Iconic “Spread Eagle” $100 Legal Tender Note to be Offered in the Summer 2025 Global Showcase Auction

The 1863 Fr. 167a $100 Legal Tender Note is by far one of the most recognizable and distinctive compositions of the 1860s. Pieces like this are scarcely seen and rarely offered and we are pleased to offer a PMG Choice Very Fine 35 example in our Summer Global Showcase Auction.

Finding only limited use in commerce, notes like this were much more likely to be redeemed. Circulating mostly between financial institutions and maybe a handful of wealthy individuals, these notes simply didn’t get around like the smaller denominations that often fulfilled military payrolls or were used in small transactions. As a result, only a small handful of notes of this design and denomination have survived, with a few dozen examples known when one accounts for all Friedberg Numbers.

This specimen is particularly attractive among its peers and offers a fine testament to Joseph P. Ourdan’s design. From the defiance of the Bald Eagle seen atop a rocky crag with its wings spread (leading to the “Spread Eagle” moniker) to the trio of cycloidal denomination counters, this specimen nicely exemplifies why this design has been consistently popular among collectors.

The comment for a “Restoration” applied by PMG refers to some margin work which is easily overlooked. The work in question was quite clearly done by a skilled professional rather than a random individual.

Even among a remarkable assortment of rarities slated for the Summer 2025 Global Showcase Auction, this note is bound to stand out and attract its share of attention and bids when it crosses the auction block.

For more information about our auctions or to consign your numismatic items, please call 800-458-4646 or email [email protected].