Earliest Known Small Size Legal Tender Radar & Only 1928 $2 Radar

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Small Size Type Notes > Legal Tender

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$2 1928 #A12666621A
Grade: PCGS Gem New 66 PPQ    

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This gorgeous note is quite special beyond its jaw-dropping good looks. Most significantly, it is the earliest known small-size Legal Tender radar. In the September/October 2007 issue of Paper Money, the Official Journal of the SPMC, R. Logan Talks published an extensive 23-page article entitled, "A study of Radar Serial Numbers in the 1928 to 1963 Era". In the article, Mr. Talks references his census of over 600 notes and provides a breakdown by denomination and series of all known radars and solids from 1928 through 1963. For example, Mr. Talks writes, "The unique issue of $1 1928 USNs had a minuscule printing of only 1,872 million notes and I am not aware of any existing radars for this series. No solid serial numbers are possible because of the small number printed." The article goes on to say that from 1928 to 1966A only 83 eed sseal radars and solids are known across all series and all denominations. From that select group, this note is the one and only radar known from the 1928 $2 Series. The 1928 $2 Series is the earliest of the Legal Tenders as attested to by the signature of H.T. Tate, who was U.S. Treasurer from May 31, 1928 to January 17, 1929. W.O. Woods, whose signature is found on the 1928 $1 and $5 Legal Tenders, followed Tate into office and was Treasurer from January 18, 1929 to May 31, 1933. In effect, even if a 1928 $1 Legal Tender radar were to someday surface, it would never qualify as the earliest known small-size Legal Tender. As such, this note bearing Tate's signature is both the earliest known small-size Legal Tender radar of any series and denomination and, just to add an additional dollop of rarity, the only known 1928 $2 radar. We told you it was special.

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