Treasury Notes Fr. 376 $50 1891 B7* William H. Seward, Sr., was born May 16, 1801, and served as Governor of New York from 1838 to 1842. Both as governor and a state senator he strived for increased spending on education, among other progressive platforms. He was appointed Secretary of State under Lincoln in 1861 and served in that position until 1869. He fought for, and eventually negotiated the U.S. purchase of Alaska, which was finalized March 30, 1867, later to be mockingly known as "Seward's folly". An attempt on his life was made on the same night as the assassination of President Lincoln, which he survived largely due to a neck brace from a previous accident that protected his neck from the attacker's knife. There are several monuments and tributes to Seward, most notably several towns including Seward, Alaska and his immortalization on the $50 1891 Treasury Coin notes. This is the finest Seward note in existence among private collectors today. The only known example in the running is serial #B2 but it is just not quite as nice, according to informed observers. We are pleased to offer this important piece of American currency as the premiere note of the Highland Park Collection. There were just 80,000 notes printed and only 23,500 issued. Currently there are 22 serial numbers recorded, including six in government collections, leaving a scant 16 notes possible. This note is graded Gem UNC 65 EPQ by PMG. We previously sold this note in June 2000 where it was described as, "This is a remarkable opportunity. Unmatched for as long as I have been buying and selling currency. Not since 1970 has a Seward note of this quality been offered publicly for sale. In fact, most of the circulated specimens are not even attractive. Including this example, 20 notes have been reported. At least seven are not likely to appear on the marketplace. Of the pieces listed as CU, one is not and four others are impounded, leaving this one and the serial #2 for the collecting public. This note is wonderful! It is problem-free and totally original. This note is the Hessler illustration and it has a long, privately held history. The last Seward to sell was an XF at $26,200 in 1995." In that August 1998 sale this note brought a realized price of $170,500.

PMG Gem UNC 65 EPQ