Important Spread Eagle

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Large Size Type Notes > Legal Tender

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Fr. 167a $100 1863
Grade: PCGS VF 30 Apparent    

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This example is truly lovely because of its brilliant greens and reds and amazing margins, which have had a few splits beautifully restored, bringing this note's appearance near the top of the desirability department. This type continues to show its record achieving prices with virtually every appearance over decades are nearly equal for the 1862 and 1863 series, 24 and 26 each. Those totals break down to Fr. 165 (13); Fr. 165a (11); Fr. 166 (0); Fr. 167 (2); Fr. 167a (22) and Fr. 167b (2). All of the data points to one simple fact that these notes are few and far between. There are five First Type and six Second Obligation in grades of VF 20 to VF 30. There have only been this and one other listed as VF selling in the last decade and the First Variety has only had two sold since 2005. The Spread Eagle $100 has been a quintessential rarity ever since it was first chosen by William P. Donlon to grace the cover of his reference book on US Large Size Paper Money. That was my first exposure to the type and design. This type has been coveted by me and virtually all other collectors of that era. These days Friedberg's Paper Money of the United States listed six different varieties for this type. The totals show as: Fr. 165 Only four notes graded but none above VF 25 (3), VF 20 (3), Ch. Fine 15 (2), Fine 12 (2), VG 10 (3), VG 8 (1), Good 4 (1); Fr. 165a VF 25 (1), VF 20 (1), Ch. Fine 15 (1), Fine 12 (5), VG 10 (1), Good 4 (2); Fr. 166 No notes reported or graded; Fr. 167 XF 40 (1), Fine 12 (1); Fr. 167a UNC 65 & 66 (5), AU 50-55 (2); XF 40 (4), VF 30 (3), VF 20 (2), Fine 12 (3), VG 10 (1), VG 8 (21); Fr. 167b VF 25 (1), VG 10 (1). PCGS notes: minor restoration.

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