Going, Going, Gone! Civil War Era U.S. Treasury Proof Sells For $96K At Long Island Auction
LYNBROOK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A proof that was used to make $1,000 bills was sold for nearly 100 times its face value.
As TV 10/55 Long Island Bureau Chief Richard Rose reported, the paper from the Civil War era was put on the auction block Thursday.
Lynbrook auctioneer Phillip Weiss delightfully watched investors quickly move the bids higher, both in person and by phone.
They were all ready to spend big for a rare prize: a 1864 proof that the U.S. Treasury used to print $1,000 bank notes.
It's the only known existing proof from when Abraham Lincoln was president and the Civil War was being fought.
The proof was recently discovered during a Manhattan estate sale, Rose reported.
"Someone had it in the house and they had an estate sale and someone bought and hopefully they made a very good buy," Weiss said ahead of the auction.
There was no doubt about that once the bidding began to spiral higher and higher.
Brooklyn resident Simon Postbrief headed out to Long Island to bid on much less valued items, but sat in fascination as the bidding escalated for the one-of-a-kind currency proof.
"I'm here to see who buys it, but I won't be bidding. (Pretty pricey?) Yea, it's up there," he said.
Ultimately it was Al Huie, representing an investor who didn't want to be identified, who took home the historic proof for a whopping $96,000.
Huie said his investor considered it a bargain.
"He was afraid it was going to go over six figures. He got it under six figures, he should be happy," Huie said.
He said the unknown investor will likely keep the proof for himself.
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