2017-05-27 Sat

A Series 1935A $1 silver certificate called “short snorter” feature almost 24 autographs of military and political leaders from WWII. The note was once owned by Frank Sawyer, Winston Churchill’s valet during World War II. It could not meet its estimated value of $15,000 to $20,000 and went unsold at a sale conducted by Lion Heart Autographs of New York City on 24th May.

The concept was started by Alaskan bush pilots in the 1920s which soon became very popular elsewhere as well. These notes are typically signed by a group of people travelling or meeting together. If someone is unable to produce a short snorter at a later meeting, then they would have to pay the requester a dollar or a drink.

Their market value ranges from $50 to $250, but it can shoot up if it has been signed by famous individuals. The offered note had signatures of famous leaders like Harry Truman, Bernard Baruch, Francis Cardinal Spellman, Joseph Stalin, Gen. Bernard Law Montgomery, and Edward R. Stettinus Jr. Experts believe that the note was from the Potsdam Conference, which was held from 16th July to 2nd August.