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When Thomas F. Morris became the chief of the Bureau of Printing & Engraving in 1893, a decision to produce a new
series ($1, $2, $5) of Silver Certificate Notes was approved. He hired three famous muralists of the time
(Blashfield, Low, and Shirlaw) to create scenic motifs on the different notes. They did mockups for all the
denominations up to $1000 but only the three lowest values were ever produced, creating the beautiful "Educational"
notes.
This note is listed #5 in the "100 Greatest American Currency Notes" and is one of the most beautiful pieces of
currency ever printed in the world.
This note with Lyons-Roberts signatures is the rarest of the three signature varieties. The other two are
Tillman-Morgan and Bruce-Roberts. Over 650 $5 Educationals are known, but only 20% of them have Lyons-Roberts
signatures.
Front: Features the allegorical "Electricity Presenting Light to the World."
Back: Features General Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), Commanding general during the Civil War and the 18th President of the
United States; General Philip H. Sheridan (1831-8188), Union general in the American Civil War
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