Friedberg 93 (W-1257). 1862 $10 Legal Tender Note. PCGS Currency Choice About New 58 PPQ.This broadly margined and crisp 1862 dated $10 Legal Tender Note has all the appeal of a Gem note. Plates for this type were engraved by the American Bank Note Company while the National Bank Note Company printed the majority of notes bearing the first back obligation as seen here.<p><p>The portrait of Abraham Lincoln at left was engraved by Charles Burt and based on a photograph taken by C.S. German. At center is the vignette of an eagle with shield originally created by Toppan, Carpenter and Company and used on currency of state-chartered banks. A goddess representing art stands at right with a paint palette and drawing board. Green die counter 10s are left and right of center while an ornate green printed security panel is centered near the bottom. Printed signatures of Chittenden and Spinner are found at bottom and a red spiked Treasury Seal is at right. <p>The ornately printed green back has the First Obligation wording and style. The printed design elements are exceptional and original embossing is evident when viewing the note from the verso. This note comes from a long serial number run of high grade notes. Only a faint corner bend appears to keep the note from a full Choice Uncirculated grade or higher.<p><p>The Series of 1862 $10 Legal Tender Notes, also called United States Notes, were made in substantial quantities and were first issued on April 2 of that year, contributing to nationwide fear of the depreciation of paper money, as these were not exchangeable at par for silver or gold coins that were rapidly disappearing from circulation.<p><p>The face motifs are similar to those used on the 1861 Demand Notes, but on the Legal Tender Notes a red Treasury seal is added, and imprints differ. The face, back, and tint plates for the $10 Series of 1862 and 1863 Legal Tender Notes were engraved by the American Bank Note Company. National printed most (all?) of the First Obligation notes as here. American and National shared the printing for the Second Obligation notes. Treasury signatures of Chittenden and Spinner were printed on the face by using a separate plate and a special ink.<p><strong>PCGS Population: </strong>2, 3 finer.<em>From Lyn Knights sale of June 1997, lot 101; Heritage Auctions sale of January 2004, lot 18673; Lyn Knights sale of June 2008, lot 2086; Lyn Knights sale of June 2011, lot 1037.</em>