Heritage Auctions presents The C. R. Chambliss Collection as a part of our April 25-May 1 Central States Signature Auction. This offering is illustrated with its own specialized catalog, and will be presented as Session 5 of the auction at 7:30 PM CT on April 27.
Carlson R. Chambliss was born in Boston in 1941. His lifelong endeavors have focused on learning, research, and teaching, not only in academia, but also in numismatics. He graduated from Harvard University in 1962, and in 1968, he received a Ph. D degree in astronomy from the University of Pennsylvania. From 1970 to 2003, he was on the faculty of the Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. His decades of work earned him the Kutztown University President’s Medal, awarded to “individuals who bring honor and distinction to the university, and who serve as examples to KU students and alumni.” Chambliss also established the Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Award and the Chambliss Faculty Award. Since its inception in 2004, more than 150 outstanding students have been recognized by Chambliss and the university with the award and scholarships.
In addition to major contributions in academia, Chambliss also spent countless years researching paper money and publishing numismatic books. He and Gene Hessler coauthored The Comprehensive Catalog of U.S. Paper Money and The Comprehensive Catalog of U.S. Federal Large-Size Notes, 1861-1929. He also authored and published, A Concise Catalog of U.S. Military Payment Certificates.
This currency auction features his holding of large-size United States Notes, Silver Certificates, Treasury Notes of 1890, and Gold Certificates along with smaller selections of Demand Notes and Interest Notes of various types. Many of the notes offered here serve as plate notes in the illustrations for his books. Many of the notes were on display over the decades in educational exhibits that Chambliss assembled for show attendees at the International Paper Money Show in Memphis.
Chambliss is also an avid collector of National Bank Notes (both large and small), Small-Size Notes, Fractional Currency, and Military Payment Certificates. He is the author of a catalog of MPCs, and he is the author or co-author of three other books on U. S. paper money. He has attended most of the International Paper Money Shows in Memphis, and he has presented numerous exhibits and several exhibits in that venue. In recent years, he has branched out into world paper money, and he has written numerous articles in that field.
It is with great honor that we present this installment of the C.R. Chambliss Collection, with most of the proceeds going to Kutztown University; a significant impact for the school, another installment of a life of countless contributions to so many.
Among the many currency highlights of this collections are notes such as the following:
- Fr. 148 $50 1862 Legal Tender PCGS Very Fine 30
- Fr. 151 $50 1869 Legal Tender PMG Very Fine 30
- Fr. 154 $50 1878 Legal Tender PMG Very Fine 30 – Only the second offering of the Friedberg number in 11 years
- Fr. 167a $100 1863 Legal Tender PMG Choice Very Fine 35 Net – Iconic Spread Eagle design
- Fr. 327 $50 1880 Silver Certificate PMG Very Fine 20 – One of only 11 known examples of Friedberg 327
- Fr. 341 $100 1880 Silver Certificate PMG Very Fine 30 – 1880 Black Back Silver Certificate; One of only 25 known
- Fr. 344 $100 1891 Silver Certificate PMG Very Fine 30
- Fr. 1192 $50 1882 Gold Certificate PMG Choice Very Fine 35 – Extraordinarily handsome and very rare
- Fr. 1217 $500 1922 Gold Certificate PCGS About New 53
- Fr. 1220 $1,000 1922 Gold Certificate PMG Choice Very Fine 35
