Series 1928D $2 Legal Tender Note (Julian / Morgenthau Jr.) – Red Seal – Fr. 1505 – About Uncirculated (AU 50 – AU 55)

Technical Specifications & Identification

• Issuing Authority: The United States of America (United States Note / Legal Tender)

• Denomination: $2.00 ("Two Dollars / Will Pay to the Bearer on Demand")

• Series: Series of 1928 D

• Catalog References:

  • Friedberg Number: Fr. 1505

  • Type: Small-Size Legal Tender Note (Red Treasury Seal & Red Serial Numbers)

• Serial Number: C 94217778 A

  • Serial Attribute: Embedded "Triple 7s" (...777...) sequence

• Treasury Signatures:

  • Treasurer of the United States: W. A. Julian (in office 1933–1949)

  • Secretary of the Treasury: Henry Morgenthau Jr. (in office 1934–1945)

• Plate & Position Identifiers:

  • Check Letter & Quadrant: F (upper left)

  • Face Plate Number: F 304 (lower right)

  • Back Plate Number: 337 (right of the Monticello vignette frame)

• Physical Dimensions: Standard small-size BEP currency (approx. 6.14 in × 2.61 in / 156 mm × 66 mm)

Design & Historical Significance: The Historic 1928 Format

• The "Seal on the Left" Layout:

  • Modern U.S. currency and post-1953 issues locate the Treasury seal on the right side of the face.

  • In the Series of 1928, the scalloped red Treasury seal is positioned on the left side, centered directly over the obligation clause: "THIS NOTE IS A LEGAL TENDER AT ITS FACE VALUE FOR ALL DEBTS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE".

• Large Open-Outline "TWO":

  • The right side features the tall, distinctive open-lathework "TWO", an architectural engraving unique to 1928 small-size $2 bills that was replaced on later series.

• Obverse Portrait:

  • Centered bust of Thomas Jefferson inside an oval frame, engraved by Charles Burt after the 1800 life portrait by Gilbert Stuart.

• Reverse Vignette (Monticello):

  • Features a classical front facade view of Monticello, Jefferson’s Virginia estate, flanked by deep green ornamental rosettes.

  • Pre-Motto Classic: The vignette is completely pre-motto, printed decades before "IN GOD WE TRUST" was authorized by Congress on paper currency.

• Historical Era:

  • Produced during the Great Depression and the New Deal administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

  • Circulated alongside gold-backed currency redemption transitions and bank holidays.

Serial Pattern Analysis: The "Lucky Triple 7s"

• Full Inscription: C 94217778 A

• Pattern Breakdown:

  • Features a continuous run of three consecutive sevens (777) centered in the serial sequence.

  • Adjacent pairing: It transitions directly into an 8, creating a memorable ...7778 cadence.

Condition & Visual Grade Assessment

• Estimated Technical Grade: About Uncirculated (AU 50 – AU 55)

• Detailed Preservation Diagnostics:

  • Paper Fabric & Body: Firm, crisp, original BEP cotton-linen paper with strong original sizing, clean off-white field coloration, and distinct intaglio ink relief.

  • Folds & Handling: Free of heavy commercial wallet folds, hard center creases, or corner tip folds. Displays only a faint, gentle vertical teller bend / handling wave visible under angled direct light.

  • Edges & Corners: Sharp 90-degree squared corners with crisp, unsoftened margin perimeters. No corner rounding, edge nicks, or margin splits.

  • Surface Quality: Completely problem-free; no pinholes, spindle tears, rubber stamp marks, or ink graffiti.

  • Ink Saturation: Deep, vivid crimson red on the left-side Treasury seal and dual serial number overprints. Dark forest-green reverse lathework.

• Centering:

  • Obverse: Well-framed margins on all four sides.

  • Reverse: Exceptionally balanced margins framing the outer lathework borders.