Fr. 306b $20 1878 Silver Certificate Extremely Fine. Without a doubt, the most significant serial number one note that we ha...

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Sold on May 7, 2005 for:

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Incomparable Serial Number One Stephen Decatur Twenty

Fr. 306b $20 1878 Silver Certificate Extremely Fine. Without a doubt, the most significant serial number one note that we have ever had the opportunity of offering. This note is very likely the first Silver Certificate ever produced, and it is one of only two examples of its Friedberg number in existence. The magnificent serial number 1 Fr. 1180 that we sold in February realized $241,500 based solely on its serial number 1 status, as it is very far from a rare Friedberg number with more than 135 examples known. This note, while lacking some of the physical flash of that technicolor twenty, is from an infinitely more collectible series. It is one of the few notes of any denomination bearing a third hand-signed signature -- in this case, that of A.U. Wyman, who previously served as Treasurer. The note is handsome as well as rare. It is very well margined, the colors are strong, and it is printed on the paper with the blue anti-counterfeiting stain across the bottom and the linked repetitive USUSUS watermark. The note has a single, utterly undetectable restoration immediately behind the head of naval hero Stephen Decatur. When last at auction several years ago, when the market for incredibly important notes was at its lowest point, this note realized $132,250. That number tonight is about to appear to have been one of the best buys in numismatics over the last half decade.