A $5 first charter note from Washington, D. C., literally the nation's first National Bank Note, sold for a record $220,000 at Lyn Knight Currency Auctions "Discovery Sale" on March 3, 2001. The Choice CU note far exceeded the previous price record of $154,000 for a National, a record that had stood since Lyn Knight's "Levitan" sale in December of 1998.
Even that remarkable price record wasn't the highest of the evening, though, as a FR#1166b 1863 $20 Gold Certificate realized $242,000. This great rarity is one of only four examples known to exist.
Prices from the fabulous Treasury Note collection of Dr. Lawrence Cookson were "generally very strong," according to Lyn Knight, the auction company's president and chief cataloguer of the sale. Cookson's notes included a $100 Watermelon note at $209,000 and a $50 Seward note at $198,000, both world record prices for the types at public auction.
"The sale had record or near-record participation across the board," Knight said. "That includes the Internet, mail, FAX and live audience bidding.
"Once again collectors reinforced their love of the hobby and desire to add to their collections. In fact, we saw some old faces from the past and received bid sheets from other old friends that had been absent in recent years. Prices were not reaching new levels in all areas, but there was strong demand and many prices were upwards in direction.
"The sale lasted for seven hours, and the $3,047,000 prices realized reflected a good night's work in the Midwest," Knight concluded.
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