Series 1953 $5 Silver Certificate Star Replacement Note (Priest / Humphrey) – Blue Seal – Fr. 1655* – Fine to Very Fine (F 15 – VF 20)

Item Overview

• Denomination: $5.00 ("Five Dollars in Silver Payable to the Bearer on Demand")

• Currency Type: Small-Size U.S. Silver Certificate (Blue Treasury Seal & Blue Serials with Star Prefix)

• Series: Series 1953 (Plain)

• Catalog Reference: Friedberg # 1655* (Fr. 1655* / Star Replacement Note)

• Serial Number: * 06095361 A

• Signatures / Officials:

  • Ivy Baker Priest (Treasurer of the United States)

  • George M. Humphrey (Secretary of the Treasury)

• Plate Position / Identifiers:

  • Check Letter & Quadrant: Q (lower left quadrant)

  • Face Plate Number: Q 42 (upper right)

  • Back Plate Number: 2133 (upper right margin scroll)

• Vignettes & Details:

  • Obverse Portrait: Abraham Lincoln centered in an oval frame, flanked on the left by the large blue denomination numeral "5".

  • Reverse Vignette: The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., without the national motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" (standard for Series 1953).

Variety & Scarcity Context

• Series 1953 Plain vs. 1953A:

  • Earlier, you inspected a Series 1953A star note (signed by Priest and Anderson).

  • This note belongs to the original Series 1953 Plain run, featuring Secretary of the Treasury George M. Humphrey (serving 1953–1957 under President Eisenhower).

• Star Replacement Scarcity:

  • Total star replacement production for Series 1953 (Fr. 1655*) was limited to 17,520,000 notes.

  • While more abundant than the later 1953A and 1953B runs, $5 star notes from the 1950s were heavily spent in circulation, making clean, tear-free Fine/VF examples steady favorites for blue-seal type collectors.

Condition & Visual Grade

• Assigned Technical Grade: Fine to Very Fine (F 15 – VF 20)

• Preservation Highlights:

  • Honest, authentic commercial circulation with overall paper softening and multiple vertical wallet folds.

  • Faint horizontal center fold and light handling bends across the body.

  • Natural circulation patina and mild age toning across the outer margin borders.

  • Complete borders with no pinholes, large tears, or missing paper chunks.

  • The blue Treasury seal, large numeral 5, and star serial numbers retain strong ink color and legibility.

• Centering: Well-framed margins on all four sides of both the obverse and reverse.