The session was well attended and historical currency was actively sought by collectors, with particular focus on Obsoletes. A gorgeous Five Dollar Baltimore Maryland color proof on the Merchants Bank saw spirited bidding before selling for an impressive $7,638, which eclipsed the $5,000 high estimate. The always popular Polar Bear vignette found on the Boston Massachusetts Continental Bank series of the Two Dollar denomination was offered in a striking PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ state and fetched $6,462. One of the more noteworthy Philadelphia Pennsylvania Obsolete Notes was a Bank of Northern Liberties $50 Proof that brought $5,875, a level that black and white proofs seldom achieve.
Federally issued currency kept with current trends and enjoyed vigorous bidding activity. A highlight was a newly discovered replacement note from the 1928C Federal Reserve Note series of the $10 denomination. The lot represented the first known star note for the Chicago district, with only two previous other replacements for all districts on the 1928C series. The lot saw several interested parties before the hammer fell netting a $22,325 realization. National banknotes were largely anchored by the Watermelon Collection, Part II that had a major focus on Ohio and Pennsylvania but also had key rarities from New York among other states. Several of the popular “Lazy Deuce,” design types were offered with all garnering strong results. A trove of rare Nevada notes was another highlight, with an Ely 1902 $20 Plain Back in PMG About Uncirculated 50 going to a new owner for $21,150.
