Friedberg 18. 1869 $1 Legal Tender Note. PMG Choice About Uncirculated 58 EPQ. Courtesy Autograph. United States Treasurer James Gilfillan added his courtesy autograph to the face of this lightly handled note. The 1869 Series of Legal Tender Notes are among the most desirable issues in all of American federal currency, instantly recognizable by their beautiful hues of green, blue and red that earned them the "Rainbow Notes" name. The $1 offered here portrays George Washington within an oval frame at center. The portrait was engraved by Alfred Sealey and was based on the famous painting by Gilbert Stuart. At left is the vignette <em>Columbus in Sight of Land</em> as engraved by Joseph P. Ourdan. Green tints are seen along the top border of the design and a green serial number panel is to the lower left. A large red spiked Treasury Seal is at right. The serial numbers are in red to the lower left and upper right. The type features the engraved signatures of Treasury officials Allison and Spinner at the bottom left and right respectively. The back is intricately printed in green with the imprint of the National Bank Note Company at bottom center. Legal Tender and anti-counterfeiting language are found in a panel at right. These notes come on blue tinted security paper based on Wilcoxs 1866 patent.The Pogue example is broadly margined and vibrantly colored in rich hues of green and red. Gilfillans autograph is vertically oriented just to the right of Washingtons portrait. James Gilfillan began his career as a clerk in the Treasury Department in 1861 earning an annual salary of $1,200. President Ulysses S. Grant later made him cashier of the United States serving under Treasurer John C. New. President Rutherford B. Hayes appointed him as the 13th treasurer of the United States and he served in that capacity from July 1, 1877 to March 31, 1883. <em>From Currency Auctions of Americas sale of September 1999, lot 945; Lyn Knights sale of August 2005, lot 1017. </em>
