Help With Gold Certificates

Thanks for the response, Frog. I'm strictly going by what is listed in the on-line 'inventory' as to what will be sold. From what I can see it's a typical "accumulation" that was put together over many decades and includes the normal gazillion proof and mint sets plus a ton of finished and partially finished dansco and whitman sets in many denominations. There are also some 150 lots of Morgan and Peace, with very few type coins. All told there is 355 lots. I can figure all the coin stuff out just fine, but there are also about 100 lots of currency.

Most of those notes are star notes and red seals and other typically 'common' notes. The four I listed were the only ones (at the very end of the auction), that are noted as 'slabbed'. It doesn't say by whom and the grade on at least one was a little wancky as I know AU 58 isn't a currency grade.

There will be three other rings selling at the same time as the coins and currency, but the c&c are sold in an area that isn't quite so noisy. There have been a couple of occasions when no one showed up that wanted to spend more than $20 or $30, regardless of what was for sale. I picked up an AG 1799 bust dollar a month ago for $75. I've bought PCGS MS gold for under spot. So I don't want to miss these currency pieces if they are nifty just because I'm uneducated in that area.

Any help you can offer is greatly appreciated. The auction begin at 0900 this Saturday, but I know the auctioneer well and he always lets me look lots over Friday before the sale.

I can report back Friday on what I see.

Mox -

Correct, AU-58 isn't a currency grade.

Couple of things to remember:

1) When buying certified notes that are NOT new, then centering front and back is not normally a factor in the assigned grade. A poorly-centered VF-35 will sell for much less money than a well-centered one, for example.

2) Notes certified by PMG and PCGS will often carry a "superior paper quality' designation of some sort. If this designation is NOT present (could be many reasons), then the note will generally sell for less money grade-for-grade.

There were once a number of second-rate grading services, which doesn't make your task any easier.

Beyond that, there isn't too much I can say, other than the prices you mentioned seem very low.

For example, I just sold the following FR 1173 (this same note is on your list) for $300 at a show - note it is not premium paper quality.





Check back later.

Hey Frog & TechWriter. Thanks for your responses. I'll take some photos tomorrow, or at the very least be able to see which company has "slabbed" the currency and what the actual grade with or without PPQ might be.

I grew up in an antique store (my grandparents, then parents) and my Grandma's first rule was "Only buy what you know". Learning about something takes a lot of time and I fully realize that any decision I make concerning the purchase of these pieces is based on shaky knowledge.

But I do appreciate your time, Frog, in giving me a few pointers. That helps.

Hopefully I can post photos tomorrow.

As for giving you the auction venue, probably not. It's 8 degrees here and supposed to be colder Saturday during the auction. January auctions are pretty darned sparse most of the time as far as bidders. So I'd like to keep that info private until after the sale. The auction house has been known to take phone bids, so I'd like to keep the publication of that information private for the time being. I'm sure you can understand.

Thanks for the tip, RugRats. I should be able to actually see these notes tomorrow and then most of these answers should resolve, I hope.

Mox -

Totally understand. Just trying to help, but certainly not a well thought-out request on my part.

Had a bad day yesterday, I think.

Okay guys (and/or gals), here's what I found out.

All four are PCGS, green paper labels.

#1 - FR 1187 1922 $20 Gold, Serial K85629442 Plate 629/159 40PPQ

#2 - FR 1173 1922 $10 Gold, Serial H54856827 Plate C212/48 PPQ35

#3 - FR 114 1901 $10 S/N 6230666 pp B Lyons/Roberts VF25

#4 FR 278 1899 $5 Silver Serial M78458809 Plate A411/1239 (or that could be 239 - can't read my own writing) 58PPQ - NOTE - on this last one, it appears that there is a tab of green, exactly the same size and color as the 'original' grades found inside the mylar pasted on top of the outside of the mylar directly over whatever was beneath it. I don't know if they regraded in this way, or if this is someone elses attempt to put something over the top of the 'real' grade. Or they may have even done this as a normal course of business, for all I know. Your opinions greatly appreciated.

Thanks to anyone who can offer an opinion or price range that is reasonable for these four pieces. I honestly do appreciate your time.

Heading to the auction in a few minutes. Thanks for all the help CoinFrog. Wish me luck. If I win any of the four at the prices I'm comfortable at, you will have a late Christmas present coming your way for all the help! Oh, heck, even if I don't win anything I'll be PM'ing you later today.