Fr. 168 $100 1869 PCGS XF 45

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Large Size Type Notes > Legal Tender

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Fr. 168 $100 1869
Grade: PCGS XF 45    

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Design 26. Large red seal. Shortly after the assissination of President Lincoln and the end of the Civil War the design was changed for all Legal Tender issues. The 'new' note was one that pictures a resolve portrait of Lincoln on the left and an allegorical image representing Architecture at the right. I have written about this note before in the Levitan sale and again in 2006 but now it has been third-party graded by PCGS. Our description from the Levitan sale in 1998 read, "This magnificent Rainbow $100 is a classic rarity. It is in spectacular condition with broad margins all the way around, both front and back. The excellent paper quality has only minute handling and the broad, bold colors make this note one of the most outstanding ever offered. This design has images that relate to the Civil War, which ended a few years earlier, the Anthony Berger portrait of the martyred President Lincoln and the engraving of Reconstruction on the right. A small head of Liberty is found near the lower border. There have been 22 serial numbers recorded with seven likely off the market for generations. There are apparently two other CU examples in private hands and a couple of AU examples that could be very close in grade. This note was the Donlon illustration and Frank acquired it from him in 1971. Pedigree: Wm. P. Donlon". A later description in the Rickey sale added, "Today a grading service might agree with my grade from that time, or they might feel a light corner tip fold has to be called AU. Personally, Frank acquired it as uncirculated and we sold it that way, and I am again trying to make this broadly margined, incredibly fresh, original $100 Rainbow note as exciting as it appears to me. The paper quality is very nice but it does have very faint handling. Truly one of the great currency treasures. This note is #20 on the 100 greatest list.

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