Making up two of the top three lots, Canadian currency had a strong showing at Stack’s Bowers’ January sale, one of several held in conjunction with the cancelled New York International Numismatic Convention (NYINC).
The top-selling lot, a pre-Canadian chartered note from the Royal Canadian Bank, brought $25,000 US (about $31,850 Cdn.) to meet its high estimate. The 1865 $2 issue (Charlton #635-10-04-06) was certified as Very Fine-25 by Paper Money Guaranty (PMG).
“The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Bank Notes lists this Charlton Number as ‘No Known Issued Notes,’ and those four words alone should pique your interest in this incredibly scarce note,” according to auctioneers, who added the issue was printed by the American Bank Note Company and displays “excellent engravings and vignettes typical of the era.”
“Dark green undertint is seen at bottom of center under the ‘TWO DOLLARS’ and ‘TORONTO’ text, with the dark green ink also making up the ‘2’ counters at left and right. The central vignette displays Arms, flanked by a lion at left and unicorn at right. The portrait vignette at left is of the Prince of Wales, Edward VII, whom in 1860 made a successful visit to North America, and even laid the cornerstone of Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The portrait at left depicts a seated woman with a basket of produce. The reverse of the note displays intricate lathe work, with the bank name at center and is printed in a dark brown ink.”
Annotations on the reverse read, “Taken From Mr. Thomas Dupree 1 April 1866 The First in Pembroke,” and, “Pembroke April 6 1866.”
Offered as Lot 30071 of Stack’s January NYINC sale, it’s the only example PMG has certified.
An 1898 Dominion of Canada $1 note brought $14,000 US (about $18,850 Cdn.) as Lot 30073 of Stack’s January NYINC sale.
1898 $1 NOTE
While a scarce 1941 Panama 10-balboas note offered as Lot 30269 took the second spot for $20,000 US (about $25,500 Cdn.), another Canadian issue rounded out the top three.
The 1898 Dominion of Canada $1 note (DC-13a), certified as Choice Uncirculated-63 EPQ (exceptional paper quality) by PMG, features inward-facing “ONE” engravings on the reverse. It’s one of 135 examples recorded by PMG, which has only certified three finer examples.
“The face of the note displays a portrait vignette of the Countess of Aberdeen at left, the Count of Aberdeen at right, and lumberjacks at center,” according to auctioneers. “Bright paper stands out, along with a dark brown undertint ink on the face. The design remains bold, and the red serial numbers remain bright. The reverse of the note displays the Parliament building in Ottawa at center, flanked by ornate designs, with five ‘1’ counters seen, and seven ‘ONE’ counters noticed with the bent inwards counters seen at the left and right ends. Dark green ink and intricate lathe work remain appealing.”
It sold for $14,000 US (about $18,850 Cdn.), topping its high estimate by nearly $4,000 US (about $5,100 Cdn.), as Lot 30073.