By Aris Maragoudakis – Director of World Currency Auctions, Stack’s Bowers Galleries ……
At our upcoming World Paper Money Auction at the ANA World’s Fair of Money in August, we will offer a very prestigious collection of scarce, and virtually unseen Argentinian paper money from the collection of Robert J. Bauman, the writer of The Paper Money of Argentina. Many of the notes in this collection are Rarity-7, reflecting that no more than three were known at the time this distinction was awarded. The rarity of many of these pieces has been verified by access to collections in banks, museums, and in private collectors’ hands.
Many of these pieces are Pick plate notes as they were either discovery pieces or nearly impossible to find at the time. In these instances, Mr. Bauman provided the Pick Catalog with images. Some of the notes in the collection are still not listed in the Pick catalog, and may be used in future editions.
Included among the extremely rare pieces is the Banco de Buenos Ayres 1823 1 Peso, currently the only note known. The Nusdeo-Conno catalog lists this note (No. 34) as Desconocido (example unknown in Argentina) which is why it is not illustrated in the Pick catalog. The other three notes in this series are in museums. Additionally, high-value Rosas notes, a 50 Pesos Pick S393, and two examples of a 100 Pesos S398 (one in issued and one in specimen form), will also be available. These Rosas notes are very rare because most of them were redeemed.
Other offerings of “only known examples” are custom interest-bearing notes from the Banco de la Provincia de Buenos Ayres in 1865. These notes were used successfully in the Confederacion Argentina from 1855 to 1861. These are the first notes with the title Republica Argentina to be issued by the unified country. Our August 2018 auction will feature a 10 Pesos Fuertes, and a 20 Pesos Fuertes Remainder.
Many other significant and scarce pieces will be offered. For further information regarding this collection, please contact [email protected]. If you would like to register to bid, you may do so at StacksBowers.com, or contact [email protected].
