PMG-Certified Russian-American Company Banknote Realizes $192,000

PMG - PMG certified Russian-American Note Realizes $192,000

Hailing from the time when Russia owned Alaska, the intriguing note was the centerpiece of a Heritage sale.

A very rare Russian-American Company banknote graded by Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) led the way at the Heritage Auctions FUN World Currency sale held January 21-22, 2021. The price realized of $192,000 was far above the pre-auction estimate of $80,000 and up.

The Russian-American Company ND (1820s-60s) 25 Rubles graded PMG 55 About Uncirculated is a superb example of the currency used for decades by the Russian firm. The Russian-American Company was formed in 1799 in order to capitalize on the fur trade and other opportunities in Alaska and elsewhere in North America.




Russian-American notes were often printed on parchment made from animal skin, such as walrus. It is one of an estimated 150-200 total notes produced by the Russian-American Company still in existence today, and the only known 25 Rubles example, according to Heritage.