Fr. 63a. 1863 $5 Legal Tender Note. PMG Gem Uncirculated 65 EPQ.Nicely margined, with deep original embossing (so noted by PMG on the back of the holder), vivid and rich color and none of the edge problems that typically plague these early issues. Even the seal, which is often a weak part of this type, is bold red and fully registered. The face motifs are the same as used on the $5 Demand Notes. To the left is the statue Freedom created by Thomas Crawford and placed atop the Capitol in 1863, where it remains an icon today. To the right is a portrait of Alexander Hamilton by Archibald Robertson (which is quite unlike the "popular" portrait of Hamilton that is seen on many other notes). The face, back, and tint plates for the $5 Series of 1862 and 1863 Legal Tender Notes were engraved by the American Bank Note Company. Printing was shared by both the American and National Bank Note companies for the Second Obligation notes, as here. The Treasury signatures of Chittenden and Spinner were printed on the face by using a separate plate and a special ink. Spinners dramatic signature has been discussed in numismatic print many times and is more distinctive than any other. Printed on the plate for F-63a is: Act of March 3d 1863 / March 10th 1863/ One serial number. Second Obligation back. New Series 65 to 75. 1,000,000 were printed. An estimated 200 or so exist today, mostly in lower grades. PMG comments "Great Embossing".
