This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 7/8/2004.
Las Vegas owes a great deal to Benny Binion, owner and operator of the first of the "big bet" casinos. In the 40 years that he was a resident of the town he changed the face of the casino business forever, helping to shape it into what it has become today. For years visitors to the legendary Binion's Horseshoe Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas were greeted by a display containing $1 million dollars in cash as they passed through the front door. It was crafted of 100 $10,000 bills sandwiched between glass suspended within a horseshoe and was one of the biggest draws in town. The $10,000 bill represents the highest denomination note ever issued for general circulation by the United States Government. Considering the time period in which the bills were printed it stands to reason that most were kept in bank vaults and primarily used for high dollar currency transactions between banks, not individuals. Due to a government recall less than 120 of the bills exist today and those stemming from the Binion hoard are recognized as the best. The offered specimen represents one of the finest condition notes available to collectors having been graded "Choice Uncirculated 63" by CGA. It shows no signs of circulation and appears crisp as the day it was printed with four sharp corners (only the upper right shows even the slightest hint of wear) and strikingly bold colors. The front is centered slight to the upper left while the reverse is centered near perfectly. The bill will come with an original Horseshoe Casino matchbook and a Certificate of Authenticity from noted expert Jay Parrino.