1886 $1 Silver Certificate Fr#217 PMG 65 EPQ

The Mother of Our Country Launches 1886 Silver Certificate Series

Here’s the famous Martha Washington note, and what a note it is! Featuring the “Mother of our Country,” it’s still the first — and only — United States paper currency to feature a real-life woman as the primary portrait. The certificates were first printed in 1886 and could be redeemed at any time for a silver dollar.

The 1886 series was the very first of the $1 Silver Certificate notes, and this note has been ranked as #50 in the book 100 Greatest American Currency Notes. The note was so popular that Martha Washington returned for a second series with a slightly revised design in 1891.

On the front left of the note is the famous portrait of Martha Washington, with a large “1” opposite her in a decorative frame. This side of the note also features a large red spiked seal.

The 1886 notes are classified as Fr #217, a designation that refers to the numbering system in the widely used Paper Money of the United States reference book written by Arthur L. Friedberg and Ira S. Friedberg. The Fr numbers indicate varieties existing within a larger type design. This particular note has been certified and graded by Paper Money Guaranty (PMG) as being in impressive Gem Uncirculated PMG 65 (PMG 65) Exceptional Paper Quality (EPQ) condition, with no visible evidence of restoration, tears, pinholes or other problems.

According to the PMG population report, only 390 of these notes have been graded. Of that limited number, just 12 have received the same grade as this note, and just four notes are graded higher! Don’t wait, add America’s FIRST First Lady to your collection today!