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Elvis Presley Signed Employee Prank Two-Dollar Bill

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia / Autographs - Celebrities Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 700.00 USD
Elvis Presley Signed Employee Prank Two-Dollar Bill
A 1976 Two-Dollar US bill signed by Elvis Presley, part of a private joke to his inside circle, including fellow musician Charlie Hodge. The faded pink marker inscriptions from Elvis read “Merry Christmas” and “Elvis Presley”. Elvis, who was famous for his immense generosity including showering his staff and helpers, and even brand new acquaintances, with valuable gifts up to brand new automobiles, presented his “Memphis Mafia” with crisp and signed two-dollar bills for Christmas in 1976, before giving them more sincere gifts. Elvis found the prank hilarious when his friends were astonished to not (at first) receive gifts worth thousands of dollars for each of them. Sadly, this was to be Elvis’s final Christmas celebration as he passed away the following August. This bill was given to Charlie Hodge on that Christmas. Hodge worked for Presley from 1960 until Presley’s death in 1977, as a member of his “Memphis Mafia”. Hodge was the sole professional musician and entertainer in the group, a background vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Presley, and often handed him water and scarves to use on stage.

This auction lot comes from the private collection of the King Museums, which were long enjoyed by the public in installations across America, Canada, Europe and Japan. Most of the collectibles in those museums came from Elvis Presley's entourage and his top managers and production assistants.