NY-167 - 10 pounds - PCGS AU-53 - #1 Highest Grade

NY-167 - Ten Pounds - PCGS AU-53 - New York Colony - February 16, 1771

#1 Highest Grade - Very Rare

High Grade:

 A beautiful example of a very rare note. Deep embossing that is easily seen on the reverse. Deep and even ink strike. Triple signed in brown, red, and black, with perfect centering and cut exactly to margins. A very low number, 296, is in black ink.

It was given the Apparent grade because of two pieces of tape on the reverse. The tape can be easily removed but I left it completely original.

A True Rarity!
Very rare above the VF grade.
According to the PMG Census, the highest ever graded is a VF-30. This beautiful specimen is far superior and is easily the  Highest ever professionally graded.

Value:
The newly released Early Paper Money Of America by Eric Newman lists this note at $1,000.00 in the EX (40 to 45) grade. There is NO listing for AU (50 to 58) or Uncirculated (60 and higher) because of extreme rarity in higher grades.

Time Line:
This was the final New York Colony currency printed while at peace with the Crown. The first Continental Congress convened on September 5, 1774 and in a united effort, declared their grievances to King George. The second Congress met on May 10, 1775 and the war had officially begun. This series of notes was in circulation during these first two congressional meetings and saw the very beginning of the Revolutionary War.

Some important history about this note: 
The new decorative top border cut with Britannia (at center), an Indian (at left) and Commerce (the seated lady at right), as well as the left border cut and the Arms of New York City were made by Elisha Gallaudet of New York City. A seaside scene, complete with ships and a beaver (meaning industry).
Printed by Hugh Gaine on thin laid paper.
"New York" is within the left border. On the Two and Three pound notes "New York" is positioned to be read from left to right, but it is reversed on the Ten pound note.
The New York Colony seal is positioned at right, depicting a colonist and an indian in trade agreement under the Crown. At lower border of the seal is the latin phrase "SIGILL . CIVITAT . NOV . EBORAC", which is the abbreviated version of "Sigillum civitas novus eboracum" - meaning "Seal of the citizens of New York".
The denomination is also given in shillings directly below the seal, "200s" and at left "CCs". "'Tis Death to counterfeit" is below seal, numbering space is directly above. I have seen examples of both red and black ink used for numbering of the 10 pound note.
At the extreme base is a clever anti-counterfeiting measure, consisting of symbols that were different on each denomination.

The reverse is blank. A cotemporary signature is noted.


This is an exceedingly rare and magnificent note, worthy of the world's finest collections.


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