Fr. 63a. 1863 $5 Legal Tender Note. No. 38028. Plate B. PMG Choice Uncirculated 64.

Fr. 63a. 1863 $5 Legal Tender Note. No. 38028. Plate B. PMG Choice Uncirculated 64.，This is an exceptionally attractive survivor from the early Legal Tender series, in this case authorized under the Act of March 3, 1863. The note is well centered with respectably wide margins all around both sides. The paper is bright and very clean, providing an ideal background for the vivid green and red overprints. A couple of tiny pinholes are noted in the left end, but very close examination is required to find them. In terms of aesthetics, this note has everything to offer. <p><p>The notes bearing this Act date come in three different varieties as described by Friedberg, with different engravers imprints, variants with and without a small green patent date and with one or two serial numbers printed on the face. This note bears the mark of American Bank Note Company two times in the lower border, and a single serial number at the upper right. There is no small green patent date, which referred to a patent on the green ink. <p><p>American Bank Note Company was formed in May 1858 when the leading engraving firms of the time merged to form one powerhouse company. The contributing firms included Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson; Toppan, Carpenter & Co.; Danforth, Perkins & Co.; Wellstood, Hay & Whiting; Jocelyn, Draper, Welsh & Co.; New England Bank Note Co.; Bald, Cousland & Co., John E. Gavit, and Edmonds, Jones & Smillie. While the Bureau of Engraving and Printing handled ever-increasing amounts of its own projects in house, ABNCo continued doing government contract work on bank notes until 1879 and on postage stamps until 1894. Beyond the work for the United States, ABNCo dominated the security printing business in the private sector and for international governments for more than a century. At the time this note was issued, the main offices of the firm were in the Merchants Exchange Building, Wall Street, New York City. <p>，From the A.J. Vanderbilt Collection. Earlier from Stacks Fixed Price List, November 1991.，