Rare Fr. 1218g 1882 $1,000 Gold Certificate

One of the more interesting lots being offered in our Summer 2025 Global Showcase auction this August is the stunning Series 1882 $1,000 Gold Certificate bearing the signature combination of Lyons-Treat. This note, from the Shores Collection, is just one of two examples available to collectors of this final issue for the 1882 series. It would not appear in the paper money trade until it was discovered decades ago in the 1980s. It was first offered at auction by Stack’s in 1993 as lot 492 in the Herman Halpern Collection, after being sold privately back in 1987. The note has since been offered several times through the years and is one of the nicest pieces extant. The other two known pieces reside in the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco collection and the Smithsonian Institution.

Despite the Minor Restoration comment mentioned by PCGS Banknote, this lovely note displays great color with wonderful gold overprints on the face and a deeply printed back with vivid orange details. The paper appears quite firm and crisp with some embossing present despite a brief sojourn in commerce, which was likely sitting in the vault of a large banking firm. It carries a pre-auction estimate of $300,000 to $500,000. We see no reason why this note would not approach the upper end of the estimate range when it crosses the auction block in August.