Type of Friedberg 224-225 (W-59-60). 1897 $1 Silver Certificate. PMG Choice Uncirculated 64. Face Essay Proof.Hessler-SCE3. The Hessler Plate Note. Black print on India paper, mounted on original card. Central vignette, History Instructing Youth, similar to the adopted design of 1896 with modifications. Adjustments for this essay were made in regards to ink flow, foliage in the design and some other subtle nuances. Die proof of final design for proposed Series of 1897, as engraved by R. Ponickau, E.M. Hall, and G.U. Rose, Jr. A gorgeous example offered by us in the Bass sale and previously sold in the 1974 Donlon sale of the Morris estate materials. The wider card was cut down, but there is still considerable margin remaining. The India paper and ink clarity are in character with the vast majority of this exceptional offering. Superb. This proof brought $9,775 as part of our Harry W. Bass Jr. Collection, Part V sale in 2011.<p>Several complaints had been levied against the issued designs of the Series of 1896. Among them were commentaries on the general darkness of the design, and the lack of clarity where the denomination markers were concerned, causing difficulty when counting notes rapidly. From a more technical standpoint, it was noted that the lack of geometrical lathework on the face would leave this issue more open to the work of the counterfeiter. In fact, this series of notes was the first since the Demand Notes of 1861 not to include this security feature on the face. In this redesign effort, led by Thomas F. Morris, it is clear that attempts were made to correct these noted problems. The denomination markers are much more clear, the design is brighter overall, and areas of lathework have been introduced into the denomination frames. The foliage in the foreground and the shading have been reduced somewhat, weakening the muralists original work, though creating a composition more conducive to banknote production.From our Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection Sale, Part V, August 17, 2011, lot 5004; William P. Donlons mail bid sale, November 15, 1974, lot 929; formerly from the estate of Thomas F. Morris.