Friedberg 307 (W-2153). 1878 $20 Silver Certificate. PCGS Currency Very Fine 35.This exceptional 1878 "Triple Signature" $20 Silver Certificate of Deposit is the finest known example of this catalog number. Fr.307 (W-2153) is the last variety among the 1878 $20s and features a large red Treasury Seal at top center, with a large TWENTY protector in red below it. Engraved signatures of Treasury officials Scofield and Gilfillan are found at right while a large engraved signature of Assistant U.S. Treasurer A.U. Wyman is to the left. Commodore Stephen Decatur, a national hero in the early 19th century, is portrayed at right. The back design is printed in black with SILVER prominently displayed inside a series of patterns in a straight row at center. The type is on blue tinted security paper made under the Wilcox patent of 1866.<p><p>This note has long been recorded as About Uncirculated and it certainly has the visual appeal of a nearly new note. The engraved design elements are darkly printed and display great detail. The red overprint inks retain bold color as well. The paper is bright, clean and free of any impairments. No hard folds or other distracting attributes are noticed.<p><p>Roughly 104,000 pieces were issued though today only 16 examples are known to survive. Four of those are held in permanent government or institutional collections, leaving just a dozen for collectors. The present note is the plate example in Q. David Bowers <em>Whitman Encyclopedia of U.S. Paper Money.</em> It last traded publicly for $55,200 in August 2005. We would not be surprised to see that sum eclipsed when the gavel falls on this offering.<p><p><strong>PCGS Population: </strong>1, none finer.<em>From Federal Brand Enterprises sale of January 1963, lot 810; Kagins sale of February 1980, lot 793; Spink Americas sale of May 1995, lot 340; Lyn Knights sale of August 2005, lot 1428. </em>
