Friedberg 291 (W-1494). 1886 $10 Silver Certificate. PCGS Currency Gem New 65 PPQ.Just 400,000 examples of this Rosecrans-Jordan Series of 1886 $10 Silver Certificate were printed, the smallest print run for the entire design type (including Series of 1891 and 1907 notes). This was the first variety issued of the design type. Depicted on the face is Thomas A. Hendricks, who was vice-president of the United States for several months in 1885, before he died in office. Whether surrounding his portrait with a frame curved at the top and giving rise to the name "Tombstone Note," was intentional or inadvertent is unknown. A small red Treasury Seal with plain border is at bottom right and blue printed serial numbers are at bottom left and at right. This variety has a green printed ornate back design featuring large 10 counters at left and right of center with the Silver Certificate language at center. pJust around 30 examples of this catalog number are known to exist and the presently offered note is the single finest graded of those. This is a rarely offered variety and a design type and seal combination that is often missing from many collections.From Bowers and Ruddy Galleries Fixed Price List of 1980; Bowers and Merenas sale of March 1996, lot 3238; Lyn Knights sale of October 2005, lot 191.
