1923 $5 Silver Certificate "Porthole"

Fr # 282
Year 1923
Denomination $5.00
Series Silver Certificate
Serial # A2642061B
Grade PMG 64
PMG # 1887197-050
PMC Category Gold
Estimated Value $6,000.00
Description

Ranked #30 in 100 Greatest American Currency Notes, the 1923 $5 Silver Certificate features a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president who led the nation through the Civil War. Following his assassination in 1865, numerous tributes honored his legacy, including his depiction on U.S. currency.

For the 1923 Silver Certificate, Lincoln's portrait was framed in a circular design, which stirred some controversy at the time—critics felt it resembled the view through a gun barrel. Over time, the design came to be known as the "Lincoln Porthole" due to its likeness to a ship’s window.

Today, the Lincoln Porthole $5 is a highly sought-after collector's item, with only about 5,000 examples known to exist—and even fewer surviving in higher grades, making it a prized addition to any advanced collection.

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