Among the many lots to be offered in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries March 2014 Official Auction of the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Baltimore Expo will be a newly discovered Fr. 2201-K*. When it crosses the block next month, the 1934 $500 Dallas Star note will be just the second to be offered at auction.
Dallas stars are among the rarest of the 1934 series $500 replacements, along with the Minneapolis and Kansas City districts. The example to be offered was hidden away for decades in a safety deposit box with a small group of other high denomination notes saved from circulation. The consignor, who wishes to remain anonymous, discovered the note as he emptied the box that originally belonged to his parents. While he was elated at the sight of several $500 and $1000 notes, he knew one in particular — with a star at the end of the serial number — must have particular significance.
"At first I did not even know what a star note was. I went online to read about currency and there was an article about star notes and how rare they are," he said. "Tucked away in a safety deposit box for decades, my parents did not realize what they had put away for the future."
The note has been graded Apparent Extremely Fine 40 by PCGS, with mention of a minor pinhole repair. It will carry an estimate of $6,000-$9,000 when it appears in our official auction of the Whitman Coins and Collectibles Baltimore Expo next month.
