CVC & Collectables presents the iconic 1890 “Ornate Back” $5 Treasury Note (Friedberg Fr.359), certified PMG Choice Fine 15 with the annotation Corner Tips Missing. One of the most recognizable and artistically admired issues in all of American paper money, this historic large-size Treasury Note is prized for its intricate engraving, short-lived issuance, and legendary reverse design.
Note Highlights:
• Issuer/Type: United States — Treasury Note (Large Size)
• Date/Denomination: 1890 • $5
• Catalog: Fr. 359
• Grade: PMG Choice Fine 15
• Comments: Corner Tips Missing
• Serial Number: A2092162★
• Signatures: Rosecrans • Huston
• Format: Large-Size U.S. Paper Money
• Holder: Paper Money Guaranty, authenticated and graded
Design & Devices:
• Face (Obverse): Portrait of Union General George H. Thomas at center, surrounded by intricate lathework, ornate denomination counters, detailed Treasury engravings, and a prominent brown Treasury seal.
• Back (Reverse): The famed “Ornate Back” reverse featuring elaborate guilloche engraving, decorative scrollwork, and oversized FIVE denomination motifs—one of the most celebrated reverse designs ever used on U.S. currency.
Collectibility:
Among the most desirable of all 19th century U.S. type notes, the Fr.359 Ornate Back is a cornerstone issue for advanced currency collectors. This PMG Choice Fine 15 example retains strong design detail, historic originality, and excellent collector appeal despite honest circulation, making it an outstanding representative of this legendary Treasury Note type.
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