Fr. 155. 1880 $50 Legal Tender Note. PMG Extremely Fine 40.Strikingly bold details are observed on this darkly printed Gilfillan-Bruce signed 1880 $50 Legal Tender Note. Just nine examples of this rare catalog number are recorded in the census. Two of those notes are permanently impounded in Federal Reserve Bank collections leaving just seven pieces spread amongst collectors. A portrait of founding father Benjamin Franklin is at left. At right Liberty dressed as Columbia wearing a crown bearing the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. A sword is in her right hand while her left arm lies on a shield bearing a patriotic eagle. At center is an ornamental die with the Roman numeral L within and FIFTY spelled out above. A large brown spiked Treasury Seal appears just to the right of center. Blue printed serial numbers are at top center and bottom left below Franklins portrait. The back features anti-counterfeiting language at left and the Legal Tender clause at center. The imprint of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is at bottom center.This example is formerly from the collection of Dr. Edward & Joanne Dauer. It has been more than a decade since this example last appeared at auction. Broad margins and bright paper are featured on this lightly circulated note.
