Friedberg 99 (W-1278). 1878 $10 Legal Tender Note. PMG Superb Gem Uncirculated 67 EPQ.Series of 1878 $10 Legal Tender Notes are represented by just a single catalog number, Fr.99 (W-1278), as seen here. The portrait of Daniel Webster, engraved by Alfred Sealey, is at left, while at right is the vignette variously titled <em>Introduction of the Old World to the New</em> or <em>Pocahontas Presented at Court.</em> At bottom center is an eagle perched upon a shield and clutching an olive branch and arrows. When inverted the eagle resembles a donkey lending to the popular "Jackass" nickname by which these notes are commonly known. The same design was used on the top of Fractional Currency Shields. This particular bird was continued on Legal Tender Notes through and including the Series of 1880.<p><p>This variety displays the engraved signatures of Treasury officials Allison and Gilfillan along the bottom border of the design. A red spiked Treasury Seal is seen at left while a red scalloped counter with TEN centered within is just left of center. The green printed back bears imprints of both the Columbian Bank Note Company and the BEP. The series date is seen vertically in the left and right margin. Approximately 95 examples are known for this catalog number. This example offers large, even margins and sharply printed design elements. It is the single finest example graded by PMG.<p><p>Similar to the <em>Pioneer Family</em> motif on $5 Legal Tender Notes, the nicknamed "Jackass" motif was first used on the "Rainbow" Series of 1869.<p><p>A related depiction of Pocahontas, but with different figures receiving her, also called <em>Introduction of the Old World to the New,</em> was used on the face of $5 National Bank Notes of the Original and Series of 1875. <em>The Baptism of Pocahontas,</em> entirely different from either of the preceding, is the vignette on the back of the $20 Original and Series of 1875 National Bank Notes.<p><strong>PMG Population: </strong>1, none finer.<em>From Lyn Knights sale of August 2005, lot 1153; Heritage Auctions sale of September 2009, lot 15084.</em>
