Attorney General James Speed's Fractional Currency Presentation Book. James Speed was one of the known recipients of the Fra...

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Fractional Currency:Presentation Book , Attorney General James Speed's Fractional Currency PresentationBook. James Speed was one of the known recipients of the Fra...

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Attorney General James Speed's Newly Discovered Fractional Currency Presentation Book

Attorney General James Speed's Fractional Currency Presentation Book. James Speed was one of the known recipients of the Fractional Currency Presentation Books, but his was one of those always counted among the missing examples. The book recently turned up in the estate of an old-time coin collector and this, to our best knowledge, is its first public appearance. Thirteen of these books were presented in May of 1866 to President Andrew Johnson, his cabinet and several congressmen. Twelve presentation books have been definitively traced to this date, seven of them from the original presentation group, two others with Spencer Clark's name on the cover and three with either missing or blank covers, which may or may not have been part of the presentation group. Our best estimate is that sixteen originally existed: the census group of twelve and four others, which may or may not still exist. Of the census group, three are impounded in museums: the ANA, the ANS and the Smithsonian. In any event, a Fractional Currency presentation book is the ultimate acquisition for any collection of Fractional Currency. All the known Fractional presentation books contain the same 31 Proof notes. All are distinct Proof printings, sharper in both color and quality than normal Specimen notes, and all lack bronzing, overprints and design letters. There is a bit of light foxing on a few of the pages in the book, but not on the notes themselves. At some point, some early collector "updated" this book by the edition of fourth and fifth issue notes mounted on the tissue fly leaves and on the back of some of the cardboard pages. There are a total of 24 additional fractional notes added to this book at a later date, including the face and back of a Grant-Sherman specimen pair. The 31 notes that are original to this book, and common to all presentation books, are in spectacular condition and save for the additional notes, and a few minor scuffs to the cover, the book is virtually pristine.

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