Fr. 1178. 1882 $20 Gold Certificate. PCGS Banknote Superb Gem Uncirculated 68 PPQ. This 1882 $20 Gold Certificate, an incredible condition rarity, displays nearly perfect centering with boardwalk margins framing its grandiose design. The sharply printed inks contrast starkly against the creamy white paper. The orange printed back, for which this series is so well known, is vivid and striking. This design ranks #95 in 100 Greatest American Currency Notes by Q. David Bowers and David M. Sundman.<p>The face depicts the recently martyred (1881) President James Garfield, while the back shows an eagle clutching a lightning bolt, with two cable-laying ships in the distance, titled Ocean Telegraph, engraved by George D. Baldwin. The inscription "GOLD COIN" is in the "shingle"-style lettering layout. Gold coins, absent from commerce since the waning days of December 1861, achieved parity with Legal Tender and other paper on December 17, 1878. Accordingly, the Series of 1882 Gold Certificates could be exchanged at par.<p>The orange-gold color on the notes tended to fade. Today, notes with bright backs are worth more than those with faded color, regardless of the grade. The orange back design remains exceptionally attractive on this example This is an exceedingly rare class of currency, and surviving examples are greatly treasured. A glance at PMGs population report lists two graded at the Superb Gem 67 EPQ level, with none graded finer. PCGS Banknote reports just one sitting at this lofty grade level, with none graded finer.<p>PCGS Banknote Pop 1/None Finer.<p>
