Friedberg 312 (W-2173). 1880 $20 Silver Certificate of Deposit. PCGS Currency About New 50 PPQ.A scarce variety of this Series of 1880 $20 Silver Certificate of Deposit type, this lightly handled note features the engraved signatures of Bruce and Wyman to the lower right of center. Commodore Stephen Decatur, a national hero in the early 19th century, is portrayed at right. Decaturs remarkable life was regrettably cut short at the age of 41 when he was killed in a duel with rival naval officer James Barron on March 22, 1820. His funeral in Washington D.C. was attended by more than 10,000 people, including President James Monroe, the justices of the Supreme Court and most members of Congress.pA small red Treasury Seal with plain edges is seen to the lower left of center and replaces the large brown Treasury Seal and brown Roman numeral XX seen on prior issues. Bold blue serial numbers are to the lower left and top right. The grandiose black back printing features the word SILVER prominently across the center. Just 124,000 examples of this variety were printed and today just around 45 are known to exist. The present example is the finest graded example and offers darkly printed inks on bright, lightly handled paper. The note is free of any detracting attributes and was well deserving of PCGS Currencys assigned PPQ designation. ppFrom New England Rare Coin Auctions sale of July 1978; lot 811; Lyn Knights Fixed Price List of September 1978; CAA/Heritages sale of September 2001, lot 6933; Lyn Knights sale of August 2005, lot 1433; Lyn Knights sale of June 2007, lot 37.
