Friedberg 347 (W-80). 1890 $1 Treasury Note. PCGS Currency Gem New 66 PPQ.Low serial number A115 is featured on this near Superb 1890 $1 Treasury Note. The Fr.347 variety displays a large brown spiked Treasury Seal at right along with engraved signatures of Treasury officials Rosecrans and Huston. While more than 500 examples of this catalog number are known, very few can match the quality of this broadly margined and brilliantly printed ace. The portrait of Edwin Stanton at left is sharply detailed in dark inks.<p><p>The focus and admiration of numismatists is on the "fancy" back, where the word "ONE" is in large and intricately engraved letters against an extremely rich green background. At the Bureau of Engraving and Printing this was a team effort in the strictest sense, and involved the combined talents of D.M. Cooper, W.A. Coppenhaver, W.H. Douglas, E.M. Hall, E.E. Myers, and George U. Rose, Jr. (according to Gene Hessler). The back printing on the present note is flawlessly executed in vibrant green inks with even the most minute elements in vivid detail. PCGS Currency has graded no example finer.<p><p><strong>About Edwin Stanton</strong><p>Edwin Stanton was secretary of War under President Lincoln. Upon learning of an attack on Secretary of State William Seward (which happened simultaneously with the more famous attack on President Lincoln at Fords Theatre), Stanton, seemingly without regard for his personal safety, went immediately to Sewards home. There he learned of Lincolns condition, and proceeded to where the President lay dying in a private home across from the theater. Lincoln, Vice President Andrew Johnson and Seward were all intended targets that night, though the participant assigned to Johnson failed to act. Stanton himself may have been a target, as at least one account (never confirmed) references someone seen running from hiding near his house that night. After the assassination, Stanton led the charge in ensuring that the conspirators were captured and tried for their offenses.<p><p><strong>PCGS Population:</strong> 7, none finer.<em>From Abe Kosoff; Kagins sale of September 1978, lot 991; Stacks Bowers sale of August 2011, lot 5567. </em>
