Stack’s Bowers’ latest Summer Showcase Auction proves once again that rare paper money doesn’t just hold its value — it flutters triumphantly in the auction room. Their dedicated “U.S. Currency Rarities Night” brought nearly $5 million in results, headlined by high-denomination notes that most of us will only ever see framed or digitized.

One collector quipped, “I finally got to hold a $5,000 note… briefly.” The market for pedigree paper remains crisp, with top-graded examples fetching sums that make coin buyers blink twice. The takeaway: rarity, history, and artistry still rule — and nothing smells quite like old paper and fresh hammer prices.

Source: Stack’s Bowers