IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spectrum Group International, Inc. (SPGZ), announces the sale by subsidiary Stack’s Bowers Galleries of five of the finest large-size Silver Certificates. In addition to the five privately placed notes, more than 80 Silver Certificates will be placed in Stack’s Bowers Galleries Official Auction of the ANA World’s Fair of Money, which will take place in Chicago, Ill., August 9-18. The entire collection of over 85 large-size Silver Certificates is the finest ever formed, valued in the high seven figures, and represents the largest private transaction in the history of paper money collecting. The transaction was assisted and facilitated by Sergio Sanchez Jr.
The holdings are comprised of different varieties and highlighted by the $1000 Series of the 1891 Silver Certificate graded Very Fine 25 by PMG depicting William L. Marcy, a senator, governor and Cabinet member famous in American history. Only two exist of this type, the other being a treasure in the National Numismatic Collection in the Smithsonian Institution. Unique in private hands, it was purchased from a collector who wishes to remain anonymous and sold to an anonymous buyer for a world record price of $2,600,000. It is illustrated on the cover of the book, “American History as Seen Through Currency,” by authors Dr. Edward A. Dauer and Joanne C. Dauer.
The five notes privately sold also include other highlights as Series of 1878 $50 and $100 triple signature notes, and Series of 1880 $500 and $1000 notes, each a seldom-seen rarity. By definition, the other Silver Certificates are included as well, such as the $1, $2, and $5 “Educational Notes,” considered to be America’s most ornate and beautiful currency designs.
The issuance of large-size Silver Certificates commenced with the Series of 1878 and ended with the Series of 1923. The Bland-Allison Act of February 28, 1878, that created what we know today as Morgan silver dollars, was also the genesis for Silver Certificates. A curious twist in the legislation provided that Silver Certificates were not legal tender but could be exchanged for silver dollars that were.
Soon after, Silver Certificates of Deposit (as noted on the face) were made, but in relatively small numbers, in denominations from $10 to $1000. Boldly emblazoned on the back of each was the word “SILVER” in letters so large that it could be read from across the room, with “CERTIFICATE” below it. This was a strong signal to the silver-mining interests of the West that, indeed, their senators and congressmen were acting in the interests of this important industry. At the time, Free Silver and the Silver Question were the overwhelming political issues.
Unlike most (but not all) later Silver Certificates, the Series of 1878 bills were payable at specific Sub-Treasury facilities in New York and San Francisco, as well as at the Treasury in Washington, DC. Each note bore the printed Treasury signatures of Scofield and Gilfillan, plus a countersignature. A small number of the latter were autographed, rather than printed, and are especially desirable today. The Series of 1878 and 1880 Silver Certificate of Deposit notes were mainly used in large transactions involving silver bullion and not for general circulation. Those in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries transaction are necessarily all great rarities. Certain other varieties known to have been printed have achieved the ultimate degree of rarity: none are known to exist today.
Notes of high denominations were made as well, but were not widely used. Included among these is the $1000 Series of 1891 note showcased in the present transaction.
Catalogs for the Stack’s Bowers Galleries Official Auction of the ANA World’s Fair of Money, featuring over 80 Silver Certificates from the collection set to cross the auction block in August, will be available in July in print and online. Interested parties can request a catalog or to be added to the informational mailing list by contacting Stack’s Bowers Galleries at 800.458.4646 or info@stacksbowers.com.
About Stack’s Bowers Galleries
Stack’s Bowers Galleries, a division of Fortune 500 Company Spectrum Group International Inc., combines the extraordinary histories of Stack’s, the oldest rare coin auction and retail company in America, with Bowers and Merena Auctions, one of the world’s preeminent auctioneers of rare coins and paper money. The two companies unite to share a combined legacy that spans more than 100 years, and includes the cataloging and sale of many of the most valuable collections to ever cross an auction block — the John J. Ford, Jr. and Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collections, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, The Norweb Collection, and the Cardinal Collection — to name just a few. Topping off this amazing numismatic history is the inclusion of the world record for the highest price ever realized at auction for a rare coin, the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar graded Specimen-66 (PCGS) that realized over $10 million, part of our sale of the famed Cardinal Collection. The company is headquartered in Irvine, California, with offices in New York, New Hampshire and Hong Kong. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is the Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic conventions, including the 2013 ANA World’s Fair of Money and the ANA/PNG Pre-Show, the 2013 ANA National Money Show, and the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Baltimore Expo, three times yearly.
About Spectrum Group International, Inc.
Spectrum Group International, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, “we,” the “Company” or “SGI”) is a global trading and collectibles network. We are a trader of precious metals and an auctioneer of coins and wine, serving both collectors and dealers. We are also a merchant/dealer of certain collectibles. Our collectibles offerings span the price spectrum from modest to ultra-high end. Furthermore, we offer loans to coin dealers, collectors and investors backed by their precious metals, rare coins, and other collectibles as collateral.
Our Trading business is conducted through A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc. (“A-Mark”) and its subsidiaries. A-Mark is a full-service precious metal trading company, and an official distributor for many government mints throughout the world. A-Mark products include gold, silver, platinum and palladium for storage and delivery in the form of coins, bars, wafers and grain, and our services include financing, leasing, consignment, hedging and various customized financial programs. A-Mark’s subsidiary, Collateral Finance Corporation, provides financing on a wide array of bullion and numismatic products.
Our Collectibles business operates as an integrated network of leading companies concentrating on numismatic (coins) and rare and fine vintage wine. We have offices and auction houses in North America, Europe and Asia. In addition to traditional live auctions, we also conduct Internet and telephone auctions.
Spectrum Group’s Collectibles companies in the numismatics field include Stack’s Bowers Galleries (rare coin and currency auction house), Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio (world and ancient coins and currency auction house), Teletrade (online coin auctions), and Spectrum Numismatics International (wholesale rare coin dealer), all based in Irvine, California. Spectrum Wine Auctions is engaged in the sale by auction of rare and fine vintage wine.
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