Technicolor Note to be Sold in Dallas Currency Auction

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Among the many rare notes crossing the block at the Dallas National Money Show, the Series 1905 $20 Gold Certificate stands out as one of the most interesting. Earning the #9 spot in 100 Greatest American Currency Notes, the "Technicolor Note" bears one of the most attractive color schemes of any US note, with beautiful yellow overprint on the face and deep gold color on the reverse.

This type of note bears two signature combinations, designated by Friedberg numbers 1179 (Lyons-Roberts) and 1180 (Lyons-Treat), of which our current example is an 1180. The vignette of Washington is a classic engraving by Alfred Sealy, based on the Stuart Portrait of Washington. This 1867 engraving also appeared on the reverse of the $1 Educational Series and a number of other notes. The back design features the Great Seal of the United States.

Though production totals were well over three million notes, between 500 and 750 of these notes are estimated to survive, and they are quite scarce in uncirculated condition. The majority of the high-grade notes have been traced to a single group that came to William Philpott from a friend at the Treasury Department. All of the twenty-five notes in the group had serial numbers beginning with A4043-. Heritage has handled over a dozen of the examples from Philpott's original group, and this is yet another excellent example.

Philpott's position as head of the Texas Banker's Association allowed him to develop Treasury contacts and gave him excellent access to material. A Dallas resident, he was a friend of Harry Bass Jr., a fellow Dallas collector of both US coins and currency, and of Fort Worth dealer B. Max Mehl. Philpott's currency exhibit at the 1953 ANA convention in Dallas won Best in Show, and he contributed an article to The Numismatist on signature combinations on US notes in 1959.

We are proud to once again offer an excellent example of Fr. 1180 in the Dallas Auction, another historical example from the Philpott group. This note is certified Gem Uncirculated 65 EPQ by PMG and is among the finer examples offered by Heritage.

Also included in the Dallas Currency Auction are important Federal Reserve currency notes such as the unique Fr. 788a 1915 $5 Atlanta note with Bell - McCord signatures, PMG Very Fine 25, estimate $50,000+ and a Fr. 1133-L $1,000 1918 note from San Francisco, PMG About Uncirculated 55, estimate $50,000+.

Historic Gold Certificates also are among the highlights. A Fr. 1220 $1000 1922 certificate , PMG Choice Very Fine 35 Net, has an estimate of $40,000+.

Among the noteworthy Legal Tender currency up for bid are a Fr. 161 $50 1880, PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ, part of The John Henderson Collection, estimated at $30,000+.

An additional Western first-serial-number Red Seal National Bank Note, Fr. 588 1902 $5 from The Morgan County National Bank in Fort Morgan, Colorado, PMG About Uncirculated 55 Net, is estimated at $25,000+. While a Fr. 382 Original “Ace” from The Wyoming National Bank, Laramie City, Wyoming Territory, PMG Very Good 10 Net, is one of three known and is estimated at $37,500+.

The thoughts and opinions in this piece are those of their author and are not necessarily the thoughts of the Certified Collectibles Group.