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The Times of India
The Times of India
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TOI World Desk

In 1890, the US printed 120,000 unusual $100 'Watermelon' notes; only about 35 are known to survive, and one is returning to auction

United States silver Monetary Policy

An extremely rare 1890 $100 Treasury Note, known to currency collectors as the "Watermelon" note because of its unusual back design, is set to go under the hammer in October. Only about 35 of the original 120,000 notes are believed to survive today, according to research published by CoinWeek. The auction, scheduled for Sunday, 4 October 2026, through GreatCollections, will offer an example from the Schwenk Family Collection. The note is certified and graded PMG Very Fine 20, with a Restoration notation.

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