Lyn Knight Currency Auctions’ Nov. 8-9 auction in St. Louis, Mo., features the serial No. A1 1882 $20 Gold Certificate and serial No. 1 Original Series Lazy Deuce from New Mexico Territory. This variety of the No. A1 1882 $20 Gold Certificate, Krause-Lemke 551, Friedberg 1175, has never been offered at public auction before, according to Knight.

“Not even the great collection of Albert Grinnell or the vast holdings of Harley Freeman or Amon Carter ever had the opportunity to consider buying this amazing piece of paper money,” Knight said. The sale catalog states:

“The Gold Certificates were part of nine issues, but only four issues circulated widely. The first of those was the Fourth Issue, commonly known as the 1882 Series, which was authorized in denominations from $20 to $10,000, and was the first to have wide circulation. This is the first note issued and printed for this series, and it is the top note from the first sheet. Only one other example, with the hand-signed signature of Thomas Acton, has ever survived.” Read Full Story