most expensive paper money ever auctioned or sold: the Grand Watermelon

The Most Expensive Paper Money ever sold at auction was 2006 sale of a "Grand Watermelon" one thousand $1,000 bill, only one of two existing printed in 1890.

Grand Watermelon 1,000 dollar bill was sold for $2,225,000 dollars and became the most expensive paper money ever sold. It was sold from a private collector to another private collector.

What makes this Grand Watermelon note special is the red seal on the face of the paper. There are also 6 brown-seal grand watermelon notes in existence.

This most expensive bill is called the "Grand Watermelon" because of it's green striped zeros in the "1,000" printed on the reverse and therefore make it look like a watermelon.

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Grand Watermelon bill from the front: note the red seal and the round 'watermelon' behind the $1,000 printed in the center of the bill.

For more information on paper money, check out US Department of Treasury Website