US Legal Tender Rarity Certified by PMG Realizes Over $250,000

A rare US banknote certified by Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) realized over a quarter million dollars in a recent Stack’s Bowers auction. Hundreds of PMG-certified US banknotes were featured in Session 4 of the Summer 2022 Global Showcase Auction on August 24, 2022.

The auction’s top lot was an 1880 $100 Legal Tender graded PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ (lot 20126), which realized $288,000. The price is a significant increase from when this same note realized $156,000 at a Stack’s Bowers sale in March 2020, a testament to the strong market for PMG-certified paper money rarities.

1880 $100 Legal Tender graded PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ (lot 20126) Realized: $288,000 Click images to enlarge.

Pedigreed to the D. Brent Pogue Collection, it is the highest-graded example listed in the PMG Population Report. A mere 11 examples are available to the collecting community, according to the auction house.

Other PMG-certified highlights in the sale included:

• an 1890 $2 Treasury Note graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated EPQ (lot 20211) that realized $43,200
• a 1918 $500 Federal Reserve Note (Boston) graded PMG 25 Very Fine (lot 20330) that realized $43,200
• an 1886 $5 Silver Certificate graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ (lot 20165) that realized $42,000
• an 1896 $5 Silver Certificate graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ (lot 20175) that realized $42,000
• a 1918 $1,000 Federal Reserve Note (Boston) graded PMG 30 Very Fine (lot 20331) that realized $40,800
• a 1933 $10 Silver Certificate graded PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ (lot 20411) that realized $38,400
• a 1914 $50 Federal Reserve Note (Boston) graded PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated (lot 20306) that realized $31,200
• an 1890 $10 Treasury Note graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated (lot 20226) that realized $22,800

Prices realized include buyer's premium.