US $5 1953B Fr#1534 Legal Tender Note PCGS 65 Gem New PPQ

• Country: United States
• Denomination: $5 USD
• Series: 1953B
• Catalog Reference: Fr#1534
• Type: Legal Tender Note (United States Note)
• Signatures: Granahan & Dillon
• Serial Number: C19808485A
• Certification: PCGS 80597995
• Grade: Gem New 65PPQ
• Seal Color: Red
• Portrait: Abraham Lincoln
• Printer: Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP)

A superbly preserved 1953B $5 Legal Tender Note, cataloged as Fr#1534, certified PCGS Gem New 65PPQ — combining brilliant color, exceptional centering, and crisp paper originality.

This note features the bold red Treasury seal and serial numbers that define the Legal Tender series, along with Abraham Lincoln’s portrait, finely detailed against the classic grey and black engraving. Its Premium Paper Quality (PPQ) designation guarantees complete originality, natural paper wave, and deep embossing — attributes highly sought after by collectors of U.S. small-size currency.

An outstanding mid-century example that perfectly represents the artistry and confidence of America’s post-war currency design, this piece is ideal for both advanced collectors and investors seeking high-grade red seal notes.

Background Information

The 1953B $5 Legal Tender Note is part of the long-running red seal series that traces its heritage to the Civil War era, when the first United States Notes were issued. By the 1950s, these notes circulated alongside Silver Certificates and early Federal Reserve Notes, distinguished by their red Treasury seals and serials.

Designated Fr#1534, this issue bears the Granahan–Dillon signatures and was printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP). Legal Tender Notes were redeemable in lawful money rather than silver or gold, making them a distinct type in American monetary history. Surviving Gem New examples with full originality are increasingly scarce.