Fr. 41 (W-305). 1862 $2 Legal Tender Note. PCGS Gem New 65 PPQ.

Fr. 41 (W-305). 1862 $2 Legal Tender Note. PCGS Gem New 65 PPQ.，<strong>Among the finest known.</strong> This example of the first federally issued $2 design type presents exceptional quality, essentially as nice as the day it was printed. The note displays bright crisp paper that provides the perfect canvas for this National Bank Note Company printed design. The inks are sharp with the overprints in deep green and red. Ideal centering and print quality are also displayed on the ornate green printed back. This is another Anderson "trophy note" that is affordable to a wide audience, although we anticipate it crossing the five-figure line.<p><p><strong>$2 Legal Tender Notes, Series of 1862</strong><p>The first $2 bills are Legal Tender Notes, part of the "greenback" issues launched in 1862. The face, back, and tint plates for the $2 Series of 1862 Legal Tender Notes were engraved by the National Bank Note Company. Printing was shared by both the American and National Bank Note companies. Treasury signatures of Chittenden and Spinner were printed on the face by using a separate plate and a special ink.<p>On the face is the portrait of Alexander Hamilton, engraved by Joseph P. Ourdan. Two imprint versions of the American and National Bank Note companies are found. Similar to the $1 notes of this series, at the bottom center is a 1-2-3 design, with the particular denomination to be highlighted with a drop-out white background, in this case a 2 (the $3 was considered, and it was featured, but none were ever printed). All have a small red Treasury Seal with spiked border (applied by the National Currency Bureau in Washington). There are two patent imprints, 1860 at lower left and 1857 at center right, the latter referring to an American Bank Note Company patent for the green color, intended to deter counterfeiting. <p>The back is printed in green and has the denomination and redemption information. The last is the so-called Second Obligation: "This note is a Legal Tender for all debts public and private, except for duties on imports and interest on the public debt, and is receivable in payment of all loans made to the United States."<p>On Fr-41 (W-305), "NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY" is found horizontally at bottom border and "NATIONAL BANK NOTE Co. N.Y." vertically at left border. Series 88 to 171. An estimated 8,318,840 were printed from which about 700 to 900 are known today, mostly in lower grades.，From the Joel R. Anderson Collection of United States Paper Money, Part I. Earlier from Stacks Bowers Galleries sale of August 2011, lot 5441，