Friedberg 72 (W-658). 1880 $5 Legal Tender Note. PCGS Currency Gem New 66 PPQ.This is an ideally centered and sharply printed 1880 $5 "Woodchopper" Legal Tender Note. This catalog number features the engraved signatures of Treasury officials Bruce and Wyman along the bottom border of the design. The type displays a large brown spiked Treasury Seal at right and red printed serial numbers to the lower left and upper right of center. The familiar portrait of Andrew Jackson is at left while at center we see the vignette emPioneer Family/em inspired by Americas westward expansion. The intricate back design is executed in green and features the Legal Tender clause and anti-counterfeiting language in a panel at right. The imprint of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is found at bottom center.pThis is one of the few high grade Fr. 72s (W-658s) that was on the market prior to the discovery of the Atlantic Hoard. There are ample margins on both the face and back while prominent plate embossing is observed from the verso. There were 7.76 million Bruce-Wyman signed 1880 $5s printed, yet PCGS Currency has graded only two examples at the 66 PPQ level with none finer. Likewise PMG has graded just two notes at the 66 EPQ level and none finer. This is a striking note from the Joel R. Anderson Collection that will be a lovely addition to a fine collection and with a price that should be widely affordable. pppFrom Kagins sale of April 1979, plate 966; Stacks sale of September 1993, lot 1185; Spink Americas sale of May 1995, lot 206; Lyn Knights sale of June 1998, lot 184; R.M. Smythes sale of October 2000, lot 1262; CAA/Heritages Sale of January 2002, lot 2560; Lyn Knights sale of October 2005, lot 240; Lyn Knights sale of June 2011, lot 1029.
