A rare note that features one of the most famous faces is at the forefront this time as we continue to wade our way through Whitman Publishing’s 100 Greatest American Currency Notes series. Authors Q. David Bowers and David M. Sundman lead the charge as we delve deeper into this top 20 pick.
#20 – Lincoln and Reconstruction $100 Legal Tender Note, Series of 1869
The Series 1869 $100 Lincoln Legal Tender Note has just one signature and seal combination, making it a rarity in today’s numismatic landscape. Only around 30 notes are known to exist featuring the Treasury signatures of Allison and Spinner.
Lincoln is featured on the face off to the left, a portrait that was engraved by Charles Burt from a photograph taken in February of 1864 by Anthony Berger. To the far right is a scene entitled Reconstruction, which depicts a goddess during postwar recovery as an architect. Just below her is a young boy holding a scroll that features a domed pergola with a circle of 12 stars around it. A carpenter’s table is before her.
The combination of designs is interesting considering that President Lincoln himself had nothing to do with the Reconstruction period. It started after his assassination and was, to many, mishandled by Andrew Johnson.
In 1960, the historic market value for the $100 note in Choice Crisp Uncirculated was $2,500. By this edition (2006), it rose to $215,000.
