It is one of our great pleasures at Stack’s Bowers Galleries to work with passionate collectors during the formation of their numismatic cabinets. When they select us to catalog and auction the final fruits of their passion, acumen, financial commitment and effort, it serves to amplify that pleasure we all share as numismatists. Once again, a distinguished collector and friend has selected us to offer his superb, handpicked collection of American Colonial Paper Money along with a complete type set of Continental Congress notes at our Official March 2014 Baltimore auction. Across four decades, our consignor sought out the highest quality and hand selected notes for strong eye appeal. He crafted a historically endowed tapestry of early American History and art with quality notes that exemplify the period.
Colonial American Currency possesses a charm and character that often attracts the most serious numismatists. The difficulty in obtaining high grade, appealing notes is often not fully appreciated, except by serious specialists. The selection being sold in our Thursday March 27, 2014 paper money auction contains many notes that may be finest known for their types or virtually so. Collected with such care, the enjoyment of the hunt was considerable for our consignor. He obtained notes from most of the dealer luminaries selling Colonial notes from the 1970s onward. Pedigrees such as Pine Tree and NASCA auction sales, Richard Picker, Dave Sonderman, Fritz Weber, Roland Hill, Dana Linett, Len Glazer, Tom Denly, and the F.C.C. Boyd notes sold in the Ford sales are all represented. Most importantly, our consignor attended shows and auctions for decades where he learned about his notes first hand and participated in the priceless dialogue that makes paper money collecting so enjoyable.
Among the prize notes contained in Session 2 (commencing at 1:00 pm on Thursday) are many condition rarities. Offered will be a superb selection of high grade Maryland notes from 1767 (lot 1356, a $2/3 PCGS Choice New 63), 1770 (lot 1357, a $1/9 PCGS New 62) and 1774 (lot 1363, $1 PCGS Very Choice New 64), all rarely encountered. A Superb Gem 1764 Franklin and Hall imprint 3 Pence (lot 1415) leads off Pennsylvania and that section concludes mightily with a gorgeous 1789 Bank of North America $3/90 or Three Pence note (lot 1428) with “Peacock Tail” full color marbled back. The key 1779 South Carolina $100 Thomas Coram engraved note (lot 1434, PCGS Very Choice New 64) is one of the finest seen by us, a broadly margined and bold example. In between are many beautiful collector quality notes not often offered in auctions today.
The Continental Congress notes are a great American series and interest in them is growing. The complete denomination set offered at the beginning of Session 4 at 6:00 pm on Thursday, March 27, is complete by type, all 102 notes, from all resolutions commencing with the May 10, 1775, Session $1 note (lot 3001) and ending with the last $80 denomination from the January 14, 1779, Resolution (lot 3103). The key May 10, 1775, $20 Marbled Border note (lot 3010) is a bold example, fully intact, and rarely encountered as such. The April 11, 1778, Yorktown series is complete, with a superb $20 example (lot 3077, PCGS Choice New 63 PPQ). Most of these are the best looking notes our consignor could find and were hand selected for their superior printing and wide margins. Decades of perseverance formed such a cabinet with great beauty the goal.
Each of these notes has a story to tell and the immediate visual impact is considerable. This uniquely crafted selection of Colonial and Continental Currency notes is a testament to the enjoyment of American paper money collecting. We thank our consignor for honoring us with his long friendship and confidence. Please join us at the auction being held at the Baltimore Convention Center, Room 3009, for Session 2 on Thursday March 27 at 1:00 pm and Session 4 at 6:00 pm at the same location. Bids can also be sent prior to the auction on our web site www.stacksbowers.com, by phone or FAX, or by bidding live during the auction by registering online at www.stacksbowers.com.
