Watch CBS News

$1K Silver Certificate From 1891 Sells For $2.6M In Irvine

IRVINE (AP) — A silver certificate worth $1,000 when it was printed in 1891 has sold in a private transaction by an auction house in Southern California for $2.6 million.

Stack's Bowers Galleries of Irvine says the certificate is one of only two of its kind still in existence. The other is on display at the Smithsonian Institution.

Silver certificates were government-issued documents that could be exchanged for silver dollar coins. They were circulated from 1878 until 1923.

Wednesday's transaction came during a closed sale of 85 pieces of paper currency from a private collection. Stack's Bowers says the sale is a record for a paper currency transaction.

The buyer wishes to remain anonymous.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.