January 7 Heritage Weekly U.S. Currency Auction

By Tracy Schmidt

Heritage Auctions provides great opportunities for collectors to buy and sell at their weekly online auction events. I see some interesting items in these auctions and many of the items included are attainable to all collector levels.

TheJan. 7 U.S. Currency auction featured a couple of notes that caught my eye. Lot #81541 was a nice example of a $10 Silver Certificate dated 1891 with Thomas A. Hendricks at center. The note has a small red seal and bears the signatures of Tillman and Morgan. It was graded PMG Very Fine 30 and sold within its estimate of $900-up at $900.

Another great note landing within the estimate was lot #81139. The obsolete remainder note was a Marion, Alabama $10 bearing the date March 1, 1871, from the Selma, Marion and Memphis Railroad Co. The note features vignettes of a person carrying a basket at left and people loading a trunk at right. Graded PMG About Uncirculated 55 with an estimate of $750-$950, the note sold for $780.

A strong performer at the auction was lot #81115. The T53, $5 1862 Confederate note, PF-13 Cr. 388, is graded PMG Choice Uncirculated 63 EPQ. The note features the Confederate States Capitol at center and the bust of confederate cabinet member C.G. Memminger at right. The plate letter on the front is an A and the denomination is in an attractive blue on the back. The note surpassed its estimate of $250-$350 and realized $900.

There were a couple of interesting serial notes included in the auction. Some collectors look for specific number combinations and they can add a premium to a bank note. Three combinations available at the auction included a near solid serial number, a repeater and a radar example. All three offered hammered below their estimate.

The first note, lot #81365, a $1 2017 Federal Reserve Note graded PMG Superb Gem Unc 67 has a near solid serial number: 55555535. It was estimated at $100-$150 and sold for $89. The second note offered, lot #81370, was a $1 2017 Federal Reserve Note graded PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ. It has repeater serial number: 66016601. That note was estimated at $75-$100 and sold for $51.

The third serial number combination that caught my eye, lot #81380, was a $1 2017 Federal Reserve note graded PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ. The note has a radar serial number: 66111166. Estimated at $100-$150, the note realized $51 at auction.

It should be noted that these are still a great price to realize for modern circulating notes with the face value of $1. There are fun things to watch for in one’s wallet for sure!

All images courtesy of Heritage Auctions.