16375

50¢ Second Issue Experimental Set of Four Milton

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 22,500.00 USD
50¢ Second Issue Experimental Set of Four Milton
<B>50¢ Second Issue Experimental Set of Four Milton 2E50FR.2, 2b, 2c, 2d Gem New.</B></I> Very similar to the 25¢ set in the preceding lot, with the major difference, other than the denomination, being the bronze date that is overprinted on the face, which in this case is March 21, 1863. Each of these four incredible notes bears the face printing of the finished 50¢ Second Issue plate. Also on the face of each note is the large bronze "50" normally found on the back. Immediately below the "50" and also in bronze is the unexplained date "March 21, 1863." This date appears on three of the four notes. On the note with the green back, the bronze overprint is misaligned so that the "50" is printed near the bottom of the note, and the date has apparently printed below the frame line and been inadvertently omitted. All four notes have the identical engraving on the back, which is that of the normal Second Issue notes with this exception: the area within the shield where the denomination appears is blank but for the outlined stars, and those stars are double outlined on these notes. They are single outlined on the regularly issued Second Issue notes. Each of the four backs is printed in a different color. 2E50FR.2 is printed in the green used on the Ten Cent note, .2b is printed in the red used on the 50¢ note, .2c is printed in the purple used on the 25¢ note and .2d is printed in the light brown used on the Five Cent note. The .2 and the .2c both have the handwritten word "Imperfect" written inside the blank shield. All four of these spectacular rarities grade Very Choice to Gem New, and all four are fully bright. Each of the notes is an extreme rarity, ranging from unique to three known. Milt Friedberg obtained this set on February 23, 1981 for $12,000. Tom O'Mara purchased it from CAA's 1997 sale of the Friedberg Collection.