'BILLY THE KID' FRACTIONAL CURRENCY NOTE OFFERED

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V20 2017 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 20, Number 7, February 12, 2017, Article 19

According to this article from the Mirror, a piece of U.S. Fractional Currency said to have been found on the body of outlaw Billy the Kid is coming up for sale. -Editor

A bank note apparently recovered from the body of Wild West outlaw Billy the Kid is up for sale.

The 10 cent note is going to auction in Bristol next month - 136 years after he was shot.

It was issued between 1874-1876 - at least five years before Billy was shot and killed in New Mexico.

The cash was allegedly found by Ighenio Salazar, a close friend and member of the infamous gunslinger’s posse.

It has now emerged for sale at auction from a Bristol woman who inherited from her late grandfather.

Auctioneers say it remains a mystery as to how the grandfather acquired the bank note.

A contemporary letter that accompanies the currency states it was found by Yginio Salazar, a close friend of Billy the Kid and member of the infamous gunslinger's posse.

"Although he had, at various times, stolen stock worth thousands of dollars and made much money in other ways, yet BILLY THE KID had only a few bills of low denomination on his body when he was killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett at Pete Maxwell's house at Whiteoaks New Mexico.

"Here is one of the bills, taken from the body by IGHENIO SALAZAR (sic), before its removal for burial at Fort Sumner."

Andrew Stowe, of East Bristol Auctions, said: "The vendor found it wrapped up very carefully in a drawer in his bedroom while she was clearing out some of his things.

"We have spent six months trying to research the note but like with most things related to Billy the Kid, nothing can really be proven for sure and you are left with best guesses.

"So much of the known Billy the Kid history is based on assumption, folklore or hearsay that there are really no facts surrounding his death.

"All I would say is the bank note and note accompanying it are consistent with the date and age and the story in the letter does make sense.

"It is a very difficult item to value. If we valued it too high then people will assume it is real and too low and people will automatically consider it a fake.

"If it is genuine then this could be one of the most significant pieces of Billy the kid memorabilia to ever surface."

The note is being sold on February 24 with a pre-sale estimate of between £200 to £400 but could go for more.

The article doesn't say if the accompanying letter is being sold with the note, nor is the letter pictured. Interesting story though, and it does at least seem consistent with the known facts. Fractional notes circulated hard, and ragged notes like this were commonly found in circulation at the time. It will be interesting to see what happens at and following the sale. Will an American buyer bring the piece home? -Editor