Fr. 328. 1880 $50 Silver Certificate. PMG Choice Extremely Fine 45.The 1880 $50 Silver Certificate of Deposit notes all feature the famous "Black Back" designs which prominently display the word "Silver" across the length of the paper on the verso. This was done primarily to instill confidence in paper money among the general public and as a nod to Silverites and the Free Silver movement. On the face, the portrait of Edward Everett is prominent at right. A large brown spiked Treasury Seal is at center. The engraved signatures of Rosecrans and Huston are stacked to the bottom right. Blue printed serial numbers are in panels at the bottom left and top right. Just 100,000 examples of this variety were printed and today roughly 35 are known to survive.This example from the Karelian Collection is certainly one of the finer examples known for the catalog number. It is the fourth finest of 14 examples to be graded by PMG. The plate impression is exceptionally dark and sharply detailed. The paper is lightly circulated, bright and amply margined. Bold overprint inks are displayed in the Treasury Seal and serial numbers. We sold the finest known Fr.328, graded Gem Uncirculated 65 EPQ by PMG, for $204,000 in our March 2020 offering of the D. Brent Pogue Collection Part IV. While we would not expect a realization at that level here, one fortunate collector will certainly be securing a very gratifying example of this scarce type when the hammer falls on this lot.From the Karelian Collection.
