An evenly circulated example of a rather intricate design anchored by the portrait of obscure political personality from 1880s. Like its $10 counterpart depicting the likes of Vice President Thomas A. Hendricks who had died in 1885, the $20 Silver Certificate depicts the likes of Treasury Secretary Daniel Manning who had briefly served under the administration of President Grover Cleveland before resigning as a result of ill health in 1887 a few months before his eventual death from Brights disease. Mannings portrait is enclosed in an ornate frame topped by "SILVER" in bold block-like letters while a pair of allegorical figures representing industry and agriculture can be seen seated at opposite ends of the portrait atop a marble plinth. The balance of the design stands accomplished in a variety of fonts while an ornate border encloses the bulk of engraved design. By contrast, the back is rather plain in comparison reflective of the dictates of the early 1890s which emphasized open space over crowded (yet attractive) compositions that packed in every conceivable engraved detail. A small stain is unnoted by the likes of PMG and fails to detract from the attractive composition that this design represents. No doubt a fine specimen for the collector seeking an attractive representative of this intricate design without sacrificing quality simply for the sake of thrift.
