coins and currency and ancient coins, as well as direct sales through retail and wholesale channels. The company’s 90+ year legacy includes the cataloging and sale of many of the most valuable United States coin and currency collections to ever cross an auction block — The D. Brent Pogue Collection, The John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, The Joel R. Anderson Collection, The Norweb Collection, The Cardinal Collection, The Sydney F. Martin Collection and The Battle Born Collection — to name just a few.
World coin and currency collections include The Pinnacle Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of World Gold Coins, The Kroisos Collection, The Alicia and Sidney Belzberg Collection, The Salton Collection, The Wa She Wong Collection, the Augustana Collection of gold rarities from across western Europe, the Richard Margolis Collection of world coins and medals and The Thos. H. Law Collection. Recently the firm was awarded the privilege of bringing the most valuable world coin collection to auction – the L. E. Bruun Collection.
The company is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, with galleries in New York, Boston, Miami, and Philadelphia. Offices are also located in New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Sacramento, Virginia, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, Paris and Vancouver. Stack’s Bowers Galleries hosts an annual Global Showcase in August featuring United States coins and currency, Ancient coins and World coins and currency in its Costa Mesa auction gallery. They are also the Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic events, including the New York International Numismatic Convention, the Whitman Spring, Summer and Winter Expos, the Spring and Fall Hong Kong shows, and the Maastricht Paper Money shows.
