Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin and currency auction house, is preparing another phenomenal sale as the Official Auctioneer of the March 2010 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo.

A particularly diverse and important selection of United States currency is on hand for the auction–so many notes, in fact, that the firm will be preparing a separate, stand-alone catalog comprised only of United States paper money.

The notes will be auctioned March 2-6, 2010, as part of the Bowers and Merena Official Baltimore Auction offering rare United States and International coins, currency and banknotes. Ponterio & Associates, division of Bowers and Merena, will present the world and ancients auction of coins and currency.

“Our March 2010 Baltimore Auction promises to be an especially memorable event as far as paper money collectors are concerned,” opined Steve Deeds, president of Bowers and Merena. “We are assembling a complete catalog dedicated to United States currency, a definite highlight of which is a profound condition rarity Fr. 1700 1933 $10 Silver Certificate. A breathtakingly beautiful example, this note has been certified Gem Uncirculated 65EPQ by PMG.”

Matt Quinn, directory of currency auctions, added, “Another small size Silver Certificate highlight in this sale is a Fr. 1608 1953A $5 note in PCGS Superb Gem New 67PPQ with a captivating serial number F00000001C. And not to be outdone in our March 2010 Baltimore Auction are the large size Silver Certificates, which include an extremely rare Fr. 282* 1923 $5 Silver Certificate Star Note that PMG has certified as Superb Gem Uncirculated 67EPQ.” (more…)

Two Germans were caught in an Austria mountain town with 500 million dollars in counterfeit banknotes. It’s one of the biggest hauls of counterfeit dollars in Europe. But the culprits say they thought the 1 million dollar bills were real. Below is the article published in DER SPIEGEL Online.

He dreamed of living the life of a millionaire — with a villa in the woods and an Aston Martin V12, preferably in Quantum Silver, in the garage. Once a moderately successful provincial attorney, he had decided that he was no longer willing to simply look on while others made their fortunes with major business deals.

But his dreams of that villa, that Aston Martin and all the other trappings of wealth have vanished into thin air. Ralf Hölzen, 46, a tall, slender man with graying hair is sitting in a café frequented by retirees in the town of Goch in western Germany. On his plates sits a slice of Black Forest cake and he is removing the canned cream from atop his coffee. Once again Hölzen is living with his parents, only two blocks from the café.

At the end of January, Hölzen will face trial in a district court in Feldkirch, in Austria’s Vorarlberg region. Austrian prosecutors have filed charges against him and his accomplice, Dietmar B., 52, for attempted fraud and possession of counterfeit banknotes. (more…)

On Tuesday, January 26, all eyes in the paper money world will be focused on the first day of Stack’s New York Americana Sale. Held at the firm’s auction gallery at 110 West 57th Street, the sale (which continues with coins, tokens, and medals, through Wednesday), will commence with over 500 lots of paper.

Obsolete notes come to the fore, highlighted by major rarities, extensive proof notes, Haxby SENC and unlisted issues, and more. In addition there will be many popular and highly affordable lots—something for everyone in the field of paper money.

Among these are some highly interesting and very rare Hawaiian issues including a set of the Lahainaluna Seminary Money, and notes of New York, Maryland, and Massachusetts that include many items off the market for a long time.

Early American paper money includes Continental Currency as well as issues of the various colonies and states. Of all of the colonial issues, none is more prized than that of Vermont, which actually was not a state until 1791. A newly discovered Vermont half a crown will cause the temperature to rise in the auction room as it crosses the block. Any Vermont paper money is extremely rare, and this particular note is especially so. Lot 2559 Vermont Half Crown

Interesting fiscal paper follows, combining history and rarity, and the same can be said for a nice offering of lottery tickets. A small but interesting selection of federal notes then follows, including multiple “Bison” notes, a “Lazy Deuce,” a rare Colorado National and more. (more…)