GoldFinger1969

I haven't seen -- and I don't think HA and others have cited them -- combinations of rare bills (GC, SC, Large Denomination) in GREAT condition (>65) and also super-low SN (< 10). In other words....3 important traits/features....I often see 2 of the 3, but not ALL 3 of them. I think this probably shows that 100 years ago the super-low SN's for what are today special/rare bills were NOT saved or preserved. I see "Finest Known" or "2nd Finest Known" for bills with 2 of those 3 traits...and often the grades are in the 40's or 50's.

That's a big price drop, 30-40%. This is an obscure bill....could be illiquid with infrequent sales. Any reason for the price drop that you might know ? Not sure where bill prices in general or this type were from 2010-20 but I know they generally ROSE from 2020-23 as people had Covid checks.

$35,000 (asking) for a 50's graded bill with SN #1. Not sure where it might actually be sold...I would think maybe $20,000 or so ? https://www.ebay.com/itm/225956179782?itmmeta=01HSSV8A1ATCHXNSRD024J7NRX&hash=item349c09af46:g:0S0AAOSwH7ZlogVt&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0FWPPVORwatbLqvSJADz9pRyK7dcCYfyXAFGelMg25xyA0q7VS4D0Dof1sJfMTXKcfStrcnUmjpNACJyXGWfzc7%2FSmjCYq7Ra0JnjAT%2BLWzPwMSaW8YwGvDCJK4W8x%2FhfmQlBtkY%2BJKCOyklEix1WczDcMDqONSVrjcfUAW5oHTOmemCvgbaJWXX3PqkF1aVSs0pFg7SqeEK0mYbQ6iNQh6rcNu949HK3zXNsF8bf0GfRjw%2B5GpxvQvtDkGLB1QIKa3%2B20ZvZW5AtWqDbdM%2F2xQ%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR9ygobvOYw

Who's they -- HA ? SB ? GC ?

If that is true -- I assume Mike's quotes were for ungraded bills -- then you might have more of a leeway. Ascertain if those are creases or folds -- I think they make a difference. If it turns out the bills are each worth less than $100 and you spend $30 each to grade them, it's not a disaster. Just be prepared. I would try and grade your bills by giving them each a critical eye and assigning a grade based on others on Ebay, GC, or HA....then see what they sold for on those sites. That should give you a pretty accurate ballpark estimate for the value.

Just guestimating....I've posted pics of my lowest-graded bill here which is my PMG-45 Gold Certificate. That looks pristine at first glance whereas I see some dirt and folds/creases plus rounded corners on yours. So that's why I said 30's to make sure as I doubt it gets 45 or 40. Does look better than bills I've seen in the 20's.

Any idea of the value of these bills assuming a grade in the 30's ? I assume you want it to be financially worthwhile.

I like to study monetary history -- yup, read Friedman & Schwartz' magnus opus in college -- and doing some readings the last year or so with books spanning the gold standard to 1921 Recession and The Great Depression. The changes in the writings concerning gold, silver, and legal tender are fascinating. Even as a young collector (or spender of bills ! ) I never really paid too much attention to them but you can see there are big differences and the changes over the years WERE important. Here's a Gold Certificate, and the seal writings clearly state you are entitled to Gold...and the writing at the bottom of the obverse says gold coin (Eagles, DEs, etc.) Notice that it is good for ALL DEBTS with no exceptions. Next we have a United States Note (Red Seal) which states it is legal tender....for all debts public and private.....but then says "except duties on imports and interest on the national debt." Why these obscure exclusions ? Because the Treasury didn't want a gold drain out of the U.S. so NOT allowing these to be used for duties on imports and interest on the national debt helped towards that goal. Next up, a 1928 Federal Reserve Note which says that is was redeemable in gold...on demand....at the U.S. Treasury (so you had to goto Washington, DC I guess). What I find interesting is that at 1st glance this bill looks like a hybrid: it's a FRN...it's worth $20 dollars ("bearer on demand" language at bottom)...but it has the quasi-gold certificate language above the seal. But while you could get gold at the Treasury, it's unclear if the FRB's that you went to could pay you off with gold or a pair of $10 bills at their choice... or your choice. Again, unless Federal Reserve Bank means a MEMBER bank, then FRB means you would need to goto 1 of the 12 actual physical locations which would be a PITA. Lastly, after we went off the Gold Standard we have this FRN which says that the note is legal tender for ALL debts public and private with no exceptions regarding national debt or imports. I guess "redeemable in lawful money" (isn't this bill lawful money ? ) means a pair of $20's and a $10 bill. Also known as....change !!

If the borders JUMP out at you, that's a bad sign and I try and avoid bills like this. For this bill, you really need to look pretty closely to see if the borders are off. I'll check forthcoming HA and GC auctions to see how prices are.

I paid over $200 for this one. Hopefully it's held its value since I got it about 5 years ago :

Just curious, how would that change their value ? I never understood the whole block thing unless it corresponds to Federal Reserve Bank ? Like which of the 3 U.S. Mints for coins ?

I have 1 or 2 NA's I think, Mike. I'll post them in the SC thread today or this week or create a new thread if it isn't a SC type.

Sequential low-SN 1957 SC's. Not sure how rare they are, I don't think sequentials are nor low-SN's...but both in a bill ups the rarity factor. Ditto for the 66 grade. I think I paid about $150 each. I'm not sure what caused that jump in price...I think the fact that they are sequential as a 66 isn't super-rare. Then the low SN caused a bump, too. Not sure if G-A block matters a whiff.

Thanks Kailee .....they made the change on the Coin Sections and this really doesn't impact any TOS protocols so I hope they can make the change.

Why is that, Mike ? I would think with all the bills printed -- billions each year -- you'd get some70's there. Agree on the need to avoid the inflection-point price. I saw an MS-69 1995-W ASE, the key date for that coin, did NOT get any bids at $3,750 on GC the other night.

My Hawaii note (I think it's my only one, have to check) is grade 67 and very low SN so that drove up the price. Hawaii notes aren't quite as numerous asSC's but in low-60's or lower grades with any SN they are pretty common so maybe only worth $10-$30 so not worth it to grade/holder as you said.

Got any highly-graded bills ? Could be a recent bill with no special attributes that is a 69 or even 70 (not sure I have seen many 70's !!)....or a somewhat older bill from the last 100 years that is in the high-60's....or maybe pre-1900 where "high" could be in the 50's or 40's. Here's a Silver Certificate that graded 68 from the 1957 Series.

Mike, what's the break-even for someone to submit through a dealer (who doesn't look to mark it up or make any $$$) on a note like this ? This note wasn't in worn condition, not sure what generic Hawaii notes in the 50's go for but I figured the cost to grade/holder was maybe $25 (like a coin) so it would be worth it.

Bwenn, have you purchased any high-quality SC's ?

Does Congo print its own currency or out-source it ?

I take it you found it, TRS ? It's tough to get a special note -- let alone in top condition (EF quality, 40 or above) -- unless it's certified and you get it from another collector via LCS, auction, coin show, etc .

You know....I never really read the words and legalese on these notes, except maybe on the GCs and SCs. It really is interesting how the FRN "legal tender" language changed on these 1934's right after gold was removed from the economy. I have to track down some timeline that shows the changes in the legal (tender) wording on U.S. currency over the years and decades. Probably would be fascinating.

Carter, did you ever get it graded ?

Here's another LGS, I think this ran me just over $200. I had to go down to the 58 Grade (given the higher $50 denomination) or matching the 65 grade above would have cost me $750 or more: