Representative of the final signature combination encountered on the Series of 1891 for the $5 denomination. This piece looks as if it were printed only yesterday and offers a striking yet impeccable level of both technical quality and eye appeal. Lorenzo Hatchs engraved portrait of President Ulysses S. Grant who had died roughly a decade prior offers a brilliant contrast against the originality endemic to the paper body and the multitude of colors shared between the overprinted and engraved elements of the design. By like measure, the coloration endemic to the verso is both attractive and rather complex despite the simplified design that replaced the overly complex composition favored by the Series of 1886. Yet rich detail reflective of its earlier counterparts is retained in each corner and exemplified by an abundance of floral and geometric design elements that each attest to the skills of period engravers. As one could expect, offerings of this Friedberg Number at this grade level are few and relatively far between. We last sold an example graded Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ (E31471408) for $14,400 in our November 2023 Auction (Lot 20151) while the bulk of our past offerings for this Friedberg Number came from the more evenly circulated end of the grading spectrum. No doubt a rare opportunity compared to the exemplar, it should stand to reason that much in the way of interest will accompany this note when it appears on the auction block. PMG Pop 9/2 Finer.From the Shores Collection Part I.
