Fr. 245. 1891 $2 Silver Certificate. No.E214. PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ.

Fr. 245. 1891 $2 Silver Certificate. No.E214. PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ.，The visual quality is incredible as the paper is bright and clean while, in pleasant contrast, the inks are strikingly vivid. The serial numbers are boldly printed and embossed through the paper, as are some other design elements though to a lesser degree. It is beautifully centered with boardwalk margins at the left and right, while the naturally narrower ones at the top and bottom are still comfortably wide and even.<p><p>While all of the 1886 Silver Certificate "fancy back" notes were updated with new back designs for the Series of 1891, this denomination also featured a new face design, a memorial to the 39th secretary of the Treasury, William Windom, who died in office on January 29th, 1891. They were not issued until after June 25, 1891, when E.N. Nebeker became the 18th Treasurer of the United States, as his signature in that capacity is present on the earliest of these issues. Windom was an accomplished politician, having served in the United States Congress (both in the House and Senate) for more than two decades. He served twice as secretary of the Treasury, for about eight months as the 33rd secretary and then just short of two years as the 39th. <p><p>This outstanding type note was among the earlier currency purchases for the Vanderbilt Collection. It was obtained from David Bullowa in 1949, well before anyone except Dr. William Sheldon (specifically for large cents) made any real effort at formulating a well-defined grading structure for coins and paper money. Still, the collector who assembled these notes knew and <em>understood </em>quality far more than many advanced dealers and collectors today, who have the benefit of third-party assessments. He saw this piece and recognized it for what it was. Today, it still ranks among the very finest known of its variety and it bears a desirable three-digit serial number, adding to the appeal. There are nearly 400 examples of Friedberg- 245 known, yet just seven notes have been graded finer than this one at PMG, none by more than a single grade point.，From the A.J. Vanderbilt Collection. Earlier from David M. Bullowa, January 1949 for $10, by direct sale.，