NUVEEN TAX EXEMPT UNIT TRUST SERIES 780
487, 1995-01-24
Previous: TELE COMMUNICATIONS INC /CO/, S-3, 1995-01-24
Next: DEAN WITTER SELECT EQUITY TR SEL 10 INTERNATIONAL SER 95-1, 497, 1995-01-24




<PAGE>


                                                      File No. 33-57123
                                                      40 Act File No. 811-2271


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-6

For Registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of Securities of Unit
Investment Trusts Registered on Form N-8B-2

A.  Exact name of Trust:     NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 780

B.  Name of Depositor:       JOHN NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED

C.  Complete address of Depositor's principal executive offices:

                             333 West Wacker Drive
                             Chicago, Illinois  60606

D.  Name and complete address of agents for service:

                             JOHN NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED
                             Attn:  James J. Wesolowski
                             333 West Wacker Drive
                             Chicago, Illinois 60606

                             CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
                             Attn:  Daniel C. Bird, Jr.
                             111 West Monroe Street
                             Chicago, Illinois  60603

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

- -----
- -----    immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

- -----
- -----    on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)

- -----
- -----    60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)

- -----
- -----    on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of rule 485 or 486

E.  Title and amount of securities being registered:  An indefinite number of
    Units as permitted by Rule 24f-2.

F.  Proposed maximum offering price to the public of the securities being
    registered:  Not presently determinable.

G.  Amount of filing fee:  $500 in accordance with Rule 24f-2.

H.  Approximate date of proposed sale to the public:

    As soon as practicable after the effective date of the Registration
    Statement.
______
          Check box if it is proposed that this filing will become effective
  X       on 1/24/95 at 1:30 p.m. pursuant to Rule 487.
______



<PAGE>
   
                                JANUARY 24, 1995
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
 
NUVEEN  Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
             PROSPECTUS
            Series 780
             January 24, 1995
    
INTEREST  INCOME TO THE  TRUSTS AND TO  UNITHOLDERS, IN THE  OPINION OF COUNSEL,
UNDER EXISTING LAW IS EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL INCOME TAX. CAPITAL GAINS, IF ANY, ARE
SUBJECT TO TAX. IN ADDITION, INTEREST INCOME OF STATE TRUSTS IS, IN THE  OPINION
OF  COUNSEL,  EXEMPT,  TO THE  EXTENT  INDICATED,  FROM STATE  AND  LOCAL TAXES.
INTEREST INCOME OF ANY TRUST  OTHER THAN A STATE TRUST  MAY BE SUBJECT TO  STATE
AND LOCAL TAXES.
 
CURRENTLY  OFFERED AT PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE PLUS INTEREST ACCRUED TO THE DATE OF
SETTLEMENT. MINIMUM PURCHASE--EITHER $5,000 OR 50 UNITS, WHICHEVER IS LESS.
 
   
THE NUVEEN  TAX-EXEMPT  UNIT  TRUST,  SERIES 780  consists  of  four  underlying
separate unit investment trusts designated as Connecticut Traditional Trust 271,
New  Jersey  Insured Trust  186,  New York  Insured  Trust 230  and Pennsylvania
Insured Trust 193. Each Trust initially consists of delivery statements relating
to contracts to purchase  Bonds and, thereafter, will  consist of a  diversified
portfolio of obligations issued by or on behalf of states and territories of the
United  States and authorities and political subdivisions thereof (see SCHEDULES
OF INVESTMENTS), the interest on which is, in the opinion of bond counsel to the
issuers, exempt from  Federal income tax  under existing law.  In addition,  the
interest  on Bonds in each State Trust is, in the opinion of bond counsel to the
issuers of the obligations, exempt from  such State's income taxes, if any.  All
obligations in each Traditional Trust are rated in the category "A" or better by
Standard  & Poor's Corporation or Moody's Investors Service, Inc. on the Date of
Deposit. All  obligations in  each  Insured Trust  are  covered by  policies  of
insurance  obtained  from  the Municipal  Bond  Investors  Assurance Corporation
guaranteeing payment of principal  and interest when due.  All such policies  of
insurance  remain effective  so long  as the  obligations are  outstanding. As a
result of such insurance, the Bonds in each portfolio of the Insured Trusts have
received a rating of "Aaa" by Moody's  Investors Service, Inc. and the Bonds  in
the  Insured Trusts and the  Units of each such Trust  have received a rating of
"AAA" by Standard & Poor's Corporation.  INSURANCE RELATES ONLY TO THE BONDS  IN
THE INSURED TRUSTS AND NOT TO THE UNITS OFFERED HEREBY OR TO THEIR MARKET VALUE.
(See Section 5.)
    
 
THE  OBJECTIVES of the Trusts are  tax-exempt income and conservation of capital
through a diversified  investment in tax-exempt  Bonds. (SEE SECTIONS  2, 3  AND
11.)  The payment of interest and the  preservation of principal are, of course,
dependent upon the continuing ability of the issuers of Bonds and of any insurer
thereof to meet  their obligations thereunder.  There is no  guarantee that  the
Trusts' objectives will be achieved. (SEE PAGE A-1.)
 
DISTRIBUTIONS  of interest  received by  each Trust  will be  made semi-annually
unless the Unitholder elects to receive them monthly or quarterly. (SEE  SECTION
13.)  Distribution of funds in the Principal Account, if any, will ordinarily be
made semi-annually.
 
FOR ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURNS AND ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURNS to Unitholders  in
each  Trust on the  business day prior to  the Date of Deposit.  (SEE PAGE 3 AND
SECTION 9.)
 
THE PUBLIC OFFERING  PRICE per Unit  of each Trust  during the initial  offering
period  is equal to a pro rata share of the OFFERING prices of the Bonds in such
Trust's portfolio plus  a sales charge  of up  to 4.90% of  the Public  Offering
Price  (equivalent to 5.152%  of the net  amount invested); the  sales charge is
somewhat lower on Trusts  with lesser average maturities.  (SEE SECTION 6.)  The
Secondary  Market Public Offering Price per Unit for each Trust will be equal to
a pro rata share of the  sum of BID prices of the  Bonds in such Trust plus  the
sales  charges determined based on the number of years remaining to the maturity
of each  Bond. Accrued  interest from  the  preceding Record  Date to,  but  not
including,  the settlement date (normally five  business days after purchase) is
added to the Public Offering Price. The  sales charge is reduced on a  graduated
scale  for sales involving at least $50,000 or  500 Units and will be applied on
whichever basis is more favorable to the purchaser. (SEE SECTION 6.)
 
A UNITHOLDER MAY REDEEM UNITS at the office of the Trustee, United States  Trust
Company of New York, at prices based upon the BID prices of the Bonds. The price
received  upon  redemption  may  be  more  or  less  than  the  amount  paid  by
Unitholders, depending upon the  value of the  Bonds on the  date of tender  for
redemption.  (SEE  SECTION 19.)  The Sponsor,  although not  required to  do so,
intends to make a secondary market for  the Units of the Trusts at prices  based
upon  the BID  prices of the  Bonds in  the respective Trusts.  (SEE SECTION 7.)
RETAIN THIS PROSPECTUS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
 
UNITS OF THE TRUST ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED
BY, ANY BANK AND ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED OR OTHERWISE PROTECTED BY THE FEDERAL
DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD OR ANY OTHER AGENCY AND
INVOLVE INVESTMENT RISK, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF PRINCIPAL.
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES  AND
EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION  NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR  ANY  STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION PASSED  UPON  THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
<PAGE>
  NUVEEN  Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      INDEX                                             SECTION         PAGE
<C>   <S>                                              <C>        <C>
      SPECIFIC TRUST MATTERS
      Connecticut Traditional Trust 271                       3         8-15
      New Jersey Insured Trust 186                            3        16-23
      New York Insured Trust 230                              3        24-37
      Pennsylvania Insured Trust 193                          3        38-47
      GENERAL MATTERS
      Accrued Interest                                        8         A-17
      Accumulation Plan                                      14         A-24
      Bonds, How Selected                                     3            7
      Bonds, Initial Determination of Offering Price         10         A-19
      Bonds, Limited Right of Substitution                    4          A-7
      Bond Ratings                                            3         8-47
      Bonds, Removal from Trust                              21         A-33
      Call Provisions of Portfolio Bonds                   3, 4     8-47,A-8
      Capital Gains Taxability                               11         A-19
      Dealer Discount                                        17         A-29
      Description of Units of Trust                           1            5
      Distributions to Unitholders                           13         A-23
      Distribution Payment Dates                          3, 13   8-47, A-23
      Distribution of Units to the Public                    17         A-29
      Essential Information Regarding the Trusts             --            4
      Estimated Long Term Return and Estimated Current
      Return                                                  9      3, A-18
      Evaluation                                             16         A-28
      Expenses to Fund                                       12         A-22
      Insurance on Bonds in the Insured Trusts                5         A-10
      Insurance on Certain Bonds in the Traditional
      Trusts                                                  5         A-12
      Interest Income to Trust                                3         8-47
      Investments, Schedules of                               3         8-47
      Legality of Units                                      24         A-37
      Limitations on Liabilities of Sponsor and Trustee       22        A-34
      Market for Units                                        7         A-16
      Minimum Transaction                                    17         A-29
      Objectives of the Trusts                                2            6
      Optional Distribution Plan                             13         A-23
      Other Information                                      24         A-36
      Ownership and Transfer of Units                        18         A-30
      Public Offering Price of Units                          6         A-13
      Quantity Purchases                                      6         A-13
      Record Dates                                           13         A-23
      Ratings, Description of                                24         A-38
      Redemption of Units by Trustee                         19         A-31
      Reports to Unitholders                                 15         A-28
      Repurchase of Units by Sponsor                         20         A-33
      Risk Factors                                            3          A-1
      Sales Charge                                            6         A-13
      Sponsor, Information About                             23         A-35
      State Tax Status                                        3         8-47
      Successor Trustees and Sponsors                        22         A-34
      Tax Status of Unitholders                              11         A-19
      Trustee, Information About                             22         A-34
      Trust Indenture, Amendment and Termination             24         A-36
      Unit Value                                             16         A-28
</TABLE>
 
                  2
<PAGE>
                          ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURNS
                                      AND
                    ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURNS FOR THE TRUSTS
 
Following  are the  Estimated Long Term  and Estimated Current  Returns for each
Trust on the  business day  prior to  the Date  of Deposit,  under the  monthly,
quarterly and semi-annual plans of distribution (SEE SECTION 3):
 
                          ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURNS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
                                                ----------------------------------------
                    TRUST                       MONTHLY      QUARTERLY      SEMI-ANNUAL
  <S>                                           <C>          <C>            <C>
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Connecticut Traditional Trust 271........      5.88%         5.91%           5.93%
  New Jersey Insured Trust 186.............      5.92%         5.94%           5.96%
  New York Insured Trust 230...............      6.05%         6.08%           6.10%
  Pennsylvania Insured Trust 193...........      5.99%         6.03%           6.04%
</TABLE>
 
                           ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURNS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
                                                ----------------------------------------
                    TRUST                       MONTHLY      QUARTERLY      SEMI-ANNUAL
  <S>                                           <C>          <C>            <C>
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Connecticut Traditional Trust 271........      5.88%         5.91%           5.93%
  New Jersey Insured Trust 186.............      5.81%         5.84%           5.86%
  New York Insured Trust 230...............      6.00%         6.03%           6.05%
  Pennsylvania Insured Trust 193...........      5.95%         5.98%           6.00%
</TABLE>
 
    The  Estimated Long Term Return for each Trust is a measure of the return to
the investor earned  over the estimated  life of the  Trust. The Estimated  Long
Term  Return represents an  average of the  yields to maturity  (or call) of the
Bonds in  the Trust's  portfolio  calculated in  accordance with  accepted  bond
practice and adjusted to reflect expenses and sales charges. Under accepted bond
practice,  tax-exempt bonds  are customarily  offered to  investors on  a "yield
price" basis, which involves computation of  yield to maturity or to an  earlier
call date (whichever produces the lower yield), and which takes into account not
only the interest payable on the bonds but also the amortization or accretion to
a  specified date of any premium over  or discount from the par (maturity) value
in the bond's  purchase price. In  calculating Estimated Long  Term Return,  the
average  yield for  the Trust's  portfolio is  derived by  weighting each Bond's
yield by the market value of the Bond and by the amount of time remaining to the
date to which the Bond is priced. Once the average portfolio yield is  computed,
this  figure is then reduced to reflect estimated expenses and the effect of the
maximum sales  charge paid  by investors.  The Estimated  Long Term  Return  and
Estimated  Current Return calculations do not take  into account the effect of a
first distribution which may be less than a regular distribution or may be  paid
at  some point after 30 days (or a  second distribution which may be less than a
normal distribution for Unitholders who choose quarterly or semi-annual plans of
distribution), and it also does not  take into account the difference in  timing
of  payments  to  Unitholders  who  choose  quarterly  or  semi-annual  plans of
distribution, each of which will reduce the return.
 
    Estimated Current Return  is computed  by dividing the  Net Annual  Interest
Income per Unit by the Public Offering Price. In contrast to Estimated Long Term
Return, Estimated Current Return does not reflect the amortization of premium or
accretion of discount, if any, on the Bonds in the Trust's portfolio. Net Annual
Interest Income per Unit is calculated by dividing the annual interest income to
the Trust, less estimated expenses, by the number of Units outstanding.
 
    Net  Annual Interest  Income per Unit,  used to  calculate Estimated Current
Return, will vary  with changes  in fees  and expenses  of the  Trustee and  the
Evaluator  and with the redemption, maturity, exchange or sale of Bonds. A Trust
may experience expenses and  portfolio changes different  from those assumed  in
the  calculation of Estimated Long  Term Return. There thus  can be no assurance
that the Estimated  Current Returns or  the Estimated Long  Term Returns  quoted
herein will be realized in the future. Both the Estimated Current Return and the
Estimated  Long Term Return quoted  herein are based on  the market value of the
underlying Bonds on the  business day prior to  the Date of Deposit;  subsequent
calculations  of these performance measures will reflect the then current market
value of the underlying Bonds and may be higher or lower. For more  information,
see Section 9. The Sponsor will provide estimated cash flow information relating
to  a Trust without  charge to each  potential investor in  a Trust who receives
this prospectus and makes  an oral or  written request to  the Sponsor for  such
information.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
   
                 ESSENTIAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE TRUSTS ON
                               JANUARY 23, 1995+
    
           Sponsor and Evaluator...... John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
           Trustee........... United States Trust Company of New York
                  -------------------------------------------
 
The  income, expense and distribution data  set forth below have been calculated
for  Unitholders   receiving   MONTHLY   distributions.   Unitholders   choosing
distributions  quarterly or  semi-annually will receive  slightly higher returns
because of the lower Trustee's fees and expenses under such plans. (SEE  SECTION
3 FOR DATA RELATING TO THESE PLANS.)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        CONNECTICUT         NEW JERSEY           NEW YORK          PENNSYLVANIA
                                                        TRADITIONAL           INSURED             INSURED             INSURED
                                                         TRUST 271           TRUST 186           TRUST 230           TRUST 193
<S>                                                   <C>                 <C>                 <C>                 <C>
                                                      ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
Principal Amount of Bonds in Trust..................  $    3,500,000      $    3,500,000      $    4,000,000      $    3,500,000
Number of Units.....................................          35,000              35,000              40,000              35,000
Fractional Undivided Interest in Trust Per Unit.....        1/35,000            1/35,000            1/40,000            1/35,000
Public Offering Price--Less than 500 Units
    Aggregate Offering Price of Bonds in Trust......  $    3,378,001      $    3,327,835      $    3,827,086      $    3,353,740
    Divided by Number of Units......................  $        96.51      $        95.08      $        95.68      $        95.82
    Plus Sales Charge*..............................  $         4.97      $         4.90      $         4.93      $         4.94
    Public Offering Price Per Unit(1)...............  $       101.48      $        99.98      $       100.61      $       100.76
Redemption Price Per Unit (exclusive of accrued
  interest).........................................  $        96.02      $        94.58      $        95.20      $        95.32
Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price Per Unit
  (exclusive of accrued interest)...................  $        96.51      $        95.08      $        95.68      $        95.82
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Redemption Price Per Unit.........................  $         5.46      $         5.40      $         5.41      $         5.44
Excess of Public Offering Price Per Unit over
  Sponsor's Repurchase Price Per Unit...............  $         4.97      $         4.90      $         4.93      $         4.94
Calculation of Estimated Net Annual Interest Income
  Per Unit
    Annual Interest Income(2).......................  $       6.1909      $       6.0464      $       6.2731      $       6.2250
    Less Estimated Annual Expense...................  $        .2269      $        .2347      $        .2335      $        .2308
                                                      ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
    Estimated Net Annual Interest Income(3).........  $       5.9640      $       5.8117      $       6.0396      $       5.9942
Daily Rate of Accrual Per Unit......................  $       .01656      $       .01614      $       .01677      $       .01665
Estimated Current Return(4).........................           5.88%               5.81%               6.00%               5.95%
Estimated Long Term Return(4).......................           5.88%               5.92%               6.05%               5.99%
 
<FN>
- ----------
Evaluations  for purpose of sale,  purchase or redemption of  Units are made as of  4 p.m. Eastern time  on the business day next
following receipt of an order by the Sponsor or Trustee. (See Section 6.)
 + The business day prior to the Date of Deposit.
 * National and State, 5.152%;  Long Intermediate, 4.439%; Intermediate, 4.058%;  Short Intermediate, 3.093%; Short Term,  2.564%
   (4.9%, 4.25%, 3.9%, 3.0% and 2.5% of the Public Offering Prices, respectively.)
(1)  Units are offered at the Public  Offering Price plus accrued interest from the  preceding Record Date to, but not including,
    the date of settlement (normally five business days after purchase).  The Date of Deposit of the Fund has been designated  as
    the  First Record  Date for all  plans of distribution  of the Trusts  and, accordingly, for  Units purchased on  the Date of
    Deposit, the following  amounts of accrued  interest to  the Settlement Date  will be  added to the  Public Offering  Prices:
    Connecticut  Traditional Trust--$.12, New Jersey Insured Trust--$.11, New  York Insured Trust-- $.12 and Pennsylvania Insured
    Trust--$.12. (See Section 8.)
(2) Assumes delivery of  all Bonds. (See Section  4.) Interest income does  not include accretion of  original issue discount  on
    "zero coupon" Bonds, Stripped Obligations or other original issue discount Bonds. (See "General Trust Information" in Section
    3.)
(3)  The amount and timing of interest distributions from each Trust under the various plans of distribution are shown in Section
    3.
(4) Estimated Long Term Return  for each Trust represents  the average of the yields  to maturity (or call)  of the Bonds in  the
    Trust's  portfolio calculated in accordance with accepted bond practices  and adjusted to reflect expenses and sales charges.
    Estimated Current Return is computed by dividing the Net Annual Interest Income per Unit by the Public Offering Price, and in
    contrast to Estimated Long Term  Return does not reflect the  amortization of premium or accretion  of discount, if any.  For
    more information see page 3 and Section 9.
</TABLE>
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
                   ESSENTIAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE TRUSTS
                                  (CONTINUED)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                         <C>
Record Dates............................................................See Section 13
Distribution Dates......................................................See Section 13
Minimum Principal Distribution..........................................$0.10 Per Unit
Date Trusts Established...............................................January 24, 1995
Settlement Date.......................................................January 31, 1995
Mandatory Termination Date..............................................See Section 24
Minimum Value of Each Trust.............................................See Section 24
Sponsor's Annual Evaluation Fee.............$0.17 per $1,000 principal amount of Bonds
Trustee's Annual Fees:
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
                                                ------------------------------------------
                    TRUST                        MONTHLY       QUARTERLY      SEMI-ANNUAL
  -----------------------------------------     ----------     ----------     ------------
  <S>                                           <C>            <C>            <C>
  Connecticut Traditional Trust 271........     $  1.6387      $  1.3187      $   1.1287
  New Jersey Insured Trust 186.............        1.7166         1.3966          1.2066
  New York Insured Trust 230...............        1.7400         1.4200          1.2300
  Pennsylvania Insured Trust 193...........        1.6775         1.3575          1.1675
  ------------
  *  Each Trustee annual fee is  per $1,000 principal amount of  the underlying Bonds in a
    Trust for that portion of the Trust that represents a particular plan of distribution.
</TABLE>
 
                          ---------------------------
 
THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
   
SERIES 780
    
 
   
1.  WHAT IS THE NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 780?
    
 
   
Series 780 of the Nuveen  Tax-Exempt Unit Trust is one  of a series of  separate
but  similar  investment companies  created  by the  Sponsor,  each of  which is
designated by a different Series number. This Series consists of four underlying
separate  unit  investment  trusts,  combined  under  one  trust  indenture  and
agreement,  designated  Connecticut Traditional  Trust  271, New  Jersey Insured
Trust 186, New York  Insured Trust 230 and  Pennsylvania Insured Trust 193.  The
various  trusts are collectively referred to  herein as the "Trusts"; the trusts
in which few or none of the Bonds  are insured are sometimes referred to as  the
"Traditional  Trusts",  the trusts  in which  all  of the  Bonds are  insured as
described herein are  sometimes referred  to as  the "Insured  Trusts", and  the
state  trusts (both  Traditional and Insured)  are sometimes referred  to as the
"State Trusts." This Series was created under the laws of the State of New  York
pursuant  to  a  Trust  Indenture  and Agreement  dated  January  24,  1995 (the
"Indenture") between John Nuveen &  Co. Incorporated (the "Sponsor") and  United
States Trust Company of New York (the "Trustee").
    
 
   
    The  Sponsor has deposited with the  Trustee delivery statements relating to
contracts for the  purchase of  municipal debt obligations  together with  funds
represented by an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a major commercial bank
in  the amount, including accrued interest,  required for their purchase (or the
obligations themselves) in  the principal amount  of $14,500,000 (the  "Bonds"),
which initially constitute the underlying securities of the
    
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
   
Trusts.  Bonds  may  include  fixed rate  obligations  with  regularly scheduled
interest payments, zero coupon bonds  and stripped obligations, which  represent
evidences of ownership interests with respect to either a principal payment or a
payment  of interest  on a  tax-exempt obligation  ("Stripped Obligations"). See
"SUMMARY OF PORTFOLIOS" and "GENERAL TRUST INFORMATION" for a discussion of zero
coupon bonds  and Stripped  Obligations. The  following principal  amounts  were
deposited  in  each  Trust:  $3,500,000 in  the  Connecticut  Traditional Trust,
$3,500,000 in the New Jersey Insured  Trust, $4,000,000 in the New York  Insured
Trust  and $3,500,000  in the Pennsylvania  Insured Trust. Some  of the delivery
statements may relate to  contracts for the purchase  of "when issued" or  other
Bonds  with delivery dates after  the date of settlement  for a purchase made on
the Date of Deposit.  See the "Schedules  of Investments" and  Section 4. For  a
discussion  of  the Sponsor's  obligations  in the  event  of a  failure  of any
contract for  the  purchase  of any  of  the  Bonds and  its  limited  right  to
substitute other bonds to replace any failed contract, see Section 4.
    
 
    Payment  of interest on the Bonds in each Insured Trust, and of principal at
maturity, is guaranteed under policies of  insurance obtained by the Sponsor  or
by  the issuers of the Bonds. (See Section  5.) AS A GENERAL MATTER, NEITHER THE
ISSUER NOR THE SPONSOR HAS OBTAINED INSURANCE  WITH RESPECT TO THE BONDS IN  ANY
TRADITIONAL TRUST.
 
   
    The  Trustee has delivered to the  Sponsor registered Units for 35,000 Units
of the Connecticut  Traditional Trust, 35,000  Units of the  New Jersey  Insured
Trust,  40,000  Units of  the New  York Insured  Trust and  35,000 Units  of the
Pennsylvania Insured Trust,  which together  represent ownership  of the  entire
Series,  and which are offered for sale by this Prospectus. Each Unit of a Trust
represents a fractional undivided  interest in the principal  and net income  of
such  Trust in the  ratio of 10 Units  for each $1,000  principal value of Bonds
initially deposited in such Trust.
    
 
2.  WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE TRUSTS?
 
The objectives of the Trusts are income  exempt from Federal income tax and,  in
the  case of State Trusts, where applicable, state income and intangibles taxes,
and conservation of capital, through an  investment in obligations issued by  or
on  behalf of states  and territories of  the United States  and authorities and
political subdivisions thereof,  the interest  on which  is, in  the opinion  of
recognized  bond counsel  to the  issuing governmental  authorities, exempt from
Federal income tax under existing law. Bonds in any State Trust have been issued
primarily by  or on  behalf of  the  State for  which such  Trust is  named  and
counties,  municipalities, authorities  and political  subdivisions thereof, the
interest on which Bonds is, in the opinion of bond counsel, exempt from  Federal
and  certain state income tax and intangibles  taxes, if any, for purchasers who
qualify as residents of that  State. Insurance guaranteeing the timely  payment,
when  due, of all principal and interest on  the Bonds in each Insured Trust has
been obtained by the Sponsor or by the issuers of such Bonds from Municipal Bond
Investors  Assurance  Corporation,  and  as  a  result  of  such  insurance  the
obligations  in the Insured Trusts are rated "Aaa" by Moody's Investors Service,
Inc. and "AAA" by Standard & Poor's Corporation. (SEE SECTION 5) All obligations
in each Traditional Trust are rated in the category "A" or better (SP-1 or MIG 2
or better  in the  case  of short  term obligations  included  in a  Short  Term
Traditional  Trust)  by  Standard  &  Poor's  Corporation  or  Moody's Investors
Service, Inc.  (including  provisional  or conditional  ratings).  In  addition,
certain  Bonds  in  certain  Traditional  Trusts  may  be  covered  by insurance
guaranteeing the timely payment, when due,  of all principal and interest.  (SEE
SECTION  3.) The  portfolios of National  and State Trusts  consist of long-term
(approximately   15   to   40    year   maturities)   obligations;   those    of
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
Long  Intermediate Trusts consist of intermediate to long term (approximately 11
to 19  year maturities)  obligations; those  of Intermediate  Trusts consist  of
intermediate  term (approximately 5 to 15 year maturities) obligations; those of
Short Intermediate Trusts consist of short to intermediate term (approximately 3
to 7 year  maturities) obligations; and  those of Short  Term Trusts consist  of
short  term (approximately  1 to  5 year  maturities) obligations.  There is, of
course, no  guarantee  that the  Trusts'  objectives  will be  achieved.  For  a
comparison  of net  after-tax return for  various tax brackets  see the "Taxable
Equivalent Estimated Current Return Tables" included in this Prospectus.
 
    Each Trust consists  of fixed-rate  municipal debt  obligations. Because  of
this  an investment in a Trust should be made with an understanding of the risks
which an investment in such debt obligations may entail, including the risk that
the value of the debt obligations and  therefore of the Units will decline  with
increases  in  interest  rates. In  general,  the  longer the  period  until the
maturity of a  Bond, the more  sensitive its  value will be  to fluctuations  in
interest rates. During the past decade, there have been substantial fluctuations
in  interest  rates, and,  accordingly, in  the value  of debt  obligations. The
Sponsor cannot predict whether such fluctuations will recur.
 
3.  SUMMARY OF PORTFOLIOS
 
In selecting  Bonds for  the  respective Trusts,  the following  factors,  among
others,  were considered:  (i) the Standard  & Poor's Corporation  rating of the
Bonds or the Moody's Investors Service, Inc. rating of the Bonds (see Section  2
for  a description of  minimum rating standards),  (ii) the prices  of the Bonds
relative  to  other  bonds  of  comparable  quality  and  maturity,  (iii)   the
diversification of Bonds as to purpose of issue and location of issuer, (iv) the
maturity dates of the Bonds, and (v) in the case of the Insured Trusts only, the
availability of Municipal Bond Investors Assurance Corporation insurance on such
Bonds.
 
    In  order for Bonds in the Insured  Trusts to be eligible for Municipal Bond
Investors Assurance Corporation insurance, they must have credit characteristics
which, in the opinion of the  insurer, would qualify them as "investment  grade"
obligations.  Insurance is not a  substitute for the basic  credit of an issuer,
but supplements the existing credit  and provides additional security  therefor.
(SEE SECTION 5.)
 
    Certain  bonds may carry a "mandatory put" (also referred to as a "mandatory
tender" or "mandatory repurchase") feature pursuant to which the holder of  such
bonds will receive payment of the full principal amount thereof on a stated date
prior  to the maturity date unless such  holder affirmatively acts to retain the
bond. Under the Indenture,  the Trustee does  not have the  authority to act  to
retain  Bonds with  such features; accordingly,  it will receive  payment of the
full principal amount of any such Bonds on the stated put date and such date  is
therefore  treated as the maturity date of such Bonds in selecting Bonds for the
respective Trusts and for  purposes of calculating the  average maturity of  the
Bonds in any Trust.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
   
CONNECTICUT TRADITIONAL TRUST 271
    
   
    The Portfolio of Connecticut Traditional Trust 271 consists of 9 obligations
issued  by entities located in Connecticut. Three Bonds in the Trust are general
obligations of the  governmental entities  issuing them  and are  backed by  the
taxing  powers thereof. Six Bonds  in the Trust are  payable as to principal and
interest from  the  income  of a  specific  project  or authority  and  are  not
supported  by the issuer's power to levy taxes. The sources of payment for these
Bonds are divided  as follows: College  and University Revenue,  1; Health  Care
Facility  Revenue, 2; Industrial  Revenue, 1; Municipal  Lease Revenue, 1; Water
and/or Sewer Revenue,  1. Nine  issues in  the Trust  were rated  by Standard  &
Poor's  Corporation as follows: 6--AAA, 1--AA+,  1--AA, 1--AA-. Nine issues were
rated by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. as follows: 6--Aaa, 2--Aa, 1--A1.
    
   
    At the Date of Deposit, the average maturity of the Bonds in the Connecticut
Traditional Trust is 26.3 years. The average maturity of the Bonds in a Trust is
calculated based upon the stated maturities of the Bonds in such Trust (or, with
respect to Bonds for  which funds or  securities have been  placed in escrow  to
redeem such Bonds on a stated call date, based upon such call date). The average
maturity  of the Bonds in a Trust may  increase or decrease from time to time as
Bonds mature or are called or sold.
    
 
    Approximately 23% of  the aggregate  principal amount  of the  Bonds in  the
Trust  are  obligations of  issuers whose  revenues  are primarily  derived from
hospitals or other health care services,  all of which is covered by  insurance.
The  source  of payment  for these  Bonds  is insured  by a  commercial insurer.
Consequently, the credit ratings of such Bonds essentially reflect the  strength
of  the insurance or guarantee  and, depending upon the  actual structure of the
bond issue, are typically  rated "Aaa" or  "Aa" by Moody's or  "AAA" or "AA"  by
Standard & Poor's.
 
    For  a discussion of the  risks associated with investments  in the bonds of
various issuers, see "General Trust Information" in this section.
 
   
    The Sponsor entered into contracts to acquire the Bonds between January  19,
1995  and January 23,  1995. The following  summarizes certain information about
the Bonds as of the business day prior to the Date of Deposit:
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUSTEE'S
                                                               DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE AND
   COST TO    PROFIT (OR LOSS)   ANNUAL INTEREST   BID PRICE              THE BID PRICE
   SPONSOR       TO SPONSOR      INCOME TO TRUST    OF BONDS       (AS % OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT)
  ----------  -----------------  ----------------  ----------  -----------------------------------
  <S>         <C>                <C>               <C>         <C>
  $3,366,592       $11,409           $216,680      $3,360,851                 .49%
</TABLE>
 
    Neither  cost  to  Sponsor  nor   profit  (or  loss)  to  Sponsor   reflects
underwriting  profits or losses received or  incurred by the Sponsor through its
participation  in  underwriting  syndicates.  An  underwriter  or   underwriting
syndicate  purchases bonds  from the issuer  on a negotiated  or competitive bid
basis as principal with  the motive of  marketing such bonds  to investors at  a
profit.  The Sponsor did not participate as  either the sole underwriter or as a
manager or member of a syndicate that  acted as the original underwriter of  any
of the Bonds.
 
   
    Unitholders  may elect  to have  interest distributions  made on  a monthly,
quarterly or semi-annual basis. The interest on the Bonds initially deposited in
the Connecticut  Traditional Trust,  less estimated  expenses, is  estimated  to
accrue  at the rate  of $.01670 per Unit  per day under  the semi-annual plan of
distribution, $.01665 per Unit per day under the quarterly plan of  distribution
and  $.01656 per  Unit per  day under  the monthly  plan of  distribution. It is
anticipated that the amount of interest to be distributed per Unit in each  year
under  each plan  of distribution will  initially be substantially  equal to the
Estimated Net Annual Interest Income per Unit for that plan.
    
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
    Details of interest  distributions per Unit  of the Connecticut  Traditional
Trust under the various plans appear in the following table based upon estimated
Net Annual Interest Income at the Date of Deposit:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                      NORMAL
                                                                                                  DISTRIBUTIONS
CONNECTICUT TRADITIONAL TRUST                                     1995                               PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>        <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
Record Date*..........................        3/1            5/1            8/1           11/1
Distribution Date.....................       3/15           5/15           8/15          11/15
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .6127(1)                                              $  5.9640
                                                        --------  $.4968 every month  --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .6127(1)   $   .9990(2)   $  1.4985      $  1.4985    $  5.9960
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .6127(1)   $  1.0020(3)                  $  3.0060    $  6.0150
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
 *  Record Dates for semi-annual distributions are May 1 and November 1; for quarterly distributions, they are February 1, May 1,
   August 1 and November 1. Record Dates for monthly distributions are the first day of each month.
(1) The first distribution will be paid to all  Unitholders, regardless of the distribution plan selected. Such distribution  may
    be more or less than a regular monthly distribution.
(2)  The  second distribution  under the  quarterly distribution  plan  represents a  2-month distribution;  subsequent quarterly
    distributions will be regular 3-month distributions.
(3) The second distribution  under the semi-annual  distribution plan represents a  2-month distribution; subsequent  semi-annual
    distributions will be regular 6-month distributions.
</TABLE>
 
    The  accrual amounts set forth above, and  in turn the amount of interest to
be distributed annually per Unit, will  generally change as Bonds are  redeemed,
mature or are sold or as fees and expenses increase or decrease.
 
TAX STATUS--CONNECTICUT TRADITIONAL TRUST
 
    For  a discussion of the Federal tax  status of income earned on Connecticut
Traditional Trust Units, see Section 11.
 
    The assets of the Connecticut Traditional Trust will consist of  obligations
issued by or on behalf of the State of Connecticut or its political subdivisions
or  public instrumentalities, state or  local authorities, districts, or similar
public entities created under the laws of  the State of Connecticut or by or  on
behalf  of  a  United  States  territory  or  possession  the  interest  on  the
obligations of  which Federal  law  would prohibit  Connecticut from  taxing  if
received   directly  by  a  Unitholder  (the  "Bonds").  Certain  Bonds  in  the
Connecticut Traditional Trust that  were issued by the  State of Connecticut  or
governmental  authorities  located  in  Connecticut  were  issued  prior  to the
enactment of a Connecticut tax on the interest income of individuals; therefore,
bond counsel to the issuers  of such Connecticut Bonds did  not opine as to  the
exemption  of the interest on such Connecticut Bonds from such tax. However, the
Sponsor and special counsel  to the Trusts for  Connecticut tax matters  believe
that  such interest  will be  so exempt.  Interest on  Connecticut Bonds  in the
Connecticut Traditional  Trust issued  by  other issuers,  if  any, is,  in  the
opinion of bond counsel to such issuers, exempt from state taxation.
 
    In  the opinion of  Day, Berry &  Howard, special counsel  to the Series for
Connecticut tax matters, which relies explicitly  on the opinion of Chapman  and
Cutler regarding Federal income tax matters, under existing Connecticut law:
 
        The  Connecticut  Traditional Trust  is  not liable  for  any tax  on or
    measured by net income imposed by the State of Connecticut.
 
        Interest income from a Bond held by the Connecticut Traditional Trust is
    not taxable under the Connecticut tax  on the Connecticut taxable income  of
    individuals,
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
   
    trusts,  and estates (the  "Connecticut Income Tax"),  when such interest is
    received by the  Connecticut Traditional  Trust or  distributed by  it to  a
    Unitholder.
    
 
        Gains  and  losses recognized  by a  Unitholder  for Federal  income tax
    purposes upon the maturity,  redemption, sale, or  other disposition by  the
    Connecticut  Traditional Trust of a Bond held by the Connecticut Traditional
    Trust or upon the redemption,  sale, or other disposition  of a Unit of  the
    Connecticut Traditional Trust held by a Unitholder are taken into account as
    gains  or losses, respectively, for purposes  of the Connecticut Income Tax,
    except that, in the case of a  Unitholder holding a Unit of the  Connecticut
    Traditional  Trust as a capital asset, such gains and losses recognized upon
    the maturity, redemption, sale or exchange of a Bond issued by or on  behalf
    of  the State of  Connecticut, any political  subdivision thereof, or public
    instrumentality, state  or  local  authority, district,  or  similar  public
    entity  created under the  laws of the State  of Connecticut (a "Connecticut
    Bond") held by the Connecticut Traditional Trust are excluded from gains and
    losses taken  into  account for  purposes  of such  tax  and no  opinion  is
    expressed  as to the treatment for purposes  of such tax of gains and losses
    recognized, to  the  extent  attributable to  Connecticut  Bonds,  upon  the
    redemption,  sale, or  other disposition  by a Unitholder  of a  Unit of the
    Connecticut Traditional Trust held by him.
 
        The portion of any  interest income or capital  gain of the  Connecticut
    Traditional  Trust that is allocable to a  Unitholder that is subject to the
    Connecticut corporation business tax  is includable in  the gross income  of
    such Unitholder for purposes of such tax.
 
        An interest in a Unit of the Connecticut Traditional Trust that is owned
    by  or attributable to  a Connecticut resident  at the time  of his death is
    includable in his gross  estate for purposes  of the Connecticut  succession
    tax and the Connecticut estate tax.
 
TAX DISCLOSURE--CONNECTICUT
 
    The  Connecticut  Income  Tax  was enacted  in  August,  1991.  Generally, a
Unitholder recognizes gain or loss for purposes  of this tax to the same  extent
he  recognizes gain  or loss  for Federal  income tax  purposes. Ordinarily this
would mean  that gain  or loss  would be  recognized by  a Unitholder  upon  the
maturity,  redemption, sale, or other disposition by the Connecticut Traditional
Trust of a Bond held by it,  or upon the redemption, sale, or other  disposition
of a Unit of the Connecticut Traditional Trust held by the Unitholder.
 
    However, on June 19, 1992, Connecticut legislation was adopted that provides
that  gains and losses  from the sale  or exchange of  Connecticut Bonds held as
capital assets will not  be taken into account  for purposes of the  Connecticut
Income  Tax for taxable years starting on  or after January 1, 1992. Regulations
effective for taxable years  starting on or after  January 1, 1994 clarify  that
this  provision also applies to gain or loss recognized by a Unitholder upon the
maturity or redemption of a Connecticut Bond held by the Connecticut Traditional
Trust. However,  it is  not clear  whether this  provision would  apply, to  the
extent  attributable to  Connecticut Bonds  held by  the Connecticut Traditional
Trust, to gain or loss recognized by a Unitholder upon the redemption, sale,  or
other  disposition of a  Unit of the  Connecticut Traditional Trust  held by the
Unitholder. Unitholders are urged to  consult their own tax advisors  concerning
these matters.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
ECONOMIC FACTORS--CONNECTICUT
 
   
    Investors  should  be aware  that  manufacturing was  historically  the most
important economic activity  within the State  of Connecticut but,  in terms  of
number  of persons  employed, manufacturing has  declined in the  last ten years
while both trade and service-related industries have become more important,  and
in  1993  manufacturing  accounted  for  only  19.2%  of  total non-agricultural
employment in Connecticut. Defense-related business represents a relatively high
proportion of  the manufacturing  sector; reductions  in defense  spending  have
already  had  a substantial  adverse effect  on  Connecticut's economy,  and the
State's largest  defense contractors  have announced  substantial planned  labor
force reductions scheduled to occur over the next four years. Connecticut is now
in  a recession, the depth and duration  of which are uncertain. Moreover, while
unemployment in the State as a  whole had generally remained below the  national
level,  as of May 1993,  the estimated rate of  unemployment in Connecticut on a
seasonally adjusted basis was 7.4%, compared to 6.9% for the United States as  a
whole,  and certain  geographic areas  in the State  have been  affected by high
unemployment and poverty. The State derives over 70% of its revenues from  taxes
imposed by it, the most important of which have been the sales and use taxes and
the corporation business tax, each of which is sensitive to changes in the level
of  economic activity in the  State, but the Connecticut  Income Tax, enacted in
1991, has superseded each of them in importance. There can be no assurance  that
general economic difficulties or the financial circumstances of the State or its
towns  and cities will not adversely affect  the market value of the Connecticut
Bonds in the Connecticut Traditional Trust or the ability of the obligors to pay
debt service on such Connecticut Bonds.
    
 
    The General Fund budget adopted by  Connecticut for the 1986-87 fiscal  year
contemplated  both revenues and expenditures of $4,300,000,000. The General Fund
ended the 1986-87 fiscal year with  a surplus of $365,200,000. The General  Fund
budget  for  the  1987-88 fiscal  year  contemplated General  Fund  revenues and
expenditures of  $4,915,800,000. However,  the General  Fund ended  the  1987-88
fiscal  year with a deficit of $115,600,000. The General Fund budget adopted for
the  1988-89  fiscal  year  anticipated   that  General  Fund  expenditures   of
$5,551,000,000  and certain educational expenses  of $206,700,000 not previously
paid through the General Fund  would be funded in  part from surpluses of  prior
years  and in part from higher tax revenues projected to result from tax laws in
effect  for  the  1987-88  fiscal  year  and  stricter  enforcement  thereof;  a
substantial deficit was projected during the third quarter of the 1988-89 fiscal
year,  but largely because of tax law changes that took effect before the end of
the fiscal year, the  deficit was kept to  $28,000,000. The General Fund  budget
adopted  for the 1989-90  fiscal year anticipated  expenditures of approximately
$6,224,500,000 and, by virtue of tax increase legislation enacted to take effect
generally at the beginning of the fiscal year, revenues slightly exceeding  such
amount.  However, largely  because of tax  revenue shortfalls,  the General Fund
ended the  1989-90 fiscal  year with  a deficit  for the  year of  $259,500,000,
wiping  out reserves for such  events built up in  prior years. The General Fund
budget  adopted  for  the  1990-91  fiscal  year  anticipated  expenditures   of
$6,433,000,000,  but  no  significant  new  or  increased  taxes  were  enacted.
Primarily because  of significant  declines in  tax revenues  and  unanticipated
expenditures  reflective  of  economic  adversity, the  General  Fund  ended the
1990-91 fiscal year alone with a further deficit of $809,000,000.
 
    A General Fund  budget for  the 1991-92 fiscal  year was  not enacted  until
August   22,  1991.  This  budget   anticipated  General  Fund  expenditures  of
$7,007,861,328 and revenues of  $7,426,390,000. Projected decreases in  revenues
resulting from a 25% reduction in the sales
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
   
tax rate effective October 1, 1991, the repeal of the taxes on the capital gains
and  interest and  dividend income  of resident  individuals for  years starting
after 1991, and the phase-out of the corporation business tax surcharge over two
years commencing with taxable years starting after 1991 were expected to be more
than offset by a new general income tax imposed at effective rates not to exceed
4.5% on the Connecticut taxable income of resident and non-resident individuals,
trusts, and estates.  The General  Fund ended the  1991-92 fiscal  year with  an
operating  surplus  of $110,000,000.  The General  Fund  budget for  the 1992-93
fiscal year anticipated General Fund expenditures of $7,372,062,859 and revenues
of $7,372,210,000, and the  General Fund ended the  1992-93 fiscal year with  an
operating  surplus  of  $113,500,000.  Balanced  General  Fund  budgets  for the
biennium ending June 30, 1995,  were adopted in 1993 appropriating  expenditures
of $7,828,900,000 for the 1993-94 fiscal year and $8,266,000,000 for the 1994-95
fiscal  year. The General Fund  ended the 1993-94 fiscal  year with a surplus of
$19,700,000. In 1994 the  budgeted General Fund  appropriations for the  1994-95
fiscal  year  were increased  to  $8,567,200,000. In  addition,  expenditures of
federal, State, and local funds  in the twelve years  started July 1, 1984,  for
repair  of the  State's roads  and bridges  now projected  at $9,500,000,000 are
anticipated, a portion  of the State's  $4,100,000,000 share of  which would  be
financed  by bonds expected to total $3,700,000,000 and by direct payments, both
of which would be  supported by a Special  Transportation Fund first created  by
the General Assembly for the 1984-85 fiscal year.
    
 
    To  fund operating cash  requirements, prior to the  1991-92 fiscal year the
State borrowed up to $750,000,000 pursuant to authorization to issue  commercial
paper  and  on  July 29,  1991,  it  issued $200,000,000  of  General Obligation
Temporary Notes, none of which  temporary borrowings are currently  outstanding.
To  fund the cumulative General Fund deficit  for the 1989-90 and 1990-91 fiscal
years, the legislation enacted August  22, 1991, authorized the State  Treasurer
to  issue Economic Recovery  Notes up to  the aggregate amount  of such deficit,
which must be payable no later than June 30, 1996; at least $50,000,000 of  such
Economic  Recovery Notes, but not more than a  cap amount, is to be retired each
fiscal year  commencing with  the 1991-92  fiscal year,  and any  unappropriated
surplus  up to $205,000,000 in the General Fund  at the end of each of the three
fiscal years commencing with the 1991-92  fiscal year must be applied to  retire
such  Economic  Recovery Notes  as  may remain  outstanding  at those  times. On
September 25, 1991,  and October  24, 1991,  the State  issued $640,710,000  and
$325,002,000,   respectively,  of   such  Economic  Recovery   Notes,  of  which
$556,610,000 was outstanding as of August 1, 1994.
 
    As a  result of  the State's  budget problems,  the ratings  of its  general
obligation  bonds were reduced by Standard & Poor's  from AA+ to AA on March 29,
1990, and by Moody's from Aa1 to Aa on April 9, 1990. Moreover, because of these
problems, on September  13, 1991, Standard  & Poor's reduced  its rating of  the
State's  general obligation bonds  and certain other  obligations that depend in
part on the  creditworthiness of the  State to  AA-. On March  7, 1991,  Moody's
downgraded  its  ratings  of the  revenue  bonds of  four  Connecticut hospitals
because of  the  effects of  the  State's restrictive  controlled  reimbursement
environment under which they have been operating.
 
    General  obligation bonds  issued by Connecticut  municipalities are payable
primarily only from  ad velorem  taxes on property  subject to  taxation by  the
municipality.  Certain Connecticut municipalities have experienced severe fiscal
difficulties and  have reported  operating and  accumulated deficits  in  recent
years.  The  most notable  of these  is the  City of  Bridgeport, which  filed a
bankruptcy petition on June 7, 1991. The State opposed the petition. The  United
States   Bankruptcy  Court  for  the  District  of  Connecticut  has  held  that
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
Bridgeport has authority to file such a petition but that its petition should be
dismissed on the grounds that Bridgeport was not insolvent when the petition was
filed. Regional  economic difficulties,  reductions in  revenues, and  increased
expenses  could lead to further fiscal problems  for the State and its political
subdivisions, authorities, and agencies. Difficulty  in payment of debt  service
on  borrowings could result in declines, possibly  severe, in the value of their
outstanding obligations and increases in their future borrowing costs.
 
CONNECTICUT TAXABLE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN TABLE
 
    The following tables show the approximate taxable estimated current  returns
for  individuals  that are  equivalent to  tax-exempt estimated  current returns
under combined Federal and  state taxes, using  published 1995 marginal  Federal
tax  rates and marginal state tax rates  currently available and scheduled to be
in effect under the Connecticut Income Tax. The tables incorporate increased tax
rates  for  higher-income   taxpayers  that   were  included   in  the   Revenue
Reconciliation Act of 1993. For cases in which more than one state bracket falls
within a Federal bracket, the highest state bracket is combined with the Federal
bracket. The combined state and Federal tax brackets shown reflect the fact that
state tax payments are currently deductible for Federal tax purposes. The tables
illustrate  what you  would have  to earn  on taxable  investments to  equal the
tax-exempt estimated current return  for your income  tax bracket. A  taxpayer's
marginal  tax rate is affected by both his taxable income and his adjusted gross
income. Locate  your adjusted  gross  and your  taxable  income (which  is  your
adjusted  gross income  reduced by any  deductions and  exemptions), then locate
your tax  bracket based  on  joint or  single tax  filing.  Read across  to  the
equivalent taxable estimated current return you would need to match the tax-free
income.
 
 COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS6
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
  (1,000'S)1    (1,000'S)2     TAX RATE3      5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%   6.75%   7.00%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 39.0 $     0- 39.0      17.5   %     6.36    6.67    6.97    7.27    7.58    7.88    8.18    8.48
    39.0- 94.3    39.0- 48.0      31.0         7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42    9.78   10.14
                  48.0- 71.0      34.0         7.95    8.33    8.71    9.09    9.47    9.85   10.23   10.61
                  71.0- 96.0      31.0         7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42    9.78   10.14
                  96.0-114.7      31.0         7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42    9.78   10.14
                 114.7-172.1      32.0         7.72    8.09    8.46    8.82    9.19    9.56    9.93   10.29
    94.3-143.6    94.3- 96.0      34.0         7.95    8.33    8.71    9.09    9.47    9.85   10.23   10.61
                  96.0-114.7      34.0         7.95    8.33    8.71    9.09    9.47    9.85   10.23   10.61
                 114.7-172.1      35.0         8.08    8.46    8.85    9.23    9.62   10.00   10.38   10.77
                 172.1-294.6      37.5         8.40    8.80    9.20    9.60   10.00   10.40   10.80   11.20
   143.6-256.5   143.6-172.1      40.0         8.75    9.17    9.58   10.00   10.42   10.83   11.25   11.67
                 172.1-294.6      42.5         9.13    9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87   11.30   11.74   12.17
                  Over 294.6      40.0   4     8.75    9.17    9.58   10.00   10.42   10.83   11.25   11.67
    Over 256.5   256.5-294.6      46.5         9.81   10.28   10.75   11.21   11.68   12.15   12.62   13.08
                  Over 294.6      43.5   5     9.29    9.73   10.18   10.62   11.06   11.50   11.95   12.39
</TABLE>
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
 COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION7
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
  (1,000'S)1    (1,000'S)2     TAX RATE3      5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%   6.75%   7.00%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 23.4 $     0- 23.4      18.5   %     6.44    6.75    7.06    7.36    7.67    7.98    8.28    8.59
    23.4- 56.6    23.4- 24.0      31.0         7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42    9.78   10.14
                  24.0- 25.0      33.5         7.89    8.27    8.65    9.02    9.40    9.77   10.15   10.53
                  25.0- 35.0      34.0         7.95    8.33    8.71    9.09    9.47    9.85   10.23   10.61
                  35.0- 52.5      31.0         7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42    9.78   10.14
                  52.5-114.7      31.0         7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42    9.78   10.14
    56.6-118.0    56.6-114.7      34.0         7.95    8.33    8.71    9.09    9.47    9.85   10.23   10.61
                 114.7-237.2      35.5         8.14    8.53    8.91    9.30    9.69   10.08   10.47   10.85
   118.0-256.5   118.0-237.2      40.5         8.82    9.24    9.66   10.08   10.50   10.92   11.34   11.76
                  Over 237.2      40.0   4     8.75    9.17    9.58   10.00   10.42   10.83   11.25   11.67
    Over 256.5    Over 256.5      43.5   5     9.29    9.73   10.18   10.62   11.06   11.50   11.95   12.39
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------
 
       1  The Connecticut  Income Tax  is based  on Connecticut  taxable income,
which is not tied to Federal taxable income. Connecticut taxable income is equal
to Connecticut adjusted gross income  ("CAGI") (which is Federal adjusted  gross
income  with  certain  modifications)  minus  the  allowable  personal exemption
($12,000 in the case of single  individuals; $24,000 for married persons  filing
jointly).   The  Connecticut  Income  Tax  provides  for  a  personal  exemption
phase-out, which essentially doubles  the effective marginal Connecticut  Income
Tax rate for single taxpayers whose CAGI is between $24,000 and $35,001 at which
point  the personal  exemption is completely  phased out.  For married taxpayers
filing a joint  return, the effective  marginal Connecticut Income  Tax rate  is
doubled  where CAGI is between $48,000 and  $71,001, at which point the personal
exemption is completely phased out. It should be noted that for purposes of  the
personal  exemption  phase-out the  Tax  Act merely  references  "adjusted gross
income," which the tables assume is identical to CAGI. In addition, as reflected
in the rates shown,  the Connecticut Income  Tax provides for  a tax credit  (at
varying  percentages depending  on the taxpayer's  CAGI) against  the income tax
which is based on CAGI and, in effect, varies the income tax rate for taxpayers.
Investors should consult  their own  tax advisors  regarding the  effect of  the
credit on marginal tax rates at specific CAGI levels.
 
       2  It is assumed that CAGI is equal to Federal adjusted gross income. See
note 1 regarding  the impact  of CAGI on  the determination  of the  Connecticut
Income Tax.
 
       3 The tables reflect the effect of limitations on itemized deductions and
the  deduction for personal exemptions. These limitations were designed to phase
out certain  benefits of  such  deductions for  higher income  taxpayers.  These
limitations,  in effect, raise the current  maximum marginal Federal tax rate to
approximately 44.0 percent for taxpayers filing  a joint return and entitled  to
four  personal exemptions and to approximately 41.0 percent for taxpayers filing
a single return entitled to only  one personal exemption. These limitations  are
subject  to certain maximums,  which depend on the  number of exemptions claimed
and the total  amount of the  taxpayer's itemized deductions.  For example,  the
limitation  on itemized deductions will  not cause a taxpayer  to lose more than
80% of his allowable itemized deductions, with certain exceptions.
 
       4 Federal tax rate reverts to 36.0%  after the 80% cap on the  limitation
on itemized deductions has been met.
 
       5  Federal tax rate reverts to 39.6%  after the 80% cap on the limitation
on itemized deductions has been met.
 
       6 Includes taxpayers filing as surviving spouses.
 
       7 The Connecticut Income Tax  has different marginal effective tax  rates
that  are  not  reflected  in  these  tables  for  persons  filing  as  heads of
households.
 
    A comparison of  tax-free and equivalent  taxable estimated current  returns
with  the returns on various  taxable investments is one  element to consider in
making an  investment  decision.  The Sponsor  may  from  time to  time  in  its
advertising  and sales materials  compare the then  current estimated returns on
the Trust and returns over specified periods on other similar Nuveen Trusts with
returns on taxable investments such as corporate or U.S. Government bonds,  bank
CD's  and  money  market accounts  or  money  market funds,  each  of  which has
investment characteristics  that  may  differ  from those  of  the  Trust.  U.S.
Government  bonds, for example, are  backed by the full  faith and credit of the
U.S. Government and bank CD's and money market accounts are insured by an agency
of the federal government. Money market accounts and money market funds  provide
stability  of principal, but pay interest at  rates that vary with the condition
of the short-term debt market. The  investment characteristics of the Trust  are
described more fully elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
   
NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT DATE OF DEPOSIT
JANUARY 24, 1995
CONNECTICUT TRADITIONAL TRUST 271
(SERIES 780)
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          Ratings(3)           Trustee's
                                                                      Optional       ---------------------   Determination
 Aggregate        Name of Issuer and Title of Issue Represented      Redemption       Standard                of Offering
  Principal        by Sponsor's Contracts to Purchase Bonds(1)      Provisions(2)     & Poor's    Moody's      Price(4)
<C>          <C> <S>                                              <C>                <C>         <C>        <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$   500,000      State of Connecticut, Clean Water Fund Revenue      2004 at 102        AA+         Aa      $       473,625
                   Bonds, 1994 Series, 5.80% Due 6/1/16.
    500,000      Connecticut Development Authority, Water            2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             469,250
                   Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds
                   (Bridgeport Hydraulic Company Project-1994A
                   Series), 6.05% Due 3/1/29. (MBIA Insured.)
    250,000      Connecticut Development Authority, Governmental     2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             256,010
                   Lease Revenue Bonds, Series 1994, 6.60% Due
                   6/15/14. (MBIA Insured.)
    500,000      State of Connecticut, Health and Educational        2004 at 101        AAA         Aaa             531,035
                   Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds, Choate
                   Rosemary Hall Issue, Series A, 7.00% Due
                   7/1/25. (MBIA Insured.)
    320,000      State of Connecticut, Health and Educational        2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa
                   Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds, New
                   Britain General Hospital Issue, Series B,
                 100M-6.125% Due 7/1/14,                                                                             97,502
                 220M-6.00% Due 7/1/24.                                                                             207,007
                   (AMBAC Insured.)
    500,000      State of Connecticut, Health and Educational        2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             403,305
                   Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds, Saint
                   Francis Hospital and Medical Center Issue,
                   Series C, 5.00% Due 7/1/23. (FGIC Insured.)
    500,000      State of Connecticut, Health and Educational        2004 at 102        AA-         A1              514,985
                   Facilities Authority, Revenue Bonds, Nursing
                   Home Program Issue, Series 1994 (AHF/Windsor,
                   Inc. Project), 7.125% Due 11/1/24. (General
                   Obligation Bonds.)
    120,000      Town of Trumbull, Connecticut, General              2004 at 101         AA         Aa              120,000
                   Obligation Bonds, 6.15% Due 4/15/10.
    310,000      Town of Woodstock, Connecticut, General             2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             305,282
                   Obligation Bonds, 6.00% Due 2/15/11. (FGIC
                   Insured.)
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 3,500,000                                                                                                 $     3,378,001
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
 
See Notes to Schedules of Investments, page 48.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
   
NEW JERSEY INSURED TRUST 186
    
   
    The  Portfolio of  New Jersey  Insured Trust  186 consists  of 7 obligations
issued by entities located  in New Jersey.  Two Bonds in  the Trust are  general
obligations  of the  governmental entities  issuing them  and are  backed by the
taxing powers thereof. Five Bonds in the  Trust are payable as to principal  and
interest  from  the  income of  a  specific  project or  authority  and  are not
supported by the issuer's power to levy taxes. The sources of payment for  these
Bonds  are divided  as follows:  College and  University Revenue,  1; Electrical
System Revenue,  1; Health  Care Facility  Revenue, 2;  Transportation  Facility
Revenue, 1. All of the Bonds in the Trust, as insured, are rated AAA by Standard
& Poor's Corporation and Aaa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
    
 
   
    At  the Date of Deposit, the average maturity of the Bonds in the New Jersey
Insured Trust is 26.9  years. The average  maturity of the Bonds  in a Trust  is
calculated based upon the stated maturities of the Bonds in such Trust (or, with
respect  to Bonds for  which funds or  securities have been  placed in escrow to
redeem such Bonds on a stated call date, based upon such call date). The average
maturity of the Bonds in a Trust may  increase or decrease from time to time  as
Bonds mature or are called or sold.
    
 
    Approximately  29% of  the aggregate  principal amount  of the  Bonds in the
Trust consists of obligations  of issuers whose  revenues are primarily  derived
from services provided by hospitals or other health care facilities.
 
    For  a discussion of the  risks associated with investments  in the bonds of
various issuers, see "General Trust Information" in this section.
 
   
    The Sponsor entered into contracts to acquire the Bonds between January  19,
1995  and January 23,  1995. The following  summarizes certain information about
the Bonds as of the business day prior to the Date of Deposit:
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUSTEE'S
                                                               DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE AND
   COST TO    PROFIT (OR LOSS)   ANNUAL INTEREST   BID PRICE              THE BID PRICE
   SPONSOR       TO SPONSOR      INCOME TO TRUST    OF BONDS       (AS % OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT)
  ----------  -----------------  ----------------  ----------  -----------------------------------
  <S>         <C>                <C>               <C>         <C>
  $3,320,513       $7,322            $211,625      $3,310,335                 .50%
</TABLE>
 
    Neither  cost  to  Sponsor  nor   profit  (or  loss)  to  Sponsor   reflects
underwriting  profits or losses received or  incurred by the Sponsor through its
participation  in  underwriting  syndicates.  An  underwriter  or   underwriting
syndicate  purchases bonds  from the issuer  on a negotiated  or competitive bid
basis as principal with  the motive of  marketing such bonds  to investors at  a
profit.  The Sponsor did not participate as  either the sole underwriter or as a
manager or member of a syndicate that  acted as the original underwriter of  any
of the Bonds.
 
   
    Unitholders  may elect  to have  interest distributions  made on  a monthly,
quarterly or semi-annual basis. The interest on the Bonds initially deposited in
the New Jersey Insured Trust, less estimated expenses, is estimated to accrue at
the rate of $.01628 per Unit per day under the semi-annual plan of distribution,
$.01623 per Unit per  day under the quarterly  plan of distribution and  $.01614
per  Unit per day under the monthly plan of distribution. It is anticipated that
the amount of interest to be distributed  per Unit in each year under each  plan
of  distribution  will initially  be substantially  equal  to the  Estimated Net
Annual Interest Income per Unit for that plan.
    
 
    Details of interest distributions per Unit  of the New Jersey Insured  Trust
under  the various plans appear in the  following table based upon estimated Net
Annual Interest Income at the Date of Deposit:
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                      NORMAL
                                                                                                  DISTRIBUTIONS
NEW JERSEY INSURED TRUST                                          1995                               PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>        <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
Record Date*..........................        3/1            5/1            8/1           11/1
Distribution Date.....................       3/15           5/15           8/15          11/15
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .5971(1)                                              $  5.8117
                                                        --------  $.4842 every month  --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .5971(1)   $   .9738(2)   $  1.4607      $  1.4607    $  5.8437
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .5971(1)   $   .9768(3)                  $  2.9304    $  5.8627
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
 * Record Dates for semi-annual distributions are May 1 and November 1; for quarterly distributions, they are February 1, May  1,
   August 1 and November 1. Record Dates for monthly distributions are the first day of each month.
(1)  The first distribution will be paid to all Unitholders,  regardless of the distribution plan selected. Such distribution may
    be more or less than a regular monthly distribution.
(2) The  second distribution  under the  quarterly  distribution plan  represents a  2-month distribution;  subsequent  quarterly
    distributions will be regular 3-month distributions.
(3)  The second distribution  under the semi-annual distribution  plan represents a  2-month distribution; subsequent semi-annual
    distributions will be regular 6-month distributions.
</TABLE>
 
    The accrual amounts set forth above, and  in turn the amount of interest  to
be  distributed annually per Unit, will  generally change as Bonds are redeemed,
mature or are sold or as fees and expenses increase or decrease.
 
TAX STATUS--NEW JERSEY INSURED TRUST
 
    For a discussion of the  Federal tax status of  income earned on New  Jersey
Insured Trust Units, see Section 11.
 
    The  assets of the New Jersey Insured Trust will consist of interest-bearing
obligations issued by  or on behalf  of the  State of New  Jersey and  counties,
municipalities,  authorities  and  other  political  subdivisions  thereof,  and
certain territories  of the  United  States, including  Puerto Rico,  Guam,  the
Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands (the "New Jersey Bonds").
 
    In  the opinion  of Pitney,  Hardin, Kipp  & Szuch,  special counsel  to the
Series for New Jersey tax matters, under existing law:
 
        The New Jersey Insured Trust  will be recognized as  a Trust and not  an
    association  taxable as a corporation. The New Jersey Insured Trust will not
    be subject to  the New  Jersey Corporation Business  Tax or  the New  Jersey
    Corporation Income Tax.
 
        With  respect to the non-corporate Unitholders  who are residents of New
    Jersey, the income of the  New Jersey Insured Trust  will be treated as  the
    income  of such Unitholders under the  New Jersey Gross Income Tax. Interest
    on the underlying New Jersey  Bonds which is exempt  from tax under the  New
    Jersey  Gross Income Tax Law  when received by the  New Jersey Insured Trust
    will retain  its  status as  tax-exempt  interest when  distributed  to  the
    Unitholders.
 
        A  non-corporate Unitholder will not be  subject to the New Jersey Gross
    Income Tax on  any gain realized  either when the  New Jersey Insured  Trust
    disposes  of a  New Jersey Bond  (whether by sale,  exchange, redemption, or
    payment at maturity) or when the Unitholder redeems or sells his Units.  Any
    loss  realized  on such  disposition  may not  be  utilized to  offset gains
    realized by such Unitholder on the  disposition of assets the gain on  which
    is subject to the New Jersey Gross Income Tax.
 
        Units  of the New Jersey Insured Trust may  be taxable on the death of a
    Unitholder under the  New Jersey  Transfer Inheritance  Tax Law  or the  New
    Jersey Estate Tax Law.
 
        If  a Unitholder is a corporation  subject to the New Jersey Corporation
    Business Tax or New Jersey Corporation  Income Tax, interest from the  Bonds
    in the New Jersey
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
    Insured  Trust which is allocable to  such corporation will be includable in
    its entire net income  for purposes of the  New Jersey Corporation  Business
    Tax or New Jersey Corporation Income Tax, less any interest expense incurred
    to  carry such investment to  the extent such interest  expense has not been
    deducted in  computing Federal  taxable income.  Net gains  derived by  such
    corporation  on the disposition  of the New  Jersey Bonds by  the New Jersey
    Insured Trust or on  the disposition of  its Units will  be included in  its
    entire net income for purposes of the New Jersey Corporation Business Tax or
    New Jersey Corporation Income Tax.
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--NEW JERSEY
 
    As  described above, the New Jersey Insured Trust consists of a portfolio of
New Jersey Bonds. The Trust is  therefore susceptible to political, economic  or
regulatory  factors affecting  issuers of  the New  Jersey Bonds.  The following
information provides  only  a brief  summary  of  some of  the  complex  factors
affecting  the financial  situation in New  Jersey (the "State")  and is derived
from sources that  are generally available  to investors and  is believed to  be
accurate.  It is based  in part on  information obtained from  various State and
local agencies in New Jersey. No  independent verification has been made of  any
of the following information.
 
    New  Jersey is the ninth largest state  in population and the fifth smallest
in land area. With an  average of 1,062 people per  square mile, it is the  most
densely  populated of all the states.  The State's economic base is diversified,
consisting of a variety of  manufacturing, construction and service  industries,
supplemented by rural areas with selective commercial agriculture. Historically,
New Jersey's average per capita income has been well above the national average,
and  in 1993  the State ranked  second among  the states in  per capita personal
income ($26,967).
 
    The New Jersey Economic  Policy Council, a statutory  arm of the New  Jersey
Department  of Commerce  and Economic  Development, has  reported in  NEW JERSEY
ECONOMIC INDICATORS,  a monthly  publication  of the  New Jersey  Department  of
Labor,  Division of Labor Market and Demographic Research, that in 1988 and 1989
employment in  New Jersey's  manufacturing  sector failed  to benefit  from  the
export  boom experienced by many Midwest states and the State's service sectors,
which had  fueled the  State's  prosperity since  1982,  lost momentum.  In  the
meantime,  the prolonged fast growth in the State in the mid 1980s resulted in a
tight labor market situation, which has led to relatively high wages and housing
prices. This  means  that,  while  the  incomes  of  New  Jersey  residents  are
relatively  high,  the State's  business sector  has  become more  vulnerable to
competitive pressures.
 
   
    The onset of  the national recession  (which officially began  in July  1990
according to the National Bureau of Economic Research) caused an acceleration of
New  Jersey's job  losses in  construction and  manufacturing. In  addition, the
national recession  caused an  employment downturn  in such  previously  growing
sectors  as wholesale trade,  retail trade, finance,  utilities and trucking and
warehousing. Reflecting the downturn, the rate of unemployment in the State rose
from a low  of 3.6% during  the first quarter  of 1989 to  an estimated 6.1%  in
December  1994, which is  higher than the  national average of  5.4% in December
1994. Economic recovery  is likely to  be slow  and uneven in  New Jersey,  with
unemployment  receding at a correspondingly slow pace, due to the fact that some
sectors may lag due to continued excess capacity. In addition, employers even in
rebounding sectors can be  expected to remain cautious  about hiring until  they
become  convinced that improved business will  be sustained. Also, certain firms
will continue to merge or downsize to increase profitability.
    
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
    DEBT SERVICE. The primary method for State financing of capital projects  is
through  the sale of the general obligation  bonds of the State. These bonds are
backed by the full faith and credit of the State tax revenues and certain  other
fees  are pledged to meet  the principal and interest  payments and if provided,
redemption premium payments, if any, required to repay the bonds. As of June 30,
1993, there  was a  total authorized  bond indebtedness  of approximately  $8.98
billion,  of which  $3.6 billion  was issued  and outstanding,  $4.0 billion was
retired (including bonds for which provision  for payment has been made  through
the  sale and issuance of  refunding bonds) and $1.38  billion was unissued. The
appropriation for the debt service  obligation on such outstanding  indebtedness
is $103.5 million for Fiscal Year 1995.
 
    NEW JERSEY'S BUDGET AND APPROPRIATION SYSTEM. The State operates on a fiscal
year  beginning July 1 and ending June 30. At the end of Fiscal Year 1989, there
was a  surplus in  the  State's general  fund (the  fund  into which  all  State
revenues  not  otherwise  restricted by  statute  are deposited  and  from which
appropriations are made)  of $411.2  million. At the  end of  Fiscal Year  1990,
there was a surplus in the general fund of $1 million. At the end of Fiscal Year
1991, there was a surplus in the general fund of $1.4 million. New Jersey closed
its  Fiscal Year 1992 with a surplus of $760.8 million. It is estimated that New
Jersey closed its Fiscal Year 1993 with a surplus of $937.4 million.
 
    In order  to  provide additional  revenues  to balance  future  budgets,  to
redistribute  school aid and to  contain real property taxes,  on June 27, 1990,
and July  12,  1990, Governor  Florio  signed  into law  legislation  which  was
estimated to raise approximately $2.8 billion in additional taxes (consisting of
$1.5  billion in  sales and  use taxes  and $1.3  billion in  income taxes), the
biggest tax hike in New Jersey history. There can be no assurance that  receipts
and collections of such taxes will meet such estimates.
 
    The  first  part of  the tax  hike took  effect  on July  1, 1990,  with the
increase in the State's sales and use tax rate from 6% to 7% and the elimination
of exemptions for certain  products and services not  previously subject to  the
tax,  such as telephone calls, paper products (which has since been reinstated),
soaps and detergents, janitorial  services, alcoholic beverages and  cigarettes.
At  the  time  of enactment,  it  was  projected that  these  taxes  would raise
approximately $1.5 billion in additional  revenue. Projections and estimates  of
receipts  from sales and  use taxes, however,  have been subject  to variance in
recent fiscal years.
 
    The second part of the tax hike took effect on January 1, 1991, in the  form
of  an increased state income  tax on individuals. At  the time of enactment, it
was projected  that this  increase  would raise  approximately $1.3  billion  in
additional income taxes to fund a new school aid formula, a new homestead rebate
program  and state assumption of welfare  and social services costs. Projections
and estimates of receipts from income taxes, however, have also been subject  to
variance  in  recent  fiscal  years. Under  the  legislation,  income  tax rates
increased from their previous range of  2% to 3.5% to a  new range of 2% to  7%,
with the higher rates applying to married couples with incomes exceeding $70,000
who file joint returns, and to individuals filing single returns with incomes of
more than $35,000.
 
    The  Florio administration  had contended that  the income  tax package will
help reduce  local  property  tax  increases by  providing  more  state  aid  to
municipalities.   Under  the  income  tax  legislation  the  State  will  assume
approximately $289 million in social services costs that previously were paid by
counties and municipalities and funded by property taxes. In addition, under the
new formula for funding school aid, an extra $1.1 billion is proposed to be sent
by the State to school districts beginning  in 1991, thus reducing the need  for
property tax increases to support education programs.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
    Effective July 1, 1992, the State's sales and use tax rate decreased from 7%
to 6%. Effective January 1, 1994, an across-the-board 5% reduction in the income
tax  rates was enacted and effective January 1, 1995, further reductions ranging
from 1% up to 10% in income tax rates will take effect.
 
    On June 30, 1994, Governor Whitman signed the New Jersey Legislature's $15.7
billion budget for Fiscal  Year 1995. The balanced  budget, which includes  $455
million in surplus, is $141 million less than the 1994 budget. Whether the State
can  achieve a  balanced budget  depends on its  ability to  enact and implement
expenditure reductions and to collect estimated tax revenues.
 
    LITIGATION. The State is a party in numerous legal proceedings pertaining to
matters incidental to the performance  of routine governmental operations.  Such
litigation  includes, but is  not limited to, claims  asserted against the State
arising  from  alleged  torts,  alleged  breaches  of  contracts,   condemnation
proceedings  and other alleged violations of State and Federal laws. Included in
the State's  outstanding litigation  are cases  challenging the  following:  the
formula  relating to State aid to public  schools, the method by which the State
shares with its counties maintenance recoveries and costs for residents in State
institutions, unreasonably low Medicaid  payment rates for long-term  facilities
in  New  Jersey, the  obligation of  counties to  maintain Medicaid  or Medicare
eligible residents  of  institutions  and  facilities  for  the  developmentally
disabled,  taxes paid  into the Spill  Compensation Fund (a  fund established to
provide money for use  by the State  to remediate hazardous  waste sites and  to
compensate  other persons  for damages incurred  as a result  of hazardous waste
discharge)  based   on  Federal   preemption,   various  provisions,   and   the
constitutionality,  of the  Fair Automobile  Insurance Reform  Act of  1990, the
State's role  in a  consent  order concerning  the  construction of  a  resource
facility in Passaic County, actions taken by the New Jersey Bureau of Securities
against   an  individual,   the  State's  actions   regarding  alleged  chromium
contamination  of  State-owned  property  in  Hudson  County,  the  issuance  of
emergency   redirection  orders  and  a  draft   permit  by  the  Department  of
Environmental Protection and Energy, the adequacy of Medicaid reimbursement  for
services  rendered by  doctors and dentists  to Medicaid  eligible children, the
Commissioner of Health's calculation of the hospital assessment required by  the
Health  Care Cost  Reduction Act  of 1991,  refusal of  the State  to share with
Camden County federal funding the  State recently received for  disproportionate
share   hospital  payments  made  to  county  psychiatric  facilities,  and  the
constitutionality of annual  A-901 hazardous and  solid waste licensure  renewal
fees collected by the Department of Environmental Protection and Energy. Adverse
judgments  in these  and other  matters could  have the  potential for  either a
significant loss of revenue  or a significant  unanticipated expenditure by  the
State.
 
    At  any given time,  there are various  numbers of claims  and cases pending
against the State,  State agencies  and employees seeking  recovery of  monetary
damages  that are  primarily paid out  of the  fund created pursuant  to the New
Jersey Tort  Claims Act.  In addition,  at  any given  time, there  are  various
numbers of contract claims against the State and State agencies seeking recovery
of  monetary damages.  The State  is unable to  estimate its  exposure for these
claims.
 
    DEBT RATINGS. For many years prior to 1991, both Moody's Investors  Service,
Inc. and Standard and Poor's Corporation had rated New Jersey general obligation
bonds  "Aaa" and  "AAA," respectively.  On July  3, 1991,  however, Standard and
Poor's Corporation downgraded New Jersey  general obligation bonds to "AA+."  On
June  4,  1992,  Standard  and  Poor's  Corporation  placed  New  Jersey general
obligation bonds  on  CreditWatch  with negative  implications,  citing  as  its
principal    reason   for   its   caution   the   unexpected   denial   by   the
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
Federal Government  of New  Jersey's  request for  $450 million  in  retroactive
Medicaid  payments  for  psychiatric  hospitals. These  funds  were  critical to
closing a $1 billion gap in the State's $15 billion budget for fiscal year  1992
which ended on June 30, 1992. Under New Jersey state law, the gap in the current
budget must be closed before the new budget year began on July 1, 1992. Standard
and  Poor's Corporation suggested the State could close fiscal 1992's budget gap
and help fill  fiscal 1993's  hole by  a reversion  of $700  million of  pension
contributions  to its general fund under a  proposal to change the way the State
calculates  its  pension  liability.  On  July  6,  1992,  Standard  and  Poor's
Corporation  reaffirmed its "AA+" rating for New Jersey general obligation bonds
and removed the  debt from  its CreditWatch list,  although it  stated that  New
Jersey's   long-term  financial  outlook  was   negative.  Standard  and  Poor's
Corporation was concerned that the State was entering the 1993 fiscal year  that
began July 1, 1992, with a slim $26 million surplus and remained concerned about
whether  the  sagging  State  economy  would  recover  quickly  enough  to  meet
lawmakers' revenue  projections. It  also remained  concerned about  the  recent
federal  ruling  leaving in  doubt how  much  the State  was due  in retroactive
Medicaid reimbursements and a ruling by a  federal judge, now on appeal, of  the
State's  method for paying for uninsured hospital patients. However, on July 27,
1994, S&P announced that  it was changing the  State's outlook from negative  to
stable  due to a  brightening of the  State's prospects as  a result of Governor
Whitman's effort  to trim  spending and  cut taxes,  coupled with  an  improving
economy. S&P reaffirmed its "AA+" rating at the same time.
 
    On  August 24, 1992,  Moody's Investors Service,  Inc. downgraded New Jersey
general obligation  bonds  to "Aa1",  stating  that the  reduction  reflected  a
developing  pattern of  reliance on  nonrecurring measures  to achieve budgetary
balance, four years  of financial  operations marked by  revenue shortfalls  and
operating  deficits, and the  likelihood that serious  financial pressures would
persist. On August 5, 1994, Moody's  reaffirmed its "Aa1" rating, citing on  the
positive  side New Jersey's broad-based economy,  high income levels, history of
maintaining a  positive financial  position and  moderate (albeit  rising)  debt
ratios, and, on the negative side, a continued reliance on one-time revenues and
a dependence on pension-related savings to achieve budgetary balance.
 
NEW JERSEY TAXABLE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN TABLE
 
    The  following tables show the approximate taxable estimated current returns
for individuals  that are  equivalent to  tax-exempt estimated  current  returns
under  combined Federal and  state taxes, using  published 1995 marginal Federal
tax rates and marginal state tax  rates currently available and scheduled to  be
in  effect.  The  tables  incorporate  increased  tax  rates  for  higher-income
taxpayers that were  included in  the Revenue  Reconciliation Act  of 1993.  For
cases  in which more than one state  bracket falls within a Federal bracket, the
highest state bracket is combined with  the Federal bracket. The combined  state
and  Federal tax  brackets shown  reflect the fact  that state  tax payments are
currently deductible for Federal  tax purposes. The  tables illustrate what  you
would  have to  earn on  taxable investments  to equal  the tax-exempt estimated
current return for your  income tax bracket. A  taxpayer's marginal tax rate  is
affected  by both his taxable income and  his adjusted gross income. Locate your
adjusted gross and  your taxable  income (which  is your  adjusted gross  income
reduced by any deductions and exemptions), then locate your tax bracket based on
joint  or single  tax filing.  Read across  to the  equivalent taxable estimated
current return you would need to match the tax-free income.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
 COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%   6.75%   7.00%   7.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 39.0 $     0-114.7      17.0   %     6.63    6.93    7.23    7.53    7.83    8.13    8.43    8.73
    39.0- 94.3       0-114.7      32.5         8.15    8.52    8.89    9.26    9.63   10.00   10.37   10.74
                 114.7-172.1      33.0         8.21    8.58    8.96    9.33    9.70   10.07   10.45   10.82
    94.3-143.6       0-114.7      35.0         8.46    8.85    9.23    9.62   10.00   10.38   10.77   11.15
                 114.7-172.1      36.0         8.59    8.98    9.38    9.77   10.16   10.55   10.94   11.33
                 172.1-294.6      38.5         8.94    9.35    9.76   10.16   10.57   10.98   11.38   11.79
   143.6-256.5   114.7-172.1      41.0         9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59   11.02   11.44   11.86   12.29
                 172.1-294.6      44.0         9.82   10.27   10.71   11.16   11.61   12.05   12.50   12.95
                  Over 294.6      41.0   2     9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59   11.02   11.44   11.86   12.29
    Over 256.5   172.1-294.6      47.5        10.48   10.95   11.43   11.90   12.38   12.86   13.33   13.81
                  Over 294.6      44.5   3     9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26   11.71   12.16   12.61   13.06
</TABLE>
 
  COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%   6.75%   7.00%   7.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 23.4 $     0-114.7      17.0   %     6.63    6.93    7.23    7.53    7.83    8.13    8.43    8.73
    23.4- 56.6       0-114.7      32.5         8.15    8.52    8.89    9.26    9.63   10.00   10.37   10.74
    56.6-118.0       0-114.7      35.5         8.53    8.91    9.30    9.69   10.08   10.47   10.85   11.24
                 114.7-237.2      37.0         8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92   10.32   10.71   11.11   11.51
   118.0-256.5   114.7-237.2      42.0         9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78   11.21   11.64   12.07   12.50
                  Over 237.2      41.0   2     9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59   11.02   11.44   11.86   12.29
    Over 256.5    Over 237.2      44.5   3     9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26   11.71   12.16   12.61   13.06
<FN>
- ------------------
      1 The table reflects the effect of the limitations  on itemized deductions and the deduction for personal exemptions.  They
were  designed to phase out certain benefits of these deductions for higher income taxpayers. These limitations, in effect, raise
the current maximum marginal Federal tax rate to approximately 44.0  percent for taxpayers filing a joint return and entitled  to
four  personal exemptions and to  approximately 41.0 percent for taxpayers  filing a single return  entitled to only one personal
exemption. These limitations are  subject to certain maximums,  which depend on  the number of exemptions  claimed and the  total
amount  of the taxpayer's itemized  deductions. For example, the limitation  on itemized deductions will  not cause a taxpayer to
lose more than 80% of his allowable itemized deductions, with certain exceptions.
      2 Federal tax rate reverts to 36.0% after the 80% cap on the limitation on itemized deductions has been met.
      3 Federal tax rate reverts to 39.6% after the 80% cap on the limitation on itemized deductions has been met.
</TABLE>
 
    A comparison of  tax-free and equivalent  taxable estimated current  returns
with  the returns on various  taxable investments is one  element to consider in
making an  investment  decision.  The Sponsor  may  from  time to  time  in  its
advertising  and sales materials  compare the then  current estimated returns on
the Trust and returns over specified periods on other similar Nuveen Trusts with
returns on taxable investments such as corporate or U.S. Government bonds,  bank
CD's  and  money  market accounts  or  money  market funds,  each  of  which has
investment characteristics  that  may  differ  from those  of  the  Trust.  U.S.
Government  bonds, for example, are  backed by the full  faith and credit of the
U.S. Government and bank CD's and money market accounts are insured by an agency
of the federal government. Money market accounts and money market funds  provide
stability  of principal, but pay interest at  rates that vary with the condition
of the short-term debt market. The  investment characteristics of the Trust  are
described more fully elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
   
NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT DATE OF DEPOSIT
JANUARY 24, 1995
NEW JERSEY INSURED TRUST 186
(SERIES 780)
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          Ratings(3)           Trustee's
                                                                      Optional       ---------------------   Determination
 Aggregate        Name of Issuer and Title of Issue Represented      Redemption       Standard                of Offering
  Principal        by Sponsor's Contracts to Purchase Bonds(1)      Provisions(2)     & Poor's    Moody's      Price(4)
<C>          <C> <S>                                              <C>                <C>         <C>        <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$   500,000      New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority,        2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa     $       454,630
                   Revenue Bonds, Rowan College of New Jersey
                   Issue, Series 1993 A, 5.75% Due 7/1/23.
    500,000      New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing         2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             472,630
                   Authority, Revenue Bonds, Dover General
                   Hospital and Medical Center Issue, Series
                   1994, 5.875% Due 7/1/12.
    500,000      New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing         2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             465,430
                   Authority, Refunding Revenue Bonds, Wayne
                   General Hospital, Corp. Issue (FHA Insured
                   Mortgage), Series B, 5.875% Due 8/1/18.
    500,000      The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey,      2004 at 101        AAA         Aaa             450,000
                   Consolidated Bonds, Ninety-Second Series,
                   5.625% Due 7/15/20.
    500,000      Gloucester County Utilities Authority               2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             490,145
                   (Gloucester County, New Jersey), Sewer
                   Revenue Bonds, 1994 Series, 6.25% Due 1/1/24.
                   (General Obligation Bonds.)
    500,000      The Pollution Control Financing Authority of        2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             497,500
                   Salem County (New Jersey), Pollution Control
                   Revenue Refunding Bonds, 1994 Series D
                   (Public Service Electric and Gas Company
                   Project), 6.55% Due 10/1/29.
    500,000      The Board of Education of the Township of South     2005 at 100        AAA         Aaa             497,500
                   Brunswick, in the County of Middlesex, New
                   Jersey, General Obligation School Bonds,
                   6.40% Due 8/1/24. (When issued.)
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 3,500,000                                                                                                 $     3,327,835
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
 
See Notes to Schedules of Investments, page 48.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
   
NEW YORK INSURED TRUST 230
    
   
    The Portfolio of New York Insured Trust 230 consists of 8 obligations issued
by  entities located in New York. One Bond  in the Trust is a general obligation
of the governmental entity issuing it and is backed by the taxing power thereof.
Seven Bonds in  the Trust  are payable  as to  principal and  interest from  the
income  of a specific project or authority and are not supported by the issuer's
power to levy  taxes. The  sources of  payment for  these Bonds  are divided  as
follows: College and University Revenue, 2; Electrical System Revenue, 1; Health
Care  Facility  Revenue,  1;  Municipal Lease  Revenue,  2;  Water  and/or Sewer
Revenue, 1. All of the Bonds in the Trust, as insured, are rated AAA by Standard
& Poor's Corporation and Aaa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
    
 
   
    At the Date of Deposit,  the average maturity of the  Bonds in the New  York
Insured  Trust is 26.9  years. The average maturity  of the Bonds  in a Trust is
calculated based upon the stated maturities of the Bonds in such Trust (or, with
respect to Bonds for  which funds or  securities have been  placed in escrow  to
redeem such Bonds on a stated call date, based upon such call date). The average
maturity  of the Bonds in a Trust may  increase or decrease from time to time as
Bonds mature or are called or sold.
    
 
    Approximately 28% of  the aggregate  principal amount  of the  Bonds in  the
Trust  consists of obligations  of issuers whose  revenues are primarily derived
from  payments  to  colleges  and  universities,  including  tuition,  dormitory
revenues, grants and endorsements.
 
    Approximately  25% of  the aggregate  principal amount  of the  Bonds in the
Trust consists of municipal lease obligations.
 
    For a discussion of  the risks associated with  investments in the bonds  of
various issuers, see "General Trust Information" in this section.
 
   
    The Sponsor entered into contracts to acquire the Bonds on January 23, 1995.
The  following summarizes certain information about the Bonds as of the business
day prior to the Date of Deposit:
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUSTEE'S
                                                               DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE AND
   COST TO    PROFIT (OR LOSS)   ANNUAL INTEREST   BID PRICE              THE BID PRICE
   SPONSOR       TO SPONSOR      INCOME TO TRUST    OF BONDS       (AS % OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT)
  ----------  -----------------  ----------------  ----------  -----------------------------------
  <S>         <C>                <C>               <C>         <C>
  $3,808,047       $19,039           $250,925      $3,807,711                 .48%
</TABLE>
 
    Neither  cost  to  Sponsor  nor   profit  (or  loss)  to  Sponsor   reflects
underwriting  profits or losses received or  incurred by the Sponsor through its
participation  in  underwriting  syndicates.  An  underwriter  or   underwriting
syndicate  purchases bonds  from the issuer  on a negotiated  or competitive bid
basis as principal with  the motive of  marketing such bonds  to investors at  a
profit.  The Sponsor did not participate as  either the sole underwriter or as a
manager or member of a syndicate that  acted as the original underwriter of  any
of the Bonds.
 
   
    Unitholders  may elect  to have  interest distributions  made on  a monthly,
quarterly or semi-annual basis. The interest on the Bonds initially deposited in
the New York Insured Trust, less  estimated expenses, is estimated to accrue  at
the rate of $.01691 per Unit per day under the semi-annual plan of distribution,
$.01686  per Unit per day  under the quarterly plan  of distribution and $.01677
per Unit per day under the monthly plan of distribution. It is anticipated  that
the  amount of interest to be distributed per  Unit in each year under each plan
of distribution  will initially  be  substantially equal  to the  Estimated  Net
Annual Interest Income per Unit for that plan.
    
 
    Details  of interest  distributions per Unit  of the New  York Insured Trust
under the various plans appear in  the following table based upon estimated  Net
Annual Interest Income at the Date of Deposit:
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                      NORMAL
                                                                                                  DISTRIBUTIONS
NEW YORK INSURED TRUST                                            1995                               PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>        <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
Record Date*..........................        3/1            5/1            8/1           11/1
Distribution Date.....................       3/15           5/15           8/15          11/15
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .6204(1)                                              $  6.0396
                                                        --------  $.5031 every month  --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .6204(1)   $  1.0116(2)   $  1.5174      $  1.5174    $  6.0716
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .6204(1)   $  1.0146(3)                  $  3.0438    $  6.0906
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
 *  Record Dates for semi-annual distributions are May 1 and November 1; for quarterly distributions, they are February 1, May 1,
   August 1 and November 1. Record Dates for monthly distributions are the first day of each month.
(1) The first distribution will be paid to all  Unitholders, regardless of the distribution plan selected. Such distribution  may
    be more or less than a regular monthly distribution.
(2)  The  second distribution  under the  quarterly distribution  plan  represents a  2-month distribution;  subsequent quarterly
    distributions will be regular 3-month distributions.
(3) The second distribution  under the semi-annual  distribution plan represents a  2-month distribution; subsequent  semi-annual
    distributions will be regular 6-month distributions.
</TABLE>
 
    The  accrual amounts set forth above, and  in turn the amount of interest to
be distributed annually per Unit, will  generally change as Bonds are  redeemed,
mature or are sold or as fees and expenses increase or decrease.
 
TAX STATUS--NEW YORK INSURED TRUST
 
    For  a discussion  of the Federal  tax status  of income earned  on New York
Insured Trust Units, see Section 11.
 
    In the opinion of Edwards & Angell,  special counsel for the Series for  New
York tax matters, under existing law:
 
        Interest   on  obligations  issued  by   New  York  State,  a  political
    subdivision thereof, Puerto  Rico, the  Virgin Islands,  Guam, the  Northern
    Mariana  Islands,  or  other possessions  of  the United  States  within the
    meaning of Section 103(c) of the  Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as  amended
    ("New  York Obligations"), which would be exempt  from New York State or New
    York City personal  income tax if  directly received by  a Unitholder,  will
    retain  its  status as  tax-exempt interest  when received  by the  New York
    Insured Trust (the "Trust") and distributed to such Unitholder.
 
        Interest (less amortizable premium, if any) derived from the Trust by  a
    resident  of New  York State  (or New York  City) in  respect of obligations
    issued by states other than New York (or their political subdivisions)  will
    be subject to New York State (or New York City) personal income tax.
 
        A Unitholder who is a resident of New York State (or New York City) will
    be  subject to New  York State (or  New York City)  personal income tax with
    respect to gains  realized when New  York Obligations held  in the New  York
    Insured   Trust  are  sold,  redeemed  or  paid  at  maturity  or  when  the
    Unitholder's Units are sold or redeemed;  such gain will equal the  proceeds
    of sale, redemption or payment less the tax basis of the New York Obligation
    or Unit (adjusted to reflect (a) the amortization of premium or discount, if
    any,  on New York Obligations held by  the Trust, (b) accrued original issue
    discount, with respect to  each New York Obligation  which, at the time  the
    New  York Obligation  was issued, had  original issue discount,  and (c) the
    deposit of New York Obligations with accrued interest in the Trust after the
    Unitholder's settlement date).
 
        Interest or gain from  the Trust derived  by a Unitholder  who is not  a
    resident  of New York  State (or New York  City) will not  be subject to New
    York State (or  New York  City) personal income  tax, unless  the Units  are
    property  employed in a business, trade, profession or occupation carried on
    in New York State (or New York City).
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
        In the case  of the  Trust, amounts  paid under  the insurance  policies
    representing maturing interest on defaulted New York Obligations held by the
    Trustee  in the Trust  will be excludable  from New York  State and New York
    City income if, and  to the same  extent as, such  interest would have  been
    excludable if paid by the respective issuer.
 
        For  purposes of the New  York State and New  York City franchise tax on
    corporations, Unitholders which are subject to such tax will be required  to
    include in their entire net income any interest or gains distributed to them
    even   though  distributed  in  respect  of  obligations  of  any  state  or
    subdivision thereof including New York.
 
        If borrowed funds are used to purchase Units in the Trust, all (or part)
    of the interest  on such indebtedness  will not be  deductible for New  York
    State  and  New  York  City  tax purposes.  The  purchase  of  Units  may be
    considered to have been made with borrowed funds even though such funds  are
    not directly traceable to the purchase of Units in any New York Trust.
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--NEW YORK
 
    The  Portfolio of the New York  Insured Trust includes obligations issued by
New York State  (the "State"), by  its various public  bodies (the  "Agencies"),
and/or  by other entities  located within the  State, including the  City of New
York (the "City").
 
    Some of the more significant events and conditions relating to the financial
situation in New York are summarized  below. This section provides only a  brief
summary of the complex factors affecting the financial situation in New York and
is  derived  from  sources that  are  generally  available to  investors  and is
believed to  be  accurate.  It is  based  in  part on  Official  Statements  and
prospectuses issued by, and on other information reported by the State, the City
and the Agencies in connection with the issuance of their respective securities.
 
    There  can  be no  assurance that  current or  future statewide  or regional
economic difficulties, and  the resulting  impact on State  or local  government
finances  generally,  will not  adversely affect  the market  value of  New York
Municipal Obligations  held in  the portfolio  of the  Trust or  the ability  of
particular  obligors to make timely payments of debt service on (or relating to)
those obligations.
 
    (1) THE STATE: The State has historically been one of the wealthiest  states
in  the nation. For  decades, however, the  State economy has  grown more slowly
than that  of the  nation as  a whole,  gradually eroding  the State's  relative
economic  affluence.  Statewide,  urban  centers  have  experienced  significant
changes involving migration of the more affluent to the suburbs and an influx of
generally less affluent residents. Regionally,  the older Northeast cities  have
suffered because of the relative success that the South and the West have had in
attracting  people  and  business.  The  City  has  also  had  to  face  greater
competition  as  other  major  cities  have  developed  financial  and  business
capabilities  which  make  them  less  dependent  on  the  specialized  services
traditionally available almost exclusively in the City.
 
    The State has  for many years  had a very  high state and  local tax  burden
relative to other states. The burden of State and local taxation, in combination
with  the many other causes of regional economic dislocation, has contributed to
the decisions of  some businesses and  individuals to relocate  outside, or  not
locate within, the State.
 
    SLOWDOWN  OF REGIONAL ECONOMY.  A national recession  commenced in mid-1990.
The downturn  continued  throughout the  State's  1990-91 fiscal  year  and  was
followed  by a period of weak economic growth during the 1991 calendar year. For
calendar year 1992,  the national economy  continued to recover,  although at  a
rate  below all  post-war recoveries. For  calendar year 1993,  the economy grew
faster than in 1992,  but still at  a very moderate rate,  as compared to  other
recoveries.    Moderate   economic   growth   is   expected   to   continue   in
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
calendar year 1994  at a slightly  faster rate than  in 1993. Economic  recovery
started  considerably later in  the State than in  the nation as  a whole due in
part to  the significant  retrenchment  in the  banking and  financial  services
industries,  downsizing  by  several  major  corporations,  cutbacks  in defense
spending, and an  oversupply of  office buildings. Many  uncertainties exist  in
forecasts of both the national and State economies and there can be no assurance
that  the State economy will  perform at a level  sufficient to meet the State's
projections of receipts and disbursements.
 
    1994-95 FISCAL YEAR. The Governor presented the recommended Executive Budget
for the 1994-95 fiscal year on January  18, 1994 and amended it on February  17,
1994.  the Recommended 1994-95 State Financial  Plan projects a balanced General
Fund, receipts and transfers  from other funds at  $33.422 billion (including  a
projected  $339 million surplus anticipated for the State's 1993-94 fiscal year)
and disbursements and transfers to other funds at $33.399 billion.
 
    The recommended 1994-95  Executive Budget  includes tax  and fee  reductions
($210  million), retention of revenues currently received, primarily by deferral
of a  scheduled  personal  income  tax  rate  reduction  ($1.244  billion),  and
additional  increases to miscellaneous revenue  sources ($237 million). No major
additional programs are recommended other than a $198 million increase in school
aid, $185 million in Medicaid  cost-containment initiatives and $110 million  in
local government Medicaid costs to be assumed by the State.
 
    There  can  be  no  assurance  that the  State  Legislature  will  enact the
Executive  Budget  as  proposed,  nor  can  there  be  any  assurance  that  the
Legislature will enact a budget for the State's 1994-95 fiscal year prior to its
commencement.  A delay in  its enactment may  negatively affect certain proposed
actions and reduce projected savings.
 
    1993-94 FISCAL YEAR. The  1993-94 State Financial Plan  issued on April  16,
1993  projected General Fund receipts and  transfers from other funds at $32.367
billion and disbursements and  transfers to other funds  at $32.300 billion.  In
comparison to the Governor's recommended Executive Budget for the 1993-94 fiscal
year,  as  revised  on  February  18, 1993,  the  1993-94  State  Financial Plan
reflected increases in both  receipts and disbursements in  the General Fund  of
$811 million.
 
    The  1993-94 State Financial Plan was last  revised on January 18, 1994. The
State projects a surplus  of $299 million, as  the result of developments  which
positively  impacted upon receipts  and disbursements. In  the revised Plan, the
State announced its intention to pay  a 53rd weekly Medicaid payment,  estimated
at $120 million, and to add $82 million to a reserve fund for contingencies.
 
    On  January 21, 1994, the State entered into a settlement with Delaware with
respect to STATE OF DELAWARE V. STATE  OF NEW YORK, which is discussed below  at
STATE  LITIGATION. The State made an immediate $35 million payment and agreed to
make a $33 million  annual payment in  each of the next  five fiscal years.  The
State  has not settled with other parties to the litigation and will continue to
incur litigation expenses as to those claims.
 
    On November  16, 1993,  the Court  of Appeals,  the State's  highest  court,
affirmed  the  decision  of  a  lower court  in  three  actions,  which declared
unconstitutional State actuarial funding methods for determining State and local
contributions to the State employee  retirement system. Following the  decision,
the  State Comptroller  developed a  plan to  phase in  a constitutional funding
method and to restore prior funding levels of the retirement systems over a four
year period. The plan is  not expected to require  the State to make  additional
contributions  with respect  to the  1993-94 fiscal  year nor  to materially and
adversely affect the State's financial condition thereafter. Through fiscal year
1998-99, the State  expects to contribute  $643 million more  to the  retirement
plans than would have been required under the prior funding method.
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
    FUTURE  FISCAL YEARS. There can be no assurance that the State will not face
substantial potential budget  gaps in  the future resulting  from a  significant
disparity  between tax revenues  projected from a  lower recurring receipts base
and the  spending required  to maintain  State programs  at current  levels.  To
address   any  potential  budgetary  imbalance,  the  State  may  need  to  take
significant actions to align recurring receipts and disbursements.
 
    INDEBTEDNESS. As of December 31, 1993,  the total amount of long-term  State
general obligation debt authorized but unissued stood at $2.3 billion. As of the
same  date, the State had approximately $5.0 billion in general obligation bonds
and $2.94 million  of Bond Anticipation  Notes ("BANS"). The  State issued  $850
million  in tax and revenue anticipation notes  ("TRANS") on May 4, all of which
matured on December 31, 1993. The State does not project the need to issue TRANS
during the State's 1994-95 fiscal year.
 
    The State anticipates that  its borrowings for  capital purposes during  the
State's  1994-95 fiscal year will consist  of $413 million in general obligation
bonds and BANS.  The projection of  the State regarding  its borrowings for  the
1994-95  fiscal  year  may  change  if  actual  receipts  fall  short  of  State
projections or if other circumstances require.
 
    In  June  1990,  legislation  was  enacted  creating  the  "New  York  Local
Government  Assistance  Corporation"  ("LGAC"),  a  public  benefit  corporation
empowered to  issue long-term  obligations  to fund  certain payments  to  local
governments  traditionally funded through the State's annual seasonal borrowing.
As of February 28, 1994,  LGAC has issued its bonds  to provide net proceeds  of
$3.7  billion. The Governor has recommended  the issuance of additional bonds to
provide net proceeds of $315 million during the State's 1994-95 fiscal year.
 
    The Legislature  passed  a  proposed constitutional  amendment  which  would
permit  the State subject to certain restrictions to issue revenue bonds without
voter referendum. Among the restrictions proposed  is that such bonds would  not
be  backed by the  full faith and credit  of the State.  The Governor intends to
submit changes to the proposed  amendment, which before becoming effective  must
be passed again by the next separately-elected Legislature and approved by voter
referendum  at a  general election.  The earliest  such an  amendment could take
effect would be in November 1995.
 
    RATINGS.  The $850 million in TRANS  issued by the State in April 1993  were
rated  SP-1-Plus by  S&P on April  26, 1993, and  MIG-1 by Moody's  on April 23,
1993, which represents the highest ratings given by such agencies and the  first
time  the State's  TRANS have  received these ratings  since its  May 1989 TRANS
issuance. Both  agencies  cited  the  State's  improved  fiscal  position  as  a
significant factor in the upgrading of the April 1993 TRANS.
 
    Moody's  rating of the State's general obligation  bonds stood at A on April
23, 1993, and S&P's rating stood at A- with a stable outlook on April 26,  1993,
an  improvement from  S&P's negative  outlook prior  to April  1993. Previously,
Moody's lowered its rating to A on June 6, 1990, its rating having been A1 since
May 27, 1986. S&P  lowered its rating from  A to A- on  January 13, 1992.  S&P's
previous ratings were A from March 1990 to January 1992, AA- from August 1987 to
March 1990 and A+ from November 1982 to August 1987.
 
    Moody's  maintained  its  A  rating  and  S&P  continued  its  A-  rating in
connection with the State's issuance of $224.1 million of its general obligation
bonds in March 1994.
 
    (2) THE  CITY AND  THE MUNICIPAL  ASSISTANCE CORPORATION  ("MAC"): The  City
accounts  for approximately 41%  of the State's  population and personal income,
and the City's financial health affects the State in numerous ways.
 
    In response to the City's fiscal crisis in 1975, the State took a number  of
steps  to assist the City in returning to fiscal stability. Among other actions,
the State Legislature (i) created MAC to assist with long-term financing for the
City's short-term debt and  other cash requirements and  (ii) created the  State
Financial Control Board (the "Control Board") to review
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
and approve the City's budgets and City four-year financial plans (the financial
plans   also  apply  to  certain  City-related  public  agencies  (the  "Covered
Organizations")).
 
    Over the past  three years,  the rate  of economic  growth in  the City  has
slowed  substantially, and  the City's  economy is  currently in  recession. The
Mayor  is  responsible  for  preparing  the  City's  four-year  financial  plan,
including  the City's  current financial plan.  The City  Comptroller has issued
reports concluding that the recession of the City's economy will be more  severe
and last longer than is assumed in the financial plan.
 
    FISCAL  YEAR 1993 AND 1994-1997 FINANCIAL PLAN.  The City's 1993 fiscal year
results are  projected to  be  balanced in  accordance with  generally  accepted
accounting  principles  ("GAAP"). The  City  was required  to  close substantial
budget gaps  in its  1990,  1991 and  1992 fiscal  years  in order  to  maintain
balanced operating results.
 
    On  August 10, 1993, the City adopted and submitted to the Control Board its
Financial Plan for fiscal  years 1994-1997, which  was subsequently modified  on
November  23, 1993. As modified  in November 1993, the  Plan projects a balanced
budget for fiscal year 1994 based upon revenues of $31.585 billion, and projects
budget gaps of $1.7 billion, $2.5 billion and $2.7 billion in fiscal years  1995
through 1997, respectively.
 
    During  December  1993, a  three-member panel  appointed  by the  Mayor, the
Office of  the State  Deputy  Comptroller and  the  Control Board,  each  issued
reports  that were critical  of the City's 1994-1996  Financial Plan. While each
report noted  improvement in  the  outlook for  fiscal  year 1994,  the  reports
indicated  that the  budget gap for  fiscal year 1995  could be as  much as $450
million higher than projected and that the budget gap might continue to increase
in later years to as  much as $1.5 billion  above current projections by  fiscal
year 1997. Recommendations included addressing the City's tax and cost structure
to maximize revenues on a recurring basis and minimize expenditures, a review of
capital   spending  plans,   service  cuts,  productivity   gains  and  economic
development measures.
 
    On February  2,  1994,  the  Mayor proposed  further  modifications  to  the
1994-1997  Financial Plan. The Mayor's proposed  Plan projects a balanced budget
for fiscal  year 1994,  assuming revenues  of $31.735  billion, and  includes  a
reserve  of $198  million. The  proposed modification  projects budget  gaps for
fiscal years 1995, 1996 and 1997 of $2.3 billion, $3.2 billion and $3.3 billion,
respectively. The  Mayor identified  $2.2 billion  in gap  closing measures  for
fiscal  year 1995. Implementation of these measures will require the cooperation
of  municipal  labor  unions,  the  City  Council  and  the  State  and  Federal
governments.  The Mayor's proposal  includes a tax  reduction program which will
have a financial impact on later years.
 
    Given the foregoing factors,  there can be no  assurance that the City  will
continue  to maintain  a balanced  budget, or  that it  can maintain  a balanced
budget without additional tax or other  revenue increases or reductions in  City
services, which could adversely affect the City's economic base.
 
    Pursuant  to State law, the City prepares a four-year annual financial plan,
which is reviewed and revised on a quarterly basis and which includes the City's
capital, revenue and  expense projections. The  City is required  to submit  its
financial  plans to review bodies, including the Control Board. If the City were
to experience certain adverse financial circumstances, including the  occurrence
or  the  substantial likelihood  and imminence  of the  occurrence of  an annual
operating deficit of more than $100 million or the loss of access to the  public
credit   markets  to   satisfy  the   City's  capital   and  seasonal  financial
requirements, the  Control Board  would be  required by  State law  to  exercise
certain  powers,  including prior  approval  of City  financial  plans, proposed
borrowings and certain contracts.
 
    The City depends  on the  State for  State aid both  to enable  the City  to
balance  its budget and to meet its  cash requirements. If the State experiences
revenue shortfalls or spending
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
increases beyond  its projections  during  its 1993  fiscal year  or  subsequent
years,  such developments could  result in reductions in  projected State aid to
the City. In addition, there  can be no assurance  that State budgets in  future
fiscal  years will be adopted  by the April 1  statutory deadline and that there
will not  be  adverse  effects on  the  City's  cash flow  and  additional  City
expenditures as a result of such delays.
 
    The  City projections set forth  in its financial plan  are based on various
assumptions and contingencies which are uncertain and which may not materialize.
Changes in major assumptions  could significantly affect  the City's ability  to
balance its budget as required by State law and to meet its annual cash flow and
financing requirements. Such assumptions and contingencies include the timing of
any  regional  and local  economic recovery,  the absence  of wage  increases in
excess of  the  increases assumed  in  its financial  plan,  employment  growth,
provision  of  State  and  Federal aid  and  mandate  relief,  State legislative
approval of future  State budgets, levels  of education expenditures  as may  be
required  by State  law, adoption of  future City  budgets by the  New York City
Council, and  approval  by  the  Governor  or  the  State  Legislature  and  the
cooperation  of  MAC with  respect  to various  other  actions proposed  in such
financial plan.
 
    The City's ability to maintain a  balanced operating budget is dependant  on
whether  it  can implement  necessary service  and personnel  reduction programs
successfully. As discussed above, the City must identify additional  expenditure
reductions  and revenue sources to achieve balanced operating budgets for fiscal
years 1994  and thereafter.  Any such  proposed expenditure  reductions will  be
difficult  to implement  because of their  size and  the substantial expenditure
reductions already imposed on City operations in the past two years.
 
    Attaining a balanced  budget is also  dependent upon the  City's ability  to
market  its securities  successfully in  the public  credit markets.  The City's
financing program  for  fiscal  years 1994  through  1997  contemplates  capital
spending  of $16.2  billion, which  will be  financed through  issuance of $10.5
billion of general  obligation bonds,  $4.3 billion of  Water Authority  Revenue
Bonds  and the balance by Covered Organization obligations, and will be utilized
primarily to reconstruct and rehabilitate the City's infrastructure and physical
assets and  to make  capital investments.  A significant  portion of  such  bond
financing  is used to reimburse the City's general fund for capital expenditures
already incurred.  In addition,  the City  issues revenue  and tax  anticipation
notes  to  finance  its seasonal  working  capital requirements.  The  terms and
success of projected  public sales of  City general obligation  bonds and  notes
will  be subject to prevailing market conditions at the time of the sale, and no
assurance can be given that the credit markets will absorb the projected amounts
of public bond and note sales.  In addition, future developments concerning  the
City  and public  discussion of such  developments, the  City's future financial
needs and  other issues  may  affect the  market  for outstanding  City  general
obligation  bonds  and  notes. If  the  City  were unable  to  sell  its general
obligation bonds  and notes,  it would  be prevented  from meeting  its  planned
operating and capital expenditures.
 
    FISCAL  YEARS 1990,  1991 AND  1992.   The City  achieved balanced operating
results as reported in accordance with GAAP for the 1992 fiscal year. During the
1990 and 1991  fiscal years, the  City implemented various  actions to offset  a
projected  budget  deficit  of $3.2  billion  for  the 1991  fiscal  year, which
resulted from declines in City  revenue sources and increased public  assistance
needs  due to the recession. Such actions included $822 million of tax increases
and substantial expenditure reductions.
 
    The City is a defendant in a significant number of lawsuits. Such litigation
includes, but is not limited to,  actions commenced and claims asserted  against
the  City arising out  of alleged constitutional  violations, torts, breaches of
contracts, and other violations of  law and condemnation proceedings. While  the
ultimate outcome and fiscal impact, if any, on the
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
proceedings  and claims are not currently predictable, adverse determinations in
certain of them might have a material adverse effect upon the City's ability  to
carry  out its financial  plan. As of June  30, 1992, legal  claims in excess of
$341 billion were outstanding against the City for which the City estimated  its
potential future liability to be $2.3 billion.
 
    RATINGS.   As of the  date of this prospectus,  Moody's rating of the City's
general obligation bonds stood at Baa1 and S&P's rating stood at A-. On February
11, 1991, Moody's had lowered its rating from A.
 
    On December 6, 1993, in confirming its Baa1 rating, Moody's noted that:
 
        The fiscal 1994 budget is  nominally balanced, in part through  reliance
    on  one-shot revenues, but contains a number  of risks . . . (T)he financial
    plan . . . shows increased gaps in succeeding years.
 
        The financial plan for fiscal 1995 and beyond shows an ongoing imbalance
    between the City's expenditures and  revenues . . . A  key risk is that  the
    replacement  of one-shot revenues is likely to become increasingly difficult
    over time.  Moody's continues  to  expect that  the City's  progress  toward
    achieving  long-term balance will be slow and uneven, but that the City will
    be diligent and prudent in closing gaps as they arise.
 
    As discussed above under FISCAL YEAR  1993 AND 1993-1996 FINANCIAL PLAN,  on
July  2, 1993  after a  review of the  City's budget  for fiscal  year 1994, its
proposed budget  for  fiscal year  1995  and  certain additional  cuts  in  both
proposed by the Mayor and the City Comptroller, S&P confirmed its A- rating with
a  negative  outlook of  the  City's general  obligation  bonds but  indicated a
continuing concern  about budgets  for fiscal  year 1995  and thereafter.  S&P's
rating of the City's general obligation bonds remains unchanged.
 
    On  October 12, 1993, Moody's increased its rating of the City's issuance of
$650 million of Tax  Anticipation Notes ("TANs") to  MIG-1 from MIG-2. Prior  to
that  date, on May 9,  1990, Moody's revised downward  its rating on outstanding
City revenue anticipation notes from MIG-1  to MIG-2 and rated the $900  million
Notes  then  being sold  MIG-2.  S&P's rating  of  the October  1993  TANS issue
increased to SP-1 from SP-2. Prior to that date, on April 29, 1991, S&P  revised
downward its rating on City revenue anticipation notes from SP-1 to SP-2.
 
    As  of June 30, 1993, the City  and MAC had, respectively, $19.6 billion and
$4.5 billion of outstanding net long-term indebtedness.
 
    (3) THE STATE AGENCIES: Certain Agencies of the State have faced substantial
financial difficulties which could adversely affect the ability of such Agencies
to make payments  of interest  on, and  principal amounts  of, their  respective
bonds.  The  difficulties  have in  certain  instances caused  the  State (under
so-called  "moral  obligation"  provisions   which  are  non-binding   statutory
provisions  for State  appropriations to  maintain various  debt service reserve
funds) to appropriate funds on behalf of the Agencies. Moreover, it is  expected
that  the  problems  faced by  these  Agencies  will continue  and  will require
increasing amounts of State assistance in future years. Failure of the State  to
appropriate  necessary amounts or to take  other action to permit those Agencies
having financial  difficulties  to meet  their  obligations could  result  in  a
default by one or more of the Agencies. Such default, if it were to occur, would
be  likely to have a  significant adverse effect on  investor confidence in, and
therefore the  market  price of,  obligations  of the  defaulting  Agencies.  In
addition,  any default in payment on any  general obligation of any Agency whose
bonds contain a moral obligation provision could constitute a failure of certain
conditions that must be satisfied in connection with Federal guarantees of  City
and  MAC obligations  and could thus  jeopardize the  City's long-term financing
plans.
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
    As of  September 30,  1993,  the State  reported  that there  were  eighteen
Agencies  that each had outstanding debt of $100 million or more. These eighteen
Agencies had  an  aggregate of  $63.5  billion of  outstanding  debt,  including
refunding  bonds, of which $7.7  billion was moral obligation  debt of the State
and $19.3 billion  was financed under  lease-purchase or contractual  obligation
financing arrangements.
 
    (4) STATE LITIGATION: The State is a defendant in numerous legal proceedings
pertaining  to  matters incidental  to the  performance of  routine governmental
operations. Such litigation  includes, but  is not limited  to, claims  asserted
against  the State  arising from alleged  torts, alleged  breaches of contracts,
condemnation proceedings and other alleged violations of State and Federal laws.
Included in the State's outstanding litigation are a number of cases challenging
the constitutionality  or  the  adequacy  and  effectiveness  of  a  variety  of
significant  social  welfare  programs primarily  involving  the  State's mental
hygiene programs. Adverse judgments in  these matters generally could result  in
injunctive  relief coupled with prospective changes  in patient care which could
require substantial increased financing of the litigated programs in the future.
 
    The State  is  also engaged  in  a  variety of  claims  wherein  significant
monetary  damages are sought. Actions commenced  by several Indian nations claim
that significant amounts of land were unconstitutionally taken from the  Indians
in  violation  of  various treaties  and  agreements during  the  eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries. The claimants seek  recovery of approximately six  million
acres of land as well as compensatory and punitive damages.
 
    The  U.S. Supreme Court on March 30,  1993, referred to a Special Master for
determination of damages an action by  the State of Delaware to recover  certain
unclaimed  dividends,  interest  and  other  distributions  made  by  issuers of
securities held by New  York based-brokers incorporated  in Delaware. (STATE  OF
DELAWARE  V. STATE  OF NEW  YORK.) The State  had taken  such unclaimed property
under its ABANDONED  PROPERTY LAW.  New York and  Delaware have  entered into  a
settlement  agreement which provides for a payment of $35 million in fiscal year
1993-94 and thereafter five $33 million annual payments. Claims of other  states
and  the District of Columbia  have not been settled  and the State expects that
additional payments,  which may  be significant,  may be  required with  respect
thereto during fiscal year 1994 and thereafter.
 
    In  SCHULZ V.  STATE OF  NEW YORK, commenced  May 24,  1993 ("SCHULZ 1993"),
petitioners have challenged the constitutionality of mass transportation bonding
programs  of  the  New  York  State  Thruway  Authority  and  the   Metropolitan
Transportation  Authority. On  May 24, 1993,  the Supreme  Court, Albany County,
temporarily enjoined  the State  from implementing  those bonding  programs.  In
previous  actions  Mr.  Schulz and  others  have challenged  on  similar grounds
bonding programs for the  New York State Urban  Development Corporation and  the
New  York  Local Government  Assistance Corporation.  While  there have  been no
decisions on the merits in  such previous actions, by  an opinion dated May  11,
1993,  the New York Court of Appeals held in a proceeding commenced on April 29,
1991 in the Supreme  Court, Albany County  (SCHULZ V. STATE  OF NEW YORK),  that
petitioners  had standing as  voters under the State  Constitution to bring such
action.
 
    Petitioners in SCHULZ 1993 have asserted  that issuance of bonds by the  two
Authorities  is subject to  approval by statewide  referendum. By decision dated
October 21, 1993, the Appellate  Division, Third Department, affirmed the  order
of  the Supreme  Court, Albany County,  granting the State's  motion for summary
judgment, dismissing the complaint and vacating the temporary restraining order.
In December 1993, the New York Court of Appeals indicated that it would hear the
plaintiffs' appeal of the Appellate Division's decision in SCHULZ 1993. At  this
time  there can be no forecast of the likelihood of success on the merits by the
petitioners, but  a  decision  upholding  this  constitutional  challenge  could
restrict  and limit the ability of the State and its instrumentalities to borrow
funds in the future.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
    Adverse developments in the foregoing  proceedings or new proceedings  could
adversely affect the financial condition of the State in the future.
 
    (5)  OTHER MUNICIPALITIES: Certain  localities in addition  to New York City
could  have  financial  problems  leading  to  requests  for  additional   State
assistance.  The potential impact on the State  of such actions by localities is
not included in projections  of State receipts and  expenditures in the  State's
1993-94 and 1994-95 fiscal years.
 
    Fiscal  difficulties experienced by the City of Yonkers ("Yonkers") resulted
in the creation  of the Financial  Control Board  for the City  of Yonkers  (the
"Yonkers  Board")  by the  State  in 1984.  The  Yonkers Board  is  charged with
oversight of the fiscal affairs of Yonkers. Future actions taken by the Governor
or the State Legislature to assist  Yonkers could result in allocation of  State
resources in amounts that cannot yet be determined.
 
    Municipalities  and school districts have  engaged in substantial short-term
and long-term borrowings. In 1991, the  total indebtedness of all localities  in
the  State was approximately $31.6  billion, of which $16.8  billion was debt of
New York  City (excluding  $6.7 billion  in MAC  debt). State  law requires  the
Comptroller  to review and make recommendations  concerning the budgets of those
local government units other than New York City authorized by State law to issue
debt to  finance deficits  during  the period  that  such deficit  financing  is
outstanding. Fifteen localities had outstanding indebtedness for state financing
at  the close of their  fiscal year ending in 1991.  In 1992, an unusually large
number of local government units requested authorization for deficit financings.
According to the Comptroller, ten local government units have been authorized to
issue deficit financing in the aggregate amount of $131.1 million.
 
    Certain proposed Federal  expenditure reductions  could reduce,  or in  some
cases  eliminate, Federal funding  of some local  programs and accordingly might
impose substantial increased expenditure requirements on affected localities. If
the State, New York City or any of the Agencies were to suffer serious financial
difficulties jeopardizing their respective access to the public credit  markets,
the  marketability of  notes and  bonds issued  by localities  within the State,
including notes  or bonds  in the  New York  Insured Trust,  could be  adversely
affected. Localities also face anticipated and potential problems resulting from
certain  pending litigation, judicial decisions, and long-range economic trends.
The longer-range potential  problems of declining  urban population,  increasing
expenditures,  and other economic  trends could adversely  affect localities and
require increasing State assistance in the future.
 
    (6) OTHER ISSUERS OF NEW YORK  MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS. There are a number  of
other  agencies, instrumentalities and political  subdivisions of the State that
issue Municipal Obligations, some  of which may  be conduit revenue  obligations
payable  from payments  from private  borrowers. These  entities are  subject to
various economic  risks  and  uncertainties,  and  the  credit  quality  of  the
securities  issued  by them  may vary  considerably from  the credit  quality of
obligations backed by the full faith and credit of the State.
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
NEW YORK TAXABLE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN TABLE
 
    The following tables show the approximate taxable estimated current  returns
for  individuals  that are  equivalent to  tax-exempt estimated  current returns
under combined Federal,  state and  local taxes, using  published 1995  marginal
Federal tax rates and marginal state and local tax rates currently available and
scheduled  to  be in  effect.  The tables  incorporate  increased tax  rates for
higher-income taxpayers that were included in the Revenue Reconciliation Act  of
1993.  For cases  in which  two state  or local  brackets fall  within a federal
bracket, the higher state or local bracket is combined with the federal bracket.
The combined local, state and Federal  tax brackets shown reflect the fact  that
state  and local tax payments are currently deductible for Federal tax purposes.
The tables illustrate  what you  would have to  earn on  taxable investments  to
equal  the tax-exempt  estimated current return  for your income  tax bracket. A
taxpayer's marginal tax  rate is  affected by both  his taxable  income and  his
adjusted gross income. Locate your adjusted gross and your taxable income (which
is  your adjusted gross  income reduced by any  deductions and exemptions), then
locate your tax bracket based on joint or single tax filing. Read across to  the
equivalent taxable estimated current return you would need to match the tax-free
income.
 
I.  COMBINED FEDERAL AND NEW YORK STATE INCOME TAXES
 
 COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%   6.75%   7.00%   7.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 39.0 $     0-100.0     21.5    %     7.01    7.32    7.64    7.96    8.28    8.60    8.92    9.24
                 100.0-114.7     22.5          7.10    7.42    7.74    8.06    8.39    8.71    9.03    9.35
    39.0- 94.3       0-100.0     33.5          8.27    8.65    9.02    9.40    9.77   10.15   10.53   10.90
                 100.0-114.7     34.5          8.40    8.78    9.16    9.54    9.92   10.31   10.69   11.07
                 114.7-150.0     35.0          8.46    8.85    9.23    9.62   10.00   10.38   10.77   11.15
                 150.0-172.1     34.0          8.33    8.71    9.09    9.47    9.85   10.23   10.61   10.98
    94.3-143.6       0-100.0     36.0          8.59    8.98    9.38    9.77   10.16   10.55   10.94   11.33
                 100.0-114.7     37.0          8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92   10.32   10.71   11.11   11.51
                 114.7-150.0     38.0          8.87    9.27    9.68   10.08   10.48   10.89   11.29   11.69
                 150.0-172.1     37.0          8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92   10.32   10.71   11.11   11.51
                 172.1-294.6     39.5          9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33   10.74   11.16   11.57   11.98
   143.6-256.5   114.7-150.0     42.5          9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87   11.30   11.74   12.17   12.61
                 150.0-172.1     42.0          9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78   11.21   11.64   12.07   12.50
                 172.1-294.6     44.5          9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26   11.71   12.16   12.61   13.06
                  Over 294.6     42.0    2     9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78   11.21   11.64   12.07   12.50
    Over 256.5   172.1-294.6     48.0         10.58   11.06   11.54   12.02   12.50   12.98   13.46   13.94
                  Over 294.6     45.5    3    10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47   11.93   12.39   12.84   13.30
</TABLE>
 
  COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS       STATE AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%   6.75%   7.00%   7.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 23.4 $     0-100.0     21.5    %     7.01    7.32    7.64    7.96    8.28    8.60    8.92    9.24
                 100.0-114.7     22.0          7.05    7.37    7.69    8.01    8.33    8.65    8.97    9.29
    23.4- 56.6       0-100.0     33.5          8.27    8.65    9.02    9.40    9.77   10.15   10.53   10.90
                 100.0-114.7     34.0          8.33    8.71    9.09    9.47    9.85   10.23   10.61   10.98
    56.6-118.0       0-100.0     36.0          8.59    8.98    9.38    9.77   10.16   10.55   10.94   11.33
                 100.0-114.7     36.5          8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84   10.24   10.63   11.02   11.42
                 114.7-150.0     38.0          8.87    9.27    9.68   10.08   10.48   10.89   11.29   11.69
                 150.0-237.2     37.5          8.80    9.20    9.60   10.00   10.40   10.80   11.20   11.60
   118.0-256.5   114.7-150.0     43.0          9.65   10.09   10.53   10.96   11.40   11.84   12.28   12.72
                 150.0-237.2     42.5          9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87   11.30   11.74   12.17   12.61
                  Over 237.2     42.0    2     9.48    9.91   10.34   10.78   11.21   11.64   12.07   12.50
    Over 256.5    Over 237.2     45.5    3    10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47   11.93   12.39   12.84   13.30
</TABLE>
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
II. COMBINED FEDERAL, NEW YORK STATE AND NEW YORK CITY INCOME TAXES
 
 COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL      COMBINED
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED       STATE,
    TAXABLE        GROSS         LOCAL                     TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME      AND FEDERAL     --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%   6.75%   7.00%   7.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 39.0 $     0-100.0     25.0    %     7.33    7.67    8.00    8.33    8.67    9.00    9.33    9.67
                 100.0-114.7     26.0          7.43    7.77    8.11    8.45    8.78    9.12    9.46    9.80
    39.0- 94.3       0-100.0     36.5          8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84   10.24   10.63   11.02   11.42
                 100.0-114.7     37.5          8.80    9.20    9.60   10.00   10.40   10.80   11.20   11.60
                 114.7-150.0     38.0          8.87    9.27    9.68   10.08   10.48   10.89   11.29   11.69
                 150.0-172.1     37.5          8.80    9.20    9.60   10.00   10.40   10.80   11.20   11.60
    94.3-143.6       0-100.0     39.5          9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33   10.74   11.16   11.57   11.98
                 100.0-114.7     40.0          9.17    9.58   10.00   10.42   10.83   11.25   11.67   12.08
                 114.7-150.0     41.0          9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59   11.02   11.44   11.86   12.29
                 150.0-172.1     40.0          9.17    9.58   10.00   10.42   10.83   11.25   11.67   12.08
                 172.1-294.6     42.5          9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87   11.30   11.74   12.17   12.61
   143.6-256.5   114.7-150.0     45.5         10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47   11.93   12.39   12.84   13.30
                 150.0-172.1     44.5          9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26   11.71   12.16   12.61   13.06
                 172.1-294.6     47.0         10.38   10.85   11.32   11.79   12.26   12.74   13.21   13.68
                  Over 294.6     44.5    2     9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26   11.71   12.16   12.61   13.06
    Over 256.5   172.1-294.6     50.5         11.11   11.62   12.12   12.63   13.13   13.64   14.14   14.65
                  Over 294.6     48.0    3    10.58   11.06   11.54   12.02   12.50   12.98   13.46   13.94
</TABLE>
 
  COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL      COMBINED
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED       STATE,
    TAXABLE        GROSS         LOCAL                     TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME      AND FEDERAL     --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%   6.75%   7.00%   7.25%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 23.4 $     0-100.0     25.0    %     7.33    7.67    8.00    8.33    8.67    9.00    9.33    9.67
                 100.0-114.7     25.5          7.38    7.72    8.05    8.39    8.72    9.06    9.40    9.73
    23.4- 56.6       0-100.0     36.5          8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84   10.24   10.63   11.02   11.42
                 100.0-114.7     37.0          8.73    9.13    9.52    9.92   10.32   10.71   11.11   11.51
    56.6-118.0       0-100.0     39.5          9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33   10.74   11.16   11.57   11.98
                 100.0-114.7     39.5          9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33   10.74   11.16   11.57   11.98
                 114.7-150.0     41.0          9.32    9.75   10.17   10.59   11.02   11.44   11.86   12.29
                 150.0-237.2     40.5          9.24    9.66   10.08   10.50   10.92   11.34   11.76   12.18
   118.0-256.5   114.7-150.0     45.5         10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47   11.93   12.39   12.84   13.30
                 150.0-237.2     45.5         10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47   11.93   12.39   12.84   13.30
                  Over 237.2     44.5    2     9.91   10.36   10.81   11.26   11.71   12.16   12.61   13.06
    Over 256.5    Over 237.2     48.0    3    10.58   11.06   11.54   12.02   12.50   12.98   13.46   13.94
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>         <C>
<FN>
- ------------------
      1  The table reflects the effect of the limitations on  itemized deductions and the deduction for personal exemptions. They
were designed to phase out certain benefits of these deductions for higher income taxpayers. These limitations, in effect,  raise
the  marginal Federal tax rate  to approximately 44.0 percent for  taxpayers filing a joint return  and entitled to four personal
exemptions and to approximately 41.0 percent for taxpayers filing a single return entitled to only one personal exemption.  These
limitations  are subject  to certain  maximums, which depend  on the  number of  exemptions claimed and  the total  amount of the
taxpayer's itemized deductions. For example, the  limitation on itemized deductions will not  cause a taxpayer to lose more  than
80% of his allowable itemized deductions, with certain exceptions. The table also reflects the New York State supplemental income
tax based upon a taxpayer's New York State taxable income and New York State adjusted gross income. This supplemental tax results
in  an increased marginal state income  tax rate to the extent  a taxpayer's New York State  adjusted gross income ranges between
$100,000 and $150,000. The  table does not, however,  reflect the amendments to  the New York State  income tax law that  imposes
limitations  on the deductibility of itemized deductions. The application of the New York State limitation on itemized deductions
may result in a higher combined Federal, State and local tax rate than indicated in the table. The table assumes for this purpose
that a taxpayer's New York State adjusted income equals his Federal adjusted gross income.
      2 Federal tax rate reverts to 36.0% after the 80% cap on the limitation on itemized deductions has been met.
      3 Federal tax rate reverts to 39.6% after the 80% cap on the limitation on itemized deductions has been met.
</TABLE>
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
    A comparison of  tax-free and equivalent  taxable estimated current  returns
with  the returns on various  taxable investments is one  element to consider in
making an  investment  decision.  The Sponsor  may  from  time to  time  in  its
advertising  and sales materials  compare the then  current estimated returns on
the Trust and returns over specified periods on other similar Nuveen Trusts with
returns on taxable investments such as corporate or U.S. Government bonds,  bank
CD's  and  money  market accounts  or  money  market funds,  each  of  which has
investment characteristics  that  may  differ  from those  of  the  Trust.  U.S.
Government  bonds, for example, are  backed by the full  faith and credit of the
U.S. Government and bank CD's and money market accounts are insured by an agency
of the federal government. Money market accounts and money market funds  provide
stability  of principal, but pay interest at  rates that vary with the condition
of the short-term debt market. The  investment characteristics of the Trust  are
described more fully elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
   
NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT DATE OF DEPOSIT
JANUARY 24, 1995
NEW YORK INSURED TRUST 230
(SERIES 780)
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          Ratings(3)           Trustee's
                                                                      Optional       ---------------------   Determination
 Aggregate        Name of Issuer and Title of Issue Represented      Redemption       Standard                of Offering
  Principal        by Sponsor's Contracts to Purchase Bonds(1)      Provisions(2)     & Poor's    Moody's      Price(4)
<C>          <C> <S>                                              <C>                <C>         <C>        <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$   600,000      Dormitory Authority of the State of New York,       2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa     $       609,516
                   City University System Consolidated, Third
                   General Resolution Revenue Bonds, 1994 Series
                   2, 6.75% Due 7/1/24.
    500,000      Dormitory Authority of the State of New York,       2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             464,705
                   Leake and Watts Services, Inc., Insured
                   Revenue Bonds, Series 1994, 6.00% Due 7/1/23.
    500,000      Dormitory Authority of the State of New York,       2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             435,410
                   State University Educational Facilities
                   Revenue Bonds, Series 1993 C, 5.375% Due
                   5/15/13.
    500,000      New York State Energy Research and Development      2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             461,545
                   Authority, Pollution Control Refunding
                   Revenue Bonds (New York State Electric & Gas
                   Corporation Project), 1994 Series A, 6.05%
                   Due 4/1/34.
    600,000      New York State Medical Care Facilities Finance      2005 at 102        AAA         Aaa             609,834
                   Agency, New York Hospital FHA-Insured
                   Mortgage Revenue Bonds, 1994 Series A, 6.80%
                   Due 8/15/24.
    500,000      New York State Urban Development Corporation,    No Optional Call      AAA         Aaa             438,560
                   Correctional Facilities Revenue Bonds, 1993A
                   Refunding Series, 5.50% Due 1/1/14.
    600,000      The City of New York, General Obligation Bonds,     2004 at 101        AAA         Aaa             628,338
                   Fiscal 1995 Series B, 7.25% Due 8/15/19.
    200,000      New York City (New York), Municipal Water         2004 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa             179,178
                   Finance Authority, Water and Sewer System
                   Revenue Bonds, Fixed Rate Fiscal 1994 Series
                   F, 5.75% Due 6/15/20.
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 4,000,000                                                                                                 $     3,827,086
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
 
See Notes to Schedules of Investments, page 48.
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
   
PENNSYLVANIA INSURED TRUST 193
    
 
   
    The  Portfolio of Pennsylvania  Insured Trust 193  consists of 6 obligations
issued by  entities located  in Pennsylvania  and one  obligation issued  by  an
entity  located in  the Territory  of Puerto Rico.  One Bond  in the  Trust is a
general obligation of the  governmental entity issuing it  and is backed by  the
taxing  power thereof. Six  Bonds in the  Trust are payable  as to principal and
interest from  the  income  of a  specific  project  or authority  and  are  not
supported  by the issuer's power to levy taxes. The sources of payment for these
bonds are  divided as  follows: College  and University  Revenue, 2;  Electrical
System  Revenue, 1; Health Care Facility Revenue, 2; Water and/or Sewer Revenue,
1. All of the Bonds in the Trust, as insured, are rated AAA by Standard & Poor's
Corporation and Aaa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
    
 
   
    At  the  Date  of  Deposit,  the  average  maturity  of  the  Bonds  in  the
Pennsylvania Insured Trust is 26.9 years. The average maturity of the Bonds in a
Trust  is calculated based upon the stated maturities of the Bonds in such Trust
(or, with respect to  Bonds for which  funds or securities  have been placed  in
escrow  to redeem such Bonds on a stated  call date, based upon such call date).
The average maturity of the Bonds in a Trust may increase or decrease from  time
to time as Bonds mature or are called or sold.
    
 
   
    Approximately  14.3% of the  aggregate principal amount of  the Bonds in the
Trust (accounting for approximately 11.8% of the aggregate offering price of the
Bonds)   are    original   issue    discount   bonds.    See   "GENERAL    TRUST
INFORMATION--ORIGINAL  ISSUE  DISCOUNT  BONDS AND  STRIPPED  OBLIGATIONS"  for a
discussion of the  characteristics of  such bonds  and of  the risks  associated
therewith.
    
 
    Approximately  29% of  the aggregate  principal amount  of the  Bonds in the
Trust consists of obligations  of issuers whose  revenues are primarily  derived
from  payments  to  colleges  and  universities,  including  tuition,  dormitory
revenues, grants and endorsements.
 
    Approximately 29% of  the aggregate  principal amount  of the  Bonds in  the
Trust  consists of obligations  of issuers whose  revenues are primarily derived
from services provided by hospitals or other health care facilities.
 
    For a discussion of  the risks associated with  investments in the bonds  of
various issuers, see "General Trust Information" in this section.
 
   
    The  Sponsor entered into contracts to acquire the Bonds between January 20,
1995 and January 23,  1995. The following  summarizes certain information  about
the Bonds as of the business day prior to the Date of Deposit:
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUSTEE'S
                                                               DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE AND
   COST TO    PROFIT (OR LOSS)   ANNUAL INTEREST   BID PRICE              THE BID PRICE
   SPONSOR       TO SPONSOR      INCOME TO TRUST    OF BONDS       (AS % OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT)
  ----------  -----------------  ----------------  ----------  -----------------------------------
  <S>         <C>                <C>               <C>         <C>
  $3,339,677       $14,063           $217,875      $3,336,240                 .50%
</TABLE>
 
    Neither   cost  to  Sponsor  nor  profit   (or  loss)  to  Sponsor  reflects
underwriting profits or losses received or  incurred by the Sponsor through  its
participation   in  underwriting  syndicates.  An  underwriter  or  underwriting
syndicate purchases bonds  from the issuer  on a negotiated  or competitive  bid
basis  as principal with  the motive of  marketing such bonds  to investors at a
profit. The Sponsor did not participate as  either the sole underwriter or as  a
manager  or member of a syndicate that  acted as the original underwriter of any
of the Bonds.
 
   
    Unitholders may  elect to  have interest  distributions made  on a  monthly,
quarterly or semi-annual basis. The interest on the Bonds initially deposited in
the  Pennsylvania Insured Trust, less estimated expenses, is estimated to accrue
at the rate of $.01679 per
    
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
   
Unit per day under  the semi-annual plan of  distribution, $.01673 per Unit  per
day  under the quarterly plan of distribution and $.01665 per Unit per day under
the monthly plan of distribution. It is anticipated that the amount of  interest
to  be distributed per  Unit in each  year under each  plan of distribution will
initially be substantially equal to the Estimated Net Annual Interest Income per
Unit for that plan.
    
 
    Details of interest distributions per Unit of the Pennsylvania Insured Trust
under the various plans appear in  the following table based upon estimated  Net
Annual Interest Income at the Date of Deposit:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                      NORMAL
                                                                                                  DISTRIBUTIONS
PENNSYLVANIA INSURED TRUST                                        1995                               PER YEAR
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>        <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
Record Date*..........................        3/1            5/1            8/1           11/1
Distribution Date.....................       3/15           5/15           8/15          11/15
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Distribution Plan.............  $   .6160(1)                                              $  5.9942
                                                        --------  $.4995 every month  --------
Quarterly Distribution Plan...........  $   .6160(1)   $  1.0038(2)   $  1.5057      $  1.5057    $  6.0262
Semi-Annual Distribution Plan.........  $   .6160(1)   $  1.0074(3)                  $  3.0222    $  6.0452
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
 *  Record Dates for semi-annual distributions are May 1 and November 1; for quarterly distributions, they are February 1, May 1,
   August 1 and November 1. Record Dates for monthly distributions are the first day of each month.
(1) The first distribution will be paid to all  Unitholders, regardless of the distribution plan selected. Such distribution  may
    be more or less than a regular monthly distribution.
(2)  The  second distribution  under the  quarterly distribution  plan  represents a  2-month distribution;  subsequent quarterly
    distributions will be regular 3-month distributions.
(3) The second distribution  under the semi-annual  distribution plan represents a  2-month distribution; subsequent  semi-annual
    distributions will be regular 6-month distributions.
</TABLE>
 
    The  accrual amounts set forth above, and  in turn the amount of interest to
be distributed annually per Unit, will  generally change as Bonds are  redeemed,
mature or are sold or as fees and expenses increase or decrease.
 
TAX STATUS--PENNSYLVANIA INSURED TRUST
 
    For  a discussion of the Federal tax status of income earned on Pennsylvania
Insured Trust Units, see Section 11.
 
    In the opinion of  Dechert Price & Rhoads,  special Pennsylvania counsel  to
the Series, under existing law:
 
        Units  evidencing  fractional  undivided interests  in  the Pennsylvania
    Insured Trust  are  not  subject  to any  of  the  personal  property  taxes
    presently  in effect in Pennsylvania to the extent of that proportion of the
    Trust represented by Bonds issued  by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,  its
    agencies  and  instrumentalities, or  by  any county,  city,  borough, town,
    township,  school  district,  municipality  and  local  housing  or  parking
    authority  in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or issued by Puerto Rico, the
    Virgin Islands, Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands ("Pennsylvania Bonds").
    The taxes referred to  above include the County  Personal Property Tax,  the
    additional  personal property taxes  imposed on Pittsburgh  residents by the
    School District of  Pittsburgh and by  the City of  Pittsburgh. The City  of
    Pittsburgh,  the School District  of Pittsburgh and  Allegheny County cannot
    impose personal property taxes as  of January 1, 1995. Pennsylvania  Insured
    Trust  Units may  be taxable under  the Pennsylvania  inheritance and estate
    taxes.
 
        The proportion  of interest  income  representing interest  income  from
    Pennsylvania  Bonds distributed  to Unitholders of  the Pennsylvania Insured
    Trust is not taxable under the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax or under the
    Corporate Net Income Tax  imposed on corporations by  Article IV of the  Tax
    Reform Code. Nor will such interest be taxable
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
    under  the  Philadelphia School  District Investment  Income Tax  imposed on
    Philadelphia resident individuals.
 
        The disposition by the Pennsylvania Insured Trust of a Pennsylvania Bond
    (whether by  sale, exchange,  redemption or  payment at  maturity) will  not
    constitute  a taxable event to a  Unitholder under the Pennsylvania Personal
    Income Tax if the  Pennsylvania Bond was issued  prior to February 1,  1994.
    Further, although there is no published authority on the subject, counsel is
    of  the opinion that (i) a Unitholder of the Pennsylvania Insured Trust will
    not have a taxable event under the Pennsylvania state and local income taxes
    referred to in the preceding paragraph (other than the Corporate Net  Income
    Tax)  upon  the  redemption or  sale  of his  Unit  to the  extent  that the
    Pennsylvania Insured Trust  is then comprised  of Pennsylvania Bonds  issued
    prior  to February  1, 1994  and (ii)  the dispositions  by the Pennsylvania
    Insured Trust of a Pennsylvania Bond (whether by sale, exchange,  redemption
    or  payment at maturity) will not constitute a taxable event to a Unitholder
    under the  Corporate Net  Income  Tax or  the Philadelphia  School  District
    Investment  Income Tax if the Pennsylvania Bond was issued prior to February
    1, 1994.  (The  School  District tax  has  no  application to  gain  on  the
    disposition of property held by the taxpayer for more than six months.)
 
        Gains  on the  sale, exchange, redemption,  or payment at  maturity of a
    Pennsylvania Bond issued on or after February 1, 1994, will be taxable under
    all of these taxes, as will gains on the redemption or sale of a unit to the
    extent that the Trust is comprised of Pennsylvania Bonds issued on or  after
    February 1, 1994.
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS--PENNSYLVANIA
 
    RISK   FACTORS--Prospective   investors   should   consider   the  financial
difficulties and pressures which the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and certain of
its municipal subdivisions have undergone. Both the Commonwealth and the City of
Philadelphia have historically experienced significant revenue shortfalls. There
can be no assurance that the  Commonwealth will not experience further  declines
in  economic conditions or that portions  of the municipal obligations purchased
by the Fund  will not  be affected  by such  declines. Without  intending to  be
complete,  the following briefly  summarizes some of  these difficulties and the
current financial situation, as  well as some of  the complex factors  affecting
the financial situation in the Commonwealth. It is derived from sources that are
generally  available to investors  and is based in  part on information obtained
from various agencies in the Commonwealth. No independent verification has  been
made of the following information.
 
    STATE  ECONOMY--Pennsylvania  has been  historically  identified as  a heavy
industry state although that reputation  has changed recently as the  industrial
composition  of the Commonwealth  diversified when the  coal, steel and railroad
industries began to decline. The major new sources of growth in the Commonwealth
are in the  service sector, including  trade, medical and  the health  services,
education and financial institutions. The Commonwealth's agricultural industries
are  also an important component of  its economic structure, accounting for more
than $3.6 billion in crop and livestock products annually while agribusiness and
food related industries support $38 billion in economic activity annually.
 
    Non-agricultural employment within the  Commonwealth has increased  steadily
from  1984 to its 1992 level of 81.3  percent of total employment. The growth in
employment experienced  in  the Commonwealth  is  comparable to  the  nationwide
growth   in  employment  which  has  occurred   during  this  period.  In  1993,
manufacturing  employment  represented  18.4  percent  of  all   nonagricultural
employment  in the  Commonwealth while  the services  sector accounted  for 29.9
percent and the trade sector accounted for 22.4 percent.
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
    The Commonwealth recently experienced a  slowdown in its economy.  Moreover,
economic  strengths and weaknesses vary in  different parts of the Commonwealth.
In general,  heavy  industry  and  manufacturing  have  been  facing  increasing
competition from foreign producers. During 1993, the annual average unemployment
rate  in the Commonwealth was 7.0 percent compared to 6.8 percent for the United
States. For October 1994 the unadjusted unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in the
Commonwealth and 5.4 percent in the United States, while the seasonally adjusted
unemployment rate for the Commonwealth was 6.0 percent and for the United States
was 5.8 percent.
 
    STATE BUDGET--The  Commonwealth operates  under an  annual budget  which  is
formulated and submitted for legislative approval by the Governor each February.
The  Pennsylvania  Constitution  requires that  the  Governor's  budget proposal
consist of three parts: (i) a  balanced operating budget setting forth  proposed
expenditures  and estimated revenues from all sources and, if estimated revenues
and available surplus are less than proposed expenditures, recommending specific
additional sources of revenue sufficient to  pay the deficiency; (ii) a  capital
budget  setting forth proposed expenditures to  be financed from the proceeds of
obligations of the  Commonwealth or its  agencies or from  operating funds;  and
(iii) a financial plan for not less than the succeeding five fiscal years, which
includes  for each year projected  operating expenditures and estimated revenues
and projected expenditures for capital  projects. The General Assembly may  add,
change  or delete  any items  in the  budget prepared  by the  Governor, but the
Governor retains veto  power over  the individual appropriations  passed by  the
legislature.  The Commonwealth's fiscal year  begins on July 1  and ends on June
30.
 
    All funds  received by  the  Commonwealth are  subject to  appropriation  in
specific  amounts by the  General Assembly or by  executive authorization by the
Governor. Total appropriations enacted  by the General  Assembly may not  exceed
the  ensuing  year's estimated  revenues,  plus (less)  the  unappropriated fund
balance (deficit) of the preceding year, except for constitutionally  authorized
debt  service payments. Appropriations from the principal operating funds of the
Commonwealth (the General  Fund, the Motor  License Fund and  the State  Lottery
Fund)  are  generally  made  for  one  fiscal  year  and  are  returned  to  the
unappropriated surplus of the fund if not spent or encumbered by the end of  the
fiscal year. The Constitution specifies that a surplus of operating funds at the
end of a fiscal year must be appropriated for the ensuing year.
 
    Pennsylvania   uses  the  "fund"  method  of  accounting  for  receipts  and
disbursements. For purposes of government accounting, a "fund" is an independent
fiscal and accounting entity  with a self-balancing  set of accounts,  recording
cash  and/or other resources together with  all related liabilities and equities
that are  segregated for  the  purpose of  carrying  on specific  activities  or
attaining  certain objectives in accordance with the fund's special regulations,
restrictions or  limitations. In  the  Commonwealth, over  150 funds  have  been
established  by  legislative enactment  or  in certain  cases  by administrative
action for the  purpose of  recording the  receipts and  disbursement of  moneys
received  by the Commonwealth.  Annual budgets are adopted  each fiscal year for
the principal  operating funds  of the  Commonwealth and  several other  special
revenue  funds. Expenditures  and encumbrances against  these funds  may only be
made pursuant  to appropriation  measures enacted  by the  General Assembly  and
approved  by the  Governor. The General  Fund, the  Commonwealth's largest fund,
receives all tax revenues, non-tax revenues and federal grants and  entitlements
that  are not specified  by law to  be deposited elsewhere.  The majority of the
Commonwealth's operating  and  administrative  expenses  are  payable  from  the
General  Fund. Debt service on all bond indebtedness of the Commonwealth, except
that issued for  highway purposes or  for the benefit  of other special  revenue
funds, is payable from the General Fund.
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
    Financial  information for the principal operating funds of the Commonwealth
are maintained on a budgetary basis of accounting, which is used for the purpose
of ensuring compliance with the enacted operating budget. The Commonwealth  also
prepares  annual  financial  statements in  accordance  with  generally accepted
accounting principles ("GAAP"). Budgetary basis financial reports are based on a
modified cash basis  of accounting  as opposed to  a modified  accrual basis  of
accounting  prescribed  by GAAP.  Financial  information is  adjusted  at fiscal
year-end to reflect appropriate accruals  for financial reporting in  conformity
with GAAP.
 
    RECENT  FINANCIAL  RESULTS--From fiscal  1984,  when the  Commonwealth first
prepared its financial  statements on  a GAAP  basis, through  fiscal 1989,  the
Commonwealth  reported a  positive unreserved-undesignated fund  balance for its
governmental fund types at each fiscal year end. Slowing economic growth  during
1990, leading to a national economic recession beginning in fiscal 1991, reduced
revenue   growth  and   increased  expenditures  and   contributed  to  negative
unreserved-undesignated fund balances  at the end  of the 1990  and 1991  fiscal
years.  The  negative unreserved-undesignated  fund balance  was due  largely to
operating deficits in the General Fund  and the State Lottery Fund during  those
fiscal  years. Actions taken during  fiscal 1992 to bring  the General Fund back
into balance, including tax increases and expenditure restraints, resulted in  a
$1.1  billion reduction to the unreserved-undesignated fund deficit for combined
governmental fund  types at  June 30,  1993, as  a result  of a  $420.4  million
increase  in  the balance.  These gains  were produced  by continued  efforts to
control expenditure growth.  The Combined  Balance Sheet  as of  June 30,  1993,
showed  total fund  balance and  other credits  for the  total governmental fund
types of $1,959.9 million,  a $732.1 million increase  from the balance at  June
30,  1992. During  fiscal 1993,  total assets  increased by  $1,296.7 million to
$7,096.4  million,  while  liabilities  increased  $564.6  million  to  $5,136.5
million.
 
    FISCAL 1991 FINANCIAL RESULTS--The Commonwealth experienced a $453.6 million
general  fund  deficit  as of  the  end of  its  1991 fiscal  year.  The deficit
reflected higher than  budgeted expenditures,  below-estimate economic  activity
and  growth rates of economic indicators  and total tax revenue shortfalls below
those assumed in the enacted budget.
 
    Rising  demands  on  state  programs  caused  by  the  economic   recession,
particularly  for  medical  assistance  and cash  assistance  programs,  and the
increased costs  of special  education programs  and correction  facilities  and
programs,  contributed  to  increased  expenditures in  fiscal  1991,  while tax
revenues for  the  1991 fiscal  year  were  severely affected  by  the  economic
recession.  Total corporation tax receipts and sales and use tax receipts during
fiscal 1991  were,  respectively, 7.3  percent  and 0.9  percent  below  amounts
collected during fiscal 1990. Personal income tax receipts also were affected by
the  recession but  not to  the extent  of the  other major  General Fund taxes,
increasing only 2.0 percent over fiscal 1990 collections.
 
    A  number  of  actions  were  taken  throughout  the  fiscal  year  by   the
Commonwealth  to mitigate  the effects of  the recession on  budget revenues and
expenditures. The  Commonwealth  initiated  a number  of  cost-saving  measures,
including  the  firing  of  2,000 state  employees,  deferral  of  paychecks and
reduction of funds to state  universities, which resulted in approximately  $871
million cost savings.
 
    FISCAL 1992 FINANCIAL RESULTS--Actions taken during fiscal 1992 to bring the
General  Fund budget back into balance,  including tax increases and expenditure
restraints resulted in a $1.1 billion reduction for the  unreserved-undesignated
fund  deficit for combined  governmental fund types  and a return  to a positive
fund balance.  Total  General  Fund  revenues for  fiscal  1992  were  $14,516.8
million,    which   is    approximately   22   percent    higher   than   fiscal
 
                                       42
<PAGE>
1991 revenues  of $11,877.3  million due  in large  part to  tax increases.  The
increased  revenues funded  substantial increases in  education, social services
and corrections  programs.  As  a  result  of  the  tax  increases  and  certain
appropriation  lapses,  fiscal 1992  ended with  an  $8.8 million  surplus after
having started the year with an  unappropriated General Fund balance deficit  of
$453.6 million.
 
    FISCAL  1993 FINANCIAL RESULTS--Fiscal 1993 closed with revenues higher than
anticipated and expenditures approximately as projected, resulting in an  ending
unappropriated  balance surplus of  $242.3 million. A  deduction in the personal
income tax  rate  in  July  1992  and the  one-time  receipt  of  revenues  from
retroactive  corporate tax increases  in fiscal 1992  were responsible, in part,
for the low growth in fiscal 1993.
 
    FISCAL 1994 FINANCIAL RESULTS--Commonwealth revenues during the 1994  fiscal
year  totaled $15,210.7 million,  $38.6 million above  the fiscal year estimate,
and 3.9 percent  over commonwealth  revenues during  the 1993  fiscal year.  The
sales  tax was an  important contributor to the  higher than estimated revenues.
The strength of collections  from the sales tax  offset the lower than  budgeted
performance  of the personal  income tax that  ended the 1994  fiscal year $74.4
million below estimate. The shortfall in the personal income tax was largely due
to shortfalls in income not subject  to withholding such as interest,  dividends
and  other income. Expenditures, excluding pooled financing expenditures and net
of all fiscal 1994 appropriation lapses, totaled $14,934.4 million  representing
a  7.2 percent  increase over fiscal  1993 expenditures.  Medical assistance and
prisons spending contributed to the rate of spending growth for the 1994  fiscal
year.  The Commonwealth maintained an operating balance on a budgetary basis for
fiscal 1994  producing a  fiscal year  ending unappropriated  surplus of  $335.8
million.
 
    FISCAL  1995 BUDGET--On June  16, 1994, the Governor  signed a $15.7 billion
general fund budget, an  increase of over  3.9% from the  Fiscal 1994 budget.  A
substantial   amount  of  the  increase   is  targeted  for  medical  assistance
expenditures, reform of the state-funded public assistance program and education
subsidies to local  school districts.  The budget also  includes tax  reductions
totaling  an estimated $166.4 million benefiting principally low income families
and corporations. The fiscal 1995 budget  projects a $4 million fiscal  year-end
unappropriated surplus.
 
    DEBT  LIMITS AND OUTSTANDING DEBT--The Pennsylvania Constitution permits the
issuance of the following  types of debt: (i)  debt to suppress insurrection  or
rehabilitate  areas affected by  disaster; (ii) electorate  approved debt; (iii)
debt for capital projects subject to an aggregate outstanding debt limit of 1.75
times the annual average  tax revenues of the  preceding five fiscal years;  and
(iv) tax anticipation notes payable in the fiscal year of issuance.
 
    Under the Pennsylvania Fiscal Code, the Auditor General is required annually
to  certify  to  the  Governor  and  the  General  Assembly  certain information
regarding the  Commonwealth's indebtedness.  According to  the August  31,  1994
Auditor  General certificate, the  average annual tax  revenues deposited in all
funds in  the five  fiscal years  ended June  30, 1994  was $16.5  billion,  and
therefore,  the net debt limitation  for the 1995 fiscal  year is $28.8 billion.
Outstanding net debt totaled $4.0 billion at June 30, 1994, the same as the  net
debt  at June 30, 1993. At August 31, 1994, the amount of debt authorized by law
to be issued, but not yet incurred was $15.0 billion.
 
    DEBT RATINGS--All outstanding general  obligation bonds of the  Commonwealth
are rated AA- by S&P and A1 by Moody's.
 
    CITY   OF   PHILADELPHIA--The   City   of   Philadelphia   (the   "City"  or
"Philadelphia")  is  the   largest  city  in   the  Commonwealth.   Philadelphia
experienced a series of general fund deficits
 
                                       43
<PAGE>
for  fiscal years 1988 through 1992 which  have culminated in the City's present
serious financial  difficulties.  In  its 1992  Comprehensive  Annual  Financial
Report, Philadelphia reported a cumulative general fund deficit of $71.4 million
for fiscal year 1992.
 
    In  June  1991, the  Pennsylvania  legislature established  the Pennsylvania
Intergovernmental Cooperation  Authority  ("PICA"), a  five-member  board  which
oversees  the  fiscal  affairs  of the  City  of  Philadelphia.  The Legislation
empowers PICA  to issue  notes and  bonds on  behalf of  Philadelphia, and  also
authorizes  Philadelphia to levy  a one-percent sales tax  the proceeds of which
would be used  to pay off  the bonds.  In return for  PICA's fiscal  assistance,
Philadelphia is required, among other things, to establish a five-year financial
plans   that  include  balanced  annual   budgets.  Under  the  legislation,  if
Philadelphia does  not comply  with such  requirements, PICA  may withhold  bond
revenues and certain state funding.
 
    At  this time, the City is operating  under a five-year fiscal plan approved
by PICA on April 6, 1992. Full implementation of the five-year plan was  delayed
due  to labor  negotiations that  were not  completed until  October 1992, three
months after the expiration  of the old  labor contracts. The  terms of the  new
labor  contracts are  estimated to cost  approximately $144.4  million more than
what was budgeted in the original five-year plan. An amended five-year plan  was
approved  by  PICA in  May  1993. The  Mayor's  latest update  of  the five-year
financial plan was approved by PICA on May 2, 1994.
 
    On June 5,  1992, PICA sold  approximately $480 million  in bonds at  yields
ranging  from 5.25 percent to 6.88 percent.  The proceeds of the bonds were used
to cover shortfalls accumulated over  fiscal years 1988 through 1991,  projected
deficits for fiscal years 1992 and 1993, construction projects and other capital
expenditures. In accordance with the enabling legislation, PICA was guaranteed a
percentage  of the wage  tax revenue expected to  be collected from Philadelphia
residents to permit repayment of the bonds.  In July 1993 and August 1993,  PICA
issued  $643.4 million and $178.7 million,  respectively, of special Tax Revenue
Bonds to  refund  certain general  obligation  bonds of  the  City and  to  fund
additional capital projects.
 
    In  January 1993, Philadelphia anticipated  a cumulative general fund budget
deficit of $57 million for the 1993 fiscal year. In response to the  anticipated
deficit,  the Mayor unveiled a financial plan eliminating the budget deficit for
the 1993 budget year  through significant service cuts  that included a plan  to
privatize  certain city  provided services. Due  to an upsurge  in tax receipts,
cost-cutting and  additional PICA  borrowings, Philadelphia  completed the  1993
fiscal  year with a balanced general fund  budget. The audit findings for fiscal
1993 show a surplus of  approximately $3 million of  the fiscal year ended  June
30, 1993.
 
    In  January 1994, the Mayor proposed a $2.3 billion city general fund budget
that included no  tax increases,  no significant service  cuts and  a series  of
modest  health  and welfare  program  increases. At  that  time, the  Mayor also
unveiled a $2.2 billion program  (the "Philadelphia Economic Stimulus  Program")
designed  to stimulate Philadelphia's economy and stop  the loss of 1,000 jobs a
month. However, the success  of the Philadelphia  Economic Stimulus Program  has
been predicated upon several contingencies including, among others, $250 million
in  revenues from riverboat gambling over the next three years, which first must
be approved by the state legislature,  and $100 million in federal  "empowerment
zone"  subsidies, which Philadelphia may or may not receive. As of January 1994,
the 1994  general fund  budget was  running at  a deficit  of approximately  $10
million.  The Mayor has predicted that the  general fund will be balanced by the
end of the 1994 fiscal  year. The fiscal 1994 budget  projects no deficit and  a
balanced budget for the year ended June 30, 1994.
 
                                       44
<PAGE>
    The  Standard & Poor's Corporation rating on Philadelphia general obligation
bonds is "BB." The Moody's Investors Service rating is currently "Ba."
 
    LITIGATION--The Commonwealth is  a party  to numerous lawsuits  in which  an
adverse  final decision could materially  affect the Commonwealth's governmental
operations and consequently its ability to pay debt service on its  obligations.
The  Commonwealth also faces tort claims made  possible by the limited waiver of
sovereign immunity effected by Act 152, approved September 28, 1978.
 
PENNSYLVANIA TAXABLE ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN TABLE
 
    The following tables show the approximate taxable estimated current  returns
for  individuals  that are  equivalent to  tax-exempt estimated  current returns
under combined Federal and  state taxes, using  published 1995 marginal  Federal
tax  rates and marginal state tax rates  currently available and scheduled to be
in  effect.  The  tables  incorporate  increased  tax  rates  for  higher-income
taxpayers  that were  included in  the Revenue  Reconciliation Act  of 1993. For
cases in which more than one state  bracket falls within a Federal bracket,  the
highest  state bracket is combined with  the Federal bracket. The combined state
and Federal tax  brackets shown  reflect the fact  that state  tax payments  are
currently  deductible for Federal  tax purposes. The  tables illustrate what you
would have to  earn on  taxable investments  to equal  the tax-exempt  estimated
current  return for your income  tax bracket. A taxpayer's  marginal tax rate is
affected by both his taxable income  and his adjusted gross income. Locate  your
adjusted  gross and  your taxable  income (which  is your  adjusted gross income
reduced by any deductions and exemptions), then locate your tax bracket based on
joint or single  tax filing.  Read across  to the  equivalent taxable  estimated
current return you would need to match the tax-free income.
 
                                       45
<PAGE>
 COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR JOINT TAXPAYERS WITH FOUR PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS      STATE* AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%   6.75%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 39.0 $     0-114.7      17.5   %     6.06    6.36    6.67    6.97    7.27    7.58    7.88    8.18
    39.0- 94.3       0-114.7      30.0         7.14    7.50    7.86    8.21    8.57    8.93    9.29    9.64
                 114.7-172.1      31.0         7.25    7.61    7.97    8.33    8.70    9.06    9.42    9.78
    94.3-143.6       0-114.7      33.0         7.46    7.84    8.21    8.58    8.96    9.33    9.70   10.07
                 114.7-172.1      34.0         7.58    7.95    8.33    8.71    9.09    9.47    9.85   10.23
                 172.1-294.6      36.5         7.87    8.27    8.66    9.06    9.45    9.84   10.24   10.63
   143.6-256.5   114.7-172.1      39.0         8.20    8.61    9.02    9.43    9.84   10.25   10.66   11.07
                 172.1-294.6      41.5         8.55    8.97    9.40    9.83   10.26   10.68   11.11   11.54
                  Over 294.6      39.0   2     8.20    8.61    9.02    9.43    9.84   10.25   10.66   11.07
    Over 256.5   172.1-294.6      45.5         9.17    9.63   10.09   10.55   11.01   11.47   11.93   12.39
                  Over 294.6      42.5   3     8.70    9.13    9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87   11.30   11.74
</TABLE>
 
  COMBINED MARGINAL TAX RATES FOR SINGLE TAXPAYERS WITH ONE PERSONAL EXEMPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  FEDERAL
    FEDERAL      ADJUSTED      COMBINED
    TAXABLE        GROSS      STATE* AND                   TAX-EXEMPT ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN
    INCOME        INCOME        FEDERAL       --------------------------------------------------------------
   (1,000'S)     (1,000'S)     TAX RATE1      5.00%   5.25%   5.50%   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%   6.50%   6.75%
 ------------- -------------  -----------     ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 <S>           <C>            <C>             <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 $     0- 23.4 $     0-114.7      17.5         6.06    6.36    6.67    6.97    7.27    7.58    7.88    8.18
    23.4- 56.6       0-114.7      30.0         7.14    7.50    7.86    8.21    8.57    8.93    9.29    9.64
    56.6-118.0       0-114.7      33.0         7.46    7.84    8.21    8.58    8.96    9.33    9.70   10.07
                 114.7-237.2      34.5         7.63    8.02    8.40    8.78    9.16    9.54    9.92   10.31
   118.0-256.5   114.7-237.2      39.5         8.26    8.68    9.09    9.50    9.92   10.33   10.74   11.16
                  Over 237.2      39.0   2     8.20    8.61    9.02    9.43    9.84   10.25   10.66   11.07
    Over 256.5    Over 237.2      42.5   3     8.70    9.13    9.57   10.00   10.43   10.87   11.30   11.74
<FN>
- ------------------
      1  The table reflects the effect of the limitations on  itemized deductions and the deduction for personal exemptions. They
were designed to phase out certain benefits of these deductions for higher income taxpayers. These limitations, in effect,  raise
the  current maximum marginal Federal tax rate to approximately 44.0  percent for taxpayers filing a joint return and entitled to
four personal exemptions and to  approximately 41.0 percent for  taxpayers filing a single return  entitled to only one  personal
exemption.  These limitations are  subject to certain maximums,  which depend on  the number of exemptions  claimed and the total
amount of the taxpayer's itemized  deductions. For example, the  limitation on itemized deductions will  not cause a taxpayer  to
lose more than 80% of his allowable itemized deductions, with certain exceptions.
      2 Federal tax rate reverts to 36.0% after the 80% cap on the limitation on itemized deductions has been met.
      3 Federal tax rate reverts to 39.6% after the 80% cap on the limitation on itemized deductions has been met.
</TABLE>
 
    A  comparison of tax-free  and equivalent taxable  estimated current returns
with the returns on  various taxable investments is  one element to consider  in
making  an  investment  decision. The  Sponsor  may  from time  to  time  in its
advertising and sales materials  compare the then  current estimated returns  on
the Trust and returns over specified periods on other similar Nuveen Trusts with
returns  on taxable investments such as corporate or U.S. Government bonds, bank
CD's and  money  market  accounts or  money  market  funds, each  of  which  has
investment  characteristics  that  may  differ from  those  of  the  Trust. U.S.
Government bonds, for example, are  backed by the full  faith and credit of  the
U.S. Government and bank CD's and money market accounts are insured by an agency
of  the federal government. Money market accounts and money market funds provide
stability of principal, but pay interest  at rates that vary with the  condition
of  the short-term debt market. The  investment characteristics of the Trust are
described more fully elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
                                       46
<PAGE>
   
NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT DATE OF DEPOSIT
JANUARY 24, 1995
PENNSYLVANIA INSURED TRUST 193
(SERIES 780)
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          Ratings(3)           Trustee's
                                                                      Optional       ---------------------   Determination
 Aggregate        Name of Issuer and Title of Issue Represented      Redemption       Standard                of Offering
  Principal        by Sponsor's Contracts to Purchase Bonds(1)      Provisions(2)     & Poor's    Moody's      Price(4)
<C>          <C> <S>                                              <C>                <C>         <C>        <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$   500,000      Allegheny County Hospital Development               2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa     $       440,450
                   Authority, Pennsylvania, Hospital Revenue
                   Bonds, Series 1993 (Magee-Womens Hospital),
                   5.625% Due 10/1/23.
    500,000      Lehigh County Industrial Development Authority,     2004 at 102        AAA         Aaa             489,735
                   Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds,
                   1994 Series B (Pennsylvania Power & Light
                   Company Project), 6.40% Due 9/1/29.
    500,000      Montgomery County Higher Education and Health       2002 at 102        AAA         Aaa             500,000
                   Authority, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania,
                   Saint Joseph's University Revenue Bonds,
                   Series of 1992, 6.50% Due 12/15/22.
    500,000      North Wales Water Authority (Montgomery County,     2004 at 100        AAA         Aaa             512,500
                   Pennsylvania), Water Revenue Bonds, Series of
                   1994, 6.75% Due 11/1/17.
    500,000      The Hospitals and Higher Education Facilities       2003 at 102        AAA         Aaa             395,890
                   Authority of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
                   Hospital Revenue Refunding Bonds (The
                   Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Project),
                   Series A of 1993, 5.00% Due 2/15/21.
                   (Original issue discount bonds delivered on
                   or about June 29, 1993 at a price of 89.369%
                   of principal amount.)
    500,000      Scranton-Lackawanna Health and Welfare              2003 at 100        AAA         Aaa             513,195
                   Authority, City of Scranton, Lackawanna
                   County, Pennsylvania, University Revenue
                   Bonds, Series of 1994 (University of Scranton
                   Project), 6.80% Due 11/1/14.
    500,000      Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Improvement   2004 at 101 1/2      AAA         Aaa             501,970
                   Bonds of 1994 (General Obligation Bonds),
                   6.50% Due 7/1/23.
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
$ 3,500,000                                                                                                 $     3,353,740
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
- -----------                                                                                                 ---------------
</TABLE>
 
See Notes to Schedules of Investments, page 48.
 
                                       47
<PAGE>
NOTES TO SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS
 
    (1) Contracts,  which  are  "when-issued"  or  "regular  way"  contracts  or
        contracts having delivery dates beyond the normal settlement date,  have
        been  deposited with the Trustee on the Date of Deposit. The performance
        of such contracts is secured by an irrevocable letter of credit,  issued
        by  a major commercial bank, which  has been deposited with the Trustee.
        At the Date  of Deposit, Bonds  may have been  delivered to the  Sponsor
        pursuant  to certain of these contracts; the Sponsor has assigned to the
        Trustee all of its right, title and interest in and to such Bonds.
 
    (2) The Bonds are first subject to optional redemption in the years, and  at
        the  prices, shown.  Unless otherwise  indicated, the  Bonds, except for
        Bonds issued at a substantial original issue discount, are redeemable at
        declining prices (but not below par value) in subsequent years. Original
        issue  discount  bonds,  including  zero  coupon  bonds,  are  generally
        redeemable  at  prices  based on  the  issue  price plus  the  amount of
        original issue discount accreted to redemption plus, if applicable, some
        premium, the amount of which will decline in subsequent years. The Bonds
        may also be subject to sinking fund redemption without premium prior  to
        the dates shown.
 
        Certain  Bonds may be subject to redemption without premium prior to the
        date shown  pursuant  to  special  or  mandatory  call  provisions;  for
        example,  if bond proceeds are not able  to be used as contemplated, the
        project is condemned or sold, or the project is destroyed and  insurance
        proceeds  are used to  redeem the bonds.  Single family mortgage revenue
        bonds and housing authority bonds are  most likely to be called  subject
        to  such provisions, but other bonds may have similar call features. See
        Section 4 and "General Trust Information" in this Section.
 
        The Trustee's determination of the offering prices of Bonds in the  Fund
        may  be  greater or  less than  the  amounts that  may be  received upon
        redemption or  maturity  of  such Bonds.  Subject  to  rules  concerning
        amortization  of bond  premium and of  original issue  discount, gain or
        loss realized  by  the Trustee  on  disposition  of any  Bonds  will  be
        recognized  as taxable capital gain or loss by Unitholders. (See Section
        4.)
 
    (3) See "Description  of  Ratings" herein.  All  the Bonds  in  the  Insured
        Trusts,  as insured by the  Insurer, are rated AAA  by Standard & Poor's
        Corporation and Aaa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. (See Section 5.)
 
    (4) As determined by  Kenny S&P  Evaluation Services,  a division  of J.  J.
        Kenny Co., Inc., on behalf of the Trustee as of the close of business on
        the business day preceding the Date of Deposit. The prices as determined
        by  Kenny S&P Evaluation Services, a division  of J. J. Kenny Co., Inc.,
        have been rounded to the nearest dollar.
 
                                       48
<PAGE>
                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
     TO THE  BOARD OF  DIRECTORS  OF JOHN  NUVEEN  & CO.  INCORPORATED  AND
     UNITHOLDERS OF NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 780:
    
 
   
       We  have audited  the accompanying  statements of  condition and the
     related schedules of investments at  date of deposit (included in  the
     prospectus  herein)  of  Nuveen  Tax-Exempt  Unit  Trust,  Series  780
     (comprising Connecticut  Traditional  Trust 271,  New  Jersey  Insured
     Trust  186, New York Insured Trust  230 and Pennsylvania Insured Trust
     193), as  of January  24,  1995. These  financial statements  are  the
     responsibility  of the  Sponsor. Our  responsibility is  to express an
     opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
    
 
       We conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted
     auditing  standards. Those standards require  that we plan and perform
     the audit to obtain reasonable  assurance about whether the  financial
     statements  are  free  of  material  misstatement.  An  audit includes
     examining, on  a  test  basis, evidence  supporting  the  amounts  and
     disclosures  in  the  financial  statements.  Our  procedures included
     confirmation of the irrevocable letter  of credit arrangement for  the
     purchase  of securities,  described in Note  (1) to  the statements of
     condition, by correspondence with the Trustee. An audit also  includes
     assessing  the  accounting principles  used and  significant estimates
     made by  the Sponsor,  as  well as  evaluating the  overall  financial
     statement   presentation.  We  believe  that   our  audits  provide  a
     reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
   
       In  our  opinion,  the  statements  of  condition  and  the  related
     schedules  of investments at date of deposit referred to above present
     fairly, in all material  respects, the financial  position of each  of
     the  trusts constituting the Nuveen  Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 780
     as  of  January  24,  1995,  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted
     accounting principles.
    
 
                                                        ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
   
     Chicago, Illinois,
     January 24, 1995.
    
 
                                       49
<PAGE>
                            Statements of Condition
   
                    NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 780
    
   
   (Connecticut Traditional Trust 271, New Jersey Insured Trust 186, New York
             Insured Trust 230 and Pennsylvania Insured Trust 193)
    
   
                             AS OF JANUARY 24, 1995
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            CONNECTICUT         NEW JERSEY           NEW YORK          PENNSYLVANIA
                                            TRADITIONAL           INSURED             INSURED             INSURED
    TRUST PROPERTY                           TRUST 271           TRUST 186           TRUST 230           TRUST 193
<S>                                       <C>                 <C>                 <C>                 <C>
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
Sponsor's contracts to purchase Tax-
 Exempt Bonds, backed by an irrevocable
 letter of credit(1)(2).................  $     3,378,001     $     3,327,835     $     3,827,086     $     3,353,740
Accrued interest to January 24, 1995 on
  underlying Bonds(1)...................           47,168              32,854              41,551              48,330
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
            Total.......................  $     3,425,169     $     3,360,689     $     3,868,637     $     3,402,070
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
   LIABILITY AND INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS
LIABILITY:
    Accrued interest to January 24, 1995
      on underlying Bonds(3)............  $        47,168     $        32,854     $        41,551     $        48,330
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS:
    Units of fractional undivided
      interest outstanding (Connecticut
      Traditional Trust 271--35,000; New
      Jersey Insured Trust 186--35,000;
      New York Insured Trust 230--
      40,000; Pennsylvania Insured Trust
      193--35,000)
      Cost to investors(4)..............  $     3,552,036     $     3,499,285     $     4,024,257     $     3,526,525
        Less: Gross underwriting
          commission(5).................         (174,035)           (171,450)           (197,171)           (172,785)
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
    Net amount applicable to
      investors.........................  $     3,378,001     $     3,327,835     $     3,827,086     $     3,353,740
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
            Total.......................  $     3,425,169     $     3,360,689     $     3,868,637     $     3,402,070
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
                                          ---------------     ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
<FN>
(1)  Represented by contracts  to purchase Tax-Exempt  Bonds which include "when  issued" or "regular  way" or "delayed delivery"
    contracts for which an irrevocable letter of  credit issued by a major commercial  bank has been deposited with the  Trustee.
    The  amount of such letter of credit and  any cash deposited exceeds the amount necessary  for the purchase of the Bonds plus
    accrued interest to the Date of  Deposit. At the Date of  Deposit, Bonds may have been  delivered to the Sponsor pursuant  to
    certain  of these contracts; the  Sponsor has assigned to  the Trustee all of  its rights, title and  interest in and to such
    Bonds.
(2) Aggregate value (at offering prices) as of the Date  of Deposit of the Bonds listed under "Schedules of Investments"  herein,
    and their aggregate cost to the Trusts are the same. Such offering prices were determined by Kenny S&P Evaluation Services as
    of the close of business on the business day prior to the Date of Deposit. (See Section 10.) Insurance coverage providing for
    the  timely payment, when due, of all principal  of and interest on the Bonds in  the Insured Trusts has been obtained by the
    Sponsor or by the issuers of such Bonds. Such insurance does not guarantee the market value of the Bonds or the value of  the
    Units.  Both the bid and the offering prices of the underlying  Bonds and of the Units may include value attributable to such
    policies of insurance.
(3) Representing, as set forth in Section 8, advancement by the Trustee of an amount equal to the accrued Bond interest as of the
    Date of Deposit from the later of the last payment date on the Bonds or the date of issuance thereof.
(4) Aggregate Public Offering Price (exclusive of accrued interest) computed as set forth under Section 6.
(5) The gross underwriting commission has been calculated on the assumption that the Units offered by this prospectus are sold in
    single transactions involving less than $50,000 or 500 Units. At this level, the sales charge is 4.90% of the Public Offering
    Price in the case of National and State Trusts, 4.25% thereof  in the case of Long Intermediate Trusts, 3.90% in the case  of
    Intermediate  Trusts, 3.00% in the case  of Short Intermediate Trusts and  2.50% in the case of  Short Term Trusts. In single
    transactions involving 500 Units or more, the sales charge is reduced. (See Section 6.)
</TABLE>
 
                                       50
<PAGE>
GENERAL TRUST INFORMATION
 
    RISK FACTORS.
 
    An  investment in Units of any Trust should be made with an understanding of
the risks that such an investment may  entail. These include the ability of  the
issuer,  or,  if  applicable,  an  insurer, to  make  payments  of  interest and
principal when due, the  effects of changes in  interest rates generally,  early
call provisions and the potential for changes in the tax status of the Bonds. As
set  forth  in the  portfolio  summaries above,  the  Trusts may  contain  or be
concentrated in one or more of the types of bonds discussed below. The following
paragraphs discuss certain circumstances which may adversely affect the  ability
of  issuers  of Bonds  held  in the  portfolio  of a  Trust  to make  payment of
principal and interest thereon or which may adversely affect the ratings of such
Bonds; with  respect  to  Insured  Trusts, however,  because  of  the  insurance
obtained  by the Sponsor or by the issuers of the Bonds, such changes should not
adversely affect  an Insured  Trust's  receipt of  principal and  interest,  the
Standard  & Poor's AAA or Moody's Aaa ratings  of the Bonds in the Insured Trust
portfolio, or the Standard & Poor's AAA rating of the Units of each such Insured
Trust. For  economic risks  specific  to the  individual Trusts,  see  "Economic
Factors" for each Trust.
 
    HEALTH  FACILITY  OBLIGATIONS.    Some  of  the  Bonds  in  a  Trust  may be
obligations of  issuers whose  revenues are  derived from  services provided  by
hospitals  or other health care facilities,  including nursing homes. Ratings of
bonds issued  for health  care  facilities are  sometimes based  on  feasibility
studies  that contain projections of occupancy  levels, revenues and expenses. A
facility's gross  receipts and  net income  available for  debt service  may  be
affected  by future events and conditions  including, among other things, demand
for services, the ability of the  facility to provide the services required,  an
increasing  shortage of qualified nurses or a dramatic rise in nursing salaries,
physicians'  confidence  in  the  facility,  management  capabilities,  economic
developments  in  the service  area, competition  from other  similar providers,
efforts by  insurers  and  governmental agencies  to  limit  rates,  legislation
establishing  state rate-setting agencies,  expenses, government regulation, the
cost and possible unavailability of  malpractice insurance, and the  termination
or  restriction of governmental financial  assistance, including that associated
with Medicare, Medicaid and other  similar third party payor programs.  Medicare
reimbursements are currently calculated on a prospective basis and are not based
on  a provider's actual costs. Such method of reimbursement may adversely affect
reimbursements to hospitals and other facilities for services provided under the
Medicare program and thereby may have an  adverse effect on the ability of  such
institutions  to satisfy  debt service requirements.  In the event  of a default
upon a bond  secured by hospital  facilities, the limited  alternative uses  for
such  facilities may result  in the recovery upon  such collateral not providing
sufficient funds to fully repay the bonds.
 
    Certain hospital  bonds  provide for  redemption  at par  upon  the  damage,
destruction  or  condemnation of  the hospital  facilities  or in  other special
circumstances.
 
    HOUSING OBLIGATIONS.  Some  of the Bonds  in a Trust  may be obligations  of
issuers  whose revenues  are primarily  derived from  mortgage loans  to housing
projects for  low  to  moderate  income  families.  Such  issues  are  generally
characterized  by mandatory redemption at par or,  in the case of original issue
discount bonds, accreted  value in  the event of  economic defaults  and in  the
event of a failure of the operator of a project to comply with certain covenants
as  to the  operation of  the project.  The failure  of such  operator to comply
 
                                      A-1
<PAGE>
with certain  covenants related  to the  tax-exempt status  of interest  on  the
Bonds,  such as  provisions requiring  that a  specified percentage  of units be
rented or available for rental to  low or moderate income families,  potentially
could cause interest on such Bonds to be subject to Federal income taxation from
the  date of  issuance of the  Bonds. The ability  of such issuers  to make debt
service payments will be  affected by events  and conditions affecting  financed
projects,  including,  among other  things, the  achievement and  maintenance of
sufficient occupancy levels  and adequate rental  income, employment and  income
conditions  prevailing in local labor markets, increases in taxes, utility costs
and other  operating  expenses,  the managerial  ability  of  project  managers,
changes  in laws and  governmental regulations, the  appropriation of subsidies,
and social and economic  trends affecting the localities  in which the  projects
are  located. Occupancy  of such housing  projects may be  adversely affected by
high rent  levels  and  income  limitations  imposed  under  Federal  and  state
programs.
 
    SINGLE  FAMILY MORTGAGE REVENUE BONDS.  Some of  the Bonds in a Trust may be
single family  mortgage revenue  bonds,  which are  issued  for the  purpose  of
acquiring  from originating financial institutions notes secured by mortgages on
residences located within the issuer's boundaries and owned by persons of low or
moderate income. Mortgage  loans are generally  partially or completely  prepaid
prior  to their  final maturities  as a  result of  events such  as sale  of the
mortgaged premises, default, condemnation or casualty loss. Because these  bonds
are  subject to extraordinary mandatory redemption in whole or in part from such
prepayments of mortgage loans, a substantial portion of such bonds will probably
be redeemed prior to their scheduled maturities or even prior to their  ordinary
call dates. Extraordinary mandatory redemption without premium could also result
from  the failure  of the  originating financial  institutions to  make mortgage
loans in sufficient amounts within a specified time period. The redemption price
of such  issues may  be more  or less  than the  offering price  of such  bonds.
Additionally,  unusually high rates of default  on the underlying mortgage loans
may reduce revenues  available for the  payment of principal  of or interest  on
such  mortgage revenue bonds. Single family  mortgage revenue bonds issued after
December 31, 1980 were issued under Section 103A of the Internal Revenue Code of
1954, as amended, or  Section 143 of  the Internal Revenue  Code of 1986,  which
Sections  contain certain  requirements relating to  the use of  the proceeds of
such bonds in  order for the  interest on  such bonds to  retain its  tax-exempt
status.  In each  case, the issuer  of the  bonds has covenanted  to comply with
applicable requirements and bond  counsel to such issuer  has issued an  opinion
that  the interest on the bonds is exempt from Federal income tax under existing
laws  and  regulations.  There  can   be  no  assurance  that  such   continuing
requirements  will be  satisfied; the  failure to  meet such  requirements could
cause interest on the Bonds to  be subject to Federal income taxation,  possibly
from the date of issuance of the Bonds.
 
    FEDERALLY  ENHANCED OBLIGATIONS.   Some  of the  mortgages which  secure the
various health care or housing projects which underlie the previously  discussed
Health  Facility, Housing, and  Single Family Mortgage  Revenue Obligations (the
"Obligations") in a Trust may be  insured by the Federal Housing  Administration
("FHA").  Under FHA  regulations, the  maximum insurable  mortgage amount cannot
exceed 90%  of  the FHA's  estimated  value of  the  project. The  FHA  mortgage
insurance  does not constitute a guarantee of timely payment of the principal of
and interest on the Obligations. Payment  of mortgage insurance benefits may  be
(1)  less than the principal amount of Obligations outstanding or (2) delayed if
disputes arise as to  the amount of  the payment or if  certain notices are  not
given
 
                                      A-2
<PAGE>
to  the  FHA  within the  prescribed  time  periods. In  addition,  some  of the
previously discussed Obligations may be secured by mortgage-backed  certificates
guaranteed  by the Government  National Mortgage Association  ("GNMA"), a wholly
owned corporate  instrumentality  of  the  United  States,  and/or  the  Federal
National   Mortgage  Association  ("Fannie  Mae")   a  federally  chartered  and
stockholder-owed corporation. GNMA  and Fannie Mae  guarantee timely payment  of
principal  and  interest on  the  mortgage-backed certificates,  even  where the
underlying  mortgage  payments   are  not  made.   While  such   mortgage-backed
certificates  are often pledged  to secure payment of  principal and interest on
the Obligations, timely payment of interest and principal on the Obligations  is
not  insured or guaranteed by  the United States, GNMA,  Fannie Mae or any other
governmental agency or  instrumentality. The  GNMA mortgage-backed  certificates
constitute  a general obligation of  the United States backed  by its full faith
and credit. The obligations of Fannie  Mae, including its obligations under  the
Fannie  Mae mortgage-backed securities, are obligations solely of Fannie Mae and
are not backed  by, or  entitled to,  the full faith  and credit  of the  United
States.
 
    INDUSTRIAL  REVENUE OBLIGATIONS.   Certain  of the Bonds  in a  Trust may be
industrial revenue bonds  ("IRBs"), including pollution  control revenue  bonds,
which  are  tax-exempt  securities  issued  by  states,  municipalities,  public
authorities or similar entities to  finance the cost of acquiring,  constructing
or improving various industrial projects. These projects are usually operated by
corporate entities. Issuers are obligated only to pay amounts due on the IRBs to
the  extent that funds are available from the unexpended proceeds of the IRBs or
receipts or revenues of the issuer  under an arrangement between the issuer  and
the  corporate operator of  a project. The arrangement  may be in  the form of a
lease, installment sale agreement, conditional sale agreement or loan agreement,
but in each case  the payments to  the issuer are designed  to be sufficient  to
meet  the payments  of amounts  due on  the IRBs.  Regardless of  the structure,
payment of IRBs is solely dependent  upon the creditworthiness of the  corporate
operator  of  the project  and,  if applicable,  corporate  guarantor. Corporate
operators or  guarantors may  be affected  by  many factors  which may  have  an
adverse  impact on  the credit  quality of  the particular  company or industry.
These include cyclicality of revenues and earnings, regulatory and environmental
restrictions, litigation  resulting  from  accidents  or  environmentally-caused
illnesses,  extensive competition  and financial deterioration  resulting from a
corporate restructuring pursuant to a leveraged buy-out, takeover or  otherwise.
Such  a restructuring may  result in the  operator of a  project becoming highly
leveraged which may have an impact on such operator's creditworthiness which  in
turn  would have  an adverse impact  on the  rating and/or market  value of such
Bonds. Further, the  possibility of  such a  restructuring may  have an  adverse
impact  on the market for and consequently  the value of such Bonds, even though
no actual takeover or other action is ever contemplated or effected. The IRBs in
a Trust may be subject to  special or extraordinary redemption provisions  which
may  provide for redemption  at par or,  in the case  of original issue discount
bonds, accreted value. The  Sponsor cannot predict the  causes or likelihood  of
the redemption of IRBs in a Trust prior to the stated maturity of such Bonds.
 
    ELECTRIC  UTILITY  OBLIGATIONS.    Some  of the  Bonds  in  a  Trust  may be
obligations of issuers  whose revenues are  primarily derived from  the sale  of
electric  energy. The problems  faced by such issuers  include the difficulty in
obtaining approval for timely  and adequate rate  increases from the  applicable
public  utility  commissions,  the difficulty  of  financing  large construction
programs, increased competition, reductions in estimates of
 
                                      A-3
<PAGE>
future demand for electricity in certain  areas of the country, the  limitations
on  operations  and increased  costs  and delays  attributable  to environmental
considerations, the difficulty of the capital market in absorbing utility  debt,
the  difficulty in obtaining fuel at reasonable  prices and the effect of energy
conservation. All  of  such issuers  have  been experiencing  certain  of  these
problems   in  varying  degrees.  In  addition,  Federal,  state  and  municipal
governmental authorities  may from  time  to time  review existing,  and  impose
additional,  regulations governing the licensing,  construction and operation of
nuclear power plants, which may adversely  affect the ability of the issuers  of
certain of the Bonds in a Trust to make payments of principal and/or interest on
such Bonds.
 
    TRANSPORTATION  FACILITY REVENUE BONDS.  Some of the Bonds in a Trust may be
obligations of issuers which  are payable from and  secured by revenues  derived
from  the ownership and operation of airports, public transit systems and ports.
The major portion of  an airport's gross operating  income is generally  derived
from  fees received  from airlines pursuant  to use agreements  which consist of
annual payments for airport  use, occupancy of  certain terminal space,  service
fees  and  leases. Airport  operating income  may therefore  be affected  by the
ability of the airlines to meet their obligations under the use agreements.  The
air  transport industry is  experiencing significant variations  in earnings and
traffic,  due  to  increased  competition,  excess  capacity,  increased  costs,
deregulation,  traffic constraints and  other factors, and  several airlines are
experiencing severe financial difficulties.  In particular, facilities with  use
agreements involving airlines experiencing financial difficulty may experience a
reduction  in revenue due  to the possible  inability of these  airlines to meet
their use  agreement  obligations because  of  such financial  difficulties  and
possible  bankruptcy.  The Sponsor  cannot  predict what  effect  these industry
conditions may have on airport revenues  which are dependent for payment on  the
financial  condition of the  airlines and their usage  of the particular airport
facility. Bonds that are secured primarily by the revenue collected by a  public
transit  system  typically are  additionally secured  by a  pledge of  sales tax
receipts collected  at  the state  or  local  level, or  of  other  governmental
financial assistance. Transit system net revenues will be affected by variations
in  utilization,  which  in  turn  may  be  affected  by  the  degree  of  local
governmental subsidization, demographic and  population shifts, and  competition
from  other forms  of transportation;  and by  increased costs,  including costs
resulting from previous deferrals of maintenance. Port authorities derive  their
revenues  primarily from fees imposed on ships using the facilities. The rate of
utilization of such facilities may fluctuate depending on the local economy  and
on  competition from  competing forms  of transportation  such as  air, rail and
trucks.
 
    WATER AND/OR SEWERAGE  OBLIGATIONS.  Some  of the  Bonds in a  Trust may  be
obligations  of issuers whose revenues are derived from the sale of water and/or
sewerage services. Such Bonds are generally payable from user fees. The problems
of such  issuers  include  the  ability  to  obtain  timely  and  adequate  rate
increases,  population decline resulting in  decreased user fees, the difficulty
of financing  large construction  programs, the  limitations on  operations  and
increased  costs and  delays attributable  to environmental  considerations, the
increasing difficulty of obtaining or  discovering new supplies of fresh  water,
the  effect  of  conservation  programs and  the  impact  of  "no-growth" zoning
ordinances. All of such issuers have been experiencing certain of these problems
in varying degrees.
 
    UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE REVENUE  OBLIGATIONS.  Some of  the Bonds in a  Trust
may  be obligations  of issuers  which are,  or which  govern the  operation of,
colleges and universities and  whose revenues are  derived mainly from  tuition,
dormitory revenues, grants and
 
                                      A-4
<PAGE>
endowments. General problems of such issuers include the prospect of a declining
percentage  of the population consisting  of "college" age individuals, possible
inability to raise tuitions and  fees sufficiently to cover increased  operating
costs, the uncertainty of continued receipt of Federal grants and state funding,
and  government  legislation  or  regulations  which  may  adversely  affect the
revenues or costs of  such issuers. All of  such issuers have been  experiencing
certain of these problems in varying degrees.
 
    BRIDGE AUTHORITY AND TOLLROAD OBLIGATIONS.  Some of the Bonds in a Trust may
be  obligations  of issuers  which derive  their payments  from bridge,  road or
tunnel toll revenues. The revenues of such an issuer could be adversely affected
by competition from toll-free vehicular bridges and roads and alternative  modes
of transportation. Such revenues could also be adversely affected by a reduction
in  the availability of fuel to motorists  or significant increases in the costs
thereof. Specifically, governmental regulations restricting the use of  vehicles
in  the New  York City  metropolitan area may  adversely affect  revenues of the
Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority.
 
    DEDICATED-TAX SUPPORTED  BONDS.    Some of  the  Bonds  in a  Trust  may  be
obligations of issuers which are payable from and secured by tax revenues from a
designated  source, which revenues are pledged  to secure the bonds. The various
types of  Bonds described  below differ  in structure  and with  respect to  the
rights of the bondholders to the underlying property. Each type of dedicated-tax
supported  Bond has distinct risks, only some  of which are set forth below. One
type of dedicated-tax supported Bond is secured by the incremental tax  received
on  either real property or on  sales within a specifically defined geographical
area; such  tax  generally will  not  provide bondholders  with  a lien  on  the
underlying property or revenues. Another type of dedicated-tax supported Bond is
secured  by a special tax levied on  real property within a defined geographical
area in such  a manner  that the tax  is levied  on those who  benefit from  the
project;  such bonds  typically provide for  a statutory lien  on the underlying
property for unpaid taxes. A third  type of dedicated-tax supported Bond may  be
secured by a tax levied upon the manufacture, sale or consumption of commodities
or  upon the license to pursue  certain occupations or upon corporate privileges
within a taxing jurisdiction. As to any of these types of Bonds, the ability  of
the  designated revenues to satisfy the  interest and principal payments on such
bonds may be affected by changes in the local economy, the financial success  of
the  enterprise  responsible for  the payment  of  the taxes,  the value  of any
property on which taxes may be assessed and the ability to collect such taxes in
a timely fashion. Each  of these factors  will have a  different affect on  each
distinct type of dedicated-tax supported bonds.
 
    MUNICIPAL LEASE BONDS.  Some of the Bonds in a Trust may be obligations that
are  secured  by lease  payments  of a  governmental  entity. Such  payments are
normally subject to  annual budget  appropriations of  the leasing  governmental
entity.  A governmental  entity that enters  into such a  lease agreement cannot
obligate future  governments to  appropriate  for and  make lease  payments  but
covenants  to take such action as is necessary to include any lease payments due
in its budgets and to make the appropriations therefor. A governmental  entity's
failure to appropriate for and to make payments under its lease obligation could
result  in insufficient funds  available for payment  of the obligations secured
thereby.
 
    ORIGINAL ISSUE  DISCOUNT BONDS  AND STRIPPED  OBLIGATIONS.   Certain of  the
Bonds  in a Trust may be original  issue discount bonds. These Bonds were issued
with nominal  interest rates  less than  the rates  then offered  by  comparable
securities and as a consequence were
 
                                      A-5
<PAGE>
originally  sold at a  discount from their  face, or par,  values. This original
issue discount,  the difference  between  the initial  purchase price  and  face
value,  is deemed under current  law to accrue on a  daily basis and the accrued
portion is  treated  as  tax-exempt  interest  income  for  federal  income  tax
purposes.  On sale or redemption, gain, if any, realized in excess of the earned
portion of original issue discount will be taxable as capital gain. See "What is
the Tax Status of Unitholders". The current value of an original issue  discount
bond  reflects the  present value of  its face  amount at maturity.  In a stable
interest rate environment, the market value  of an original issue discount  bond
would  tend to increase more slowly in  early years and in greater increments as
the bond approached maturity.
 
    Certain of the original issue discount bonds  in a Trust may be zero  coupon
bonds. Zero coupon bonds do not provide for the payment of any current interest;
the  buyer receives only the right to receive a final payment of the face amount
of the bond at its maturity. The effect  of owning a zero coupon bond is that  a
fixed  yield is earned not only on  the original investment but also, in effect,
on all  discount  earned  during  the life  of  the  obligation.  This  implicit
reinvestment of earnings at the same rate eliminates the risk of being unable to
reinvest  the income on such obligation at a rate as high as the implicit yield,
but at the same time also eliminates the holder's ability to reinvest at  higher
rates  in  the  future.  For  this reason,  zero  coupon  bonds  are  subject to
substantially greater  price  fluctuations  during periods  of  changing  market
interest  rates  than are  securities of  comparable  quality that  pay interest
currently.
 
    Original issue discount bonds, including  zero coupon bonds, may be  subject
to  redemption at prices  based on the  issue price plus  the amount of original
issue  discount  accreted  to  redemption   (the  "accreted  value")  plus,   if
applicable,  some premium.  Pursuant to such  call provisions  an original issue
discount bond may be called prior to its maturity date at a price less than  its
face  value. See the  "Schedules of Investments" for  more information about the
call provisions of portfolio Bonds.
 
    Certain of the Bonds in a Trust may be Stripped Obligations, which represent
evidences of  ownership with  respect to  either the  principal amount  of or  a
payment  of interest on a tax-exempt  obligation. An obligation is "stripped" by
depositing it with  a custodian, which  then effects a  separation in  ownership
between  the bond and any interest payment which has not yet become payable, and
issues evidences of ownership with respect to such constituent parts. A Stripped
Obligation therefore has economic characteristics similar to zero coupon  bonds,
as described above.
 
    Each  Stripped Obligation has  been purchased at a  discount from the amount
payable at maturity. With respect to each Unitholder, the Internal Revenue  Code
treats  as "original issue discount" that portion of the discount which produces
a yield to maturity (as of the date of purchase of the Unitholder's Units) equal
to the lower of the coupon rate of interest on the underlying obligation or  the
yield  to maturity on the basis of  the purchase price of the Unitholder's Units
which is allocable to  each Stripped Obligation.  Original issue discount  which
accrues with respect to a Stripped Obligation will be exempt from Federal income
taxation  to the  same extent  as interest  on the  underlying obligations. (See
Section 11, " What Is The Tax Status of Unitholders".)
 
    Unitholders should consult their own tax advisers with respect to the  state
and  local tax consequences of owning  original issue discount bonds or Stripped
Obligations. Under applicable  provisions governing determination  of state  and
local taxes, interest on original
 
                                      A-6
<PAGE>
issue discount bonds or Stripped Obligations may be deemed to be received in the
year of accrual even though there is no corresponding cash payment.
 
4.  COMPOSITION OF TRUSTS
 
Each  Trust initially consists  of delivery statements  relating to contracts to
purchase Bonds (or of such Bonds) as are listed under "Schedules of Investments"
and, thereafter, of  such Bonds as  may continue to  be held from  time to  time
(including  certain securities deposited in the  Trust in substitution for Bonds
not delivered to the Trust or in exchange or substitution for Bonds upon certain
refundings), together  with  accrued  and  undistributed  interest  thereon  and
undistributed cash realized from the disposition of Bonds.
 
    "WHEN-ISSUED"  AND  "DELAYED  DELIVERY"  TRANSACTIONS.    The  contracts  to
purchase Bonds delivered to  the Trustee represent an  obligation by issuers  or
dealers  to deliver Bonds  to the Sponsor  for deposit in  the Trusts. Normally,
"regular way"  contracts are  settled and  the Bonds  delivered to  the  Trustee
within  a relatively  short period  of time.  However, certain  of the contracts
relate to Bonds which have not been issued  as of the Date of Deposit and  which
are  commonly referred to  as "when issued"  or "when, as  and if issued" Bonds.
Although the Sponsor does not believe it  is likely, one or more of the  issuers
of such Bonds might decide not to proceed with such offerings. If such Bonds, or
replacement  bonds described  below, are  not acquired  by a  Trust or  if their
delivery is  delayed, the  Estimated  Current Returns  and Estimated  Long  Term
Returns  shown herein may be reduced. Certain  of the contracts for the purchase
of Bonds provide for delivery dates  after the date of settlement for  purchases
made  on  the Date  of  Deposit. Interest  on  such "when  issued"  and "delayed
delivery" Bonds accrues to the benefit of Unitholders commencing with the  first
settlement  date for the Units. However,  in the opinion of counsel, Unitholders
who purchase their Units prior to the date such Bonds are actually delivered  to
the  Trustee must reduce the  tax basis of their  Units for interest accruing on
such Bonds during the interval between their purchase of Units and the  delivery
of  the Bonds because such amounts constitute a return of principal. As a result
of such adjustment, the  Estimated Current Returns set  forth herein (which  are
based  on the Public Offering Price as of  the business day prior to the Date of
Deposit) may be  slightly lower than  Unitholders will receive  after the  first
year,  assuming the Portfolio does not  change and estimated annual expense does
not vary from that set forth under "Essential Information Regarding the Trusts."
Those Bonds  in each  Trust purchased  with  delivery dates  after the  date  of
settlement  for  purchases made  on  the Date  of Deposit  are  so noted  in the
Schedules of Investments.
 
    LIMITED REPLACEMENT OF CERTAIN BONDS.   Neither the Sponsor nor the  Trustee
shall  be liable in any way  for any default, failure or  defect in any Bond. In
the event of a failure to deliver any  Bond that has been purchased for a  Trust
under  a contract, including those  Bonds purchased on a  when, as and if issued
basis ("Failed Bonds"), the Sponsor is authorized under the Indenture to  direct
the  Trustee to acquire  other specified Bonds ("Replacement  Bonds") to make up
the original corpus of the Trust. The Replacement Bonds must be purchased within
20 days after  delivery of notice  of the failed  contract and the  cost to  the
Trust  (exclusive  of  accrued interest)  may  not  exceed the  amount  of funds
reserved for the purchase  of the Failed Bonds.  The Replacement Bonds (i)  must
satisfy  the criteria previously described for  Bonds originally included in the
Trust and, with respect  to Bonds purchased  for a State  Trust, shall have  the
benefit of an exemption from state taxation of interest to an extent equal to or
greater  than that of  the Bonds they  replace, (ii) must  have a fixed maturity
date after the date of purchase of  not less than approximately 15 years in  the
case  of National or State Trusts, approximately 11  years in the case of a Long
Intermediate Trust, approximately 5 years in  the case of Intermediate or  State
Intermediate  Trusts, approximately 3 years in  the case of a Short Intermediate
Trust and
 
                                      A-7
<PAGE>
approximately 1 year in the case of a  Short Term Trust, but not later than  the
maturity date of the Failed Bonds, (iii) must be acquired at a cost to the Trust
equal  to the cost of the same principal  amount of Bonds provided in the failed
contract and have  a current  return and  yield to  maturity not  less than  the
current  return and yield to maturity of the  Failed Bonds and (iv) shall not be
"when, as and if  issued" Bonds. Whenever a  Replacement Bond has been  acquired
for  a Trust, the  Trustee shall, within  five days after  the delivery thereof,
mail or deliver a  notice of such  acquisition to all  Unitholders of the  Trust
involved.  Once the original corpus  of the Trust is  acquired, the Trustee will
have no power to vary the investment of the Trust; i.e., the Trust will have  no
managerial power to take advantage of market variation to improve a Unitholder's
investment.
 
    To  the extent the right of  limited substitution described in the preceding
paragraph shall not  be utilized  to acquire  Replacement Bonds  for the  entire
principal amount of Failed Bonds, the Sponsor shall refund to all Unitholders of
the  Trust  involved the  sales  charge attributable  to  such Failed  Bonds not
replaced, and  the principal  and accrued  interest attributable  to such  Bonds
shall  be distributed  not more  than 30  days after  the determination  of such
failure or at such earlier time as  the Trustee in its sole discretion deems  to
be  in  the interest  of  the Unitholders.  Any  such accrued  interest  paid to
Unitholders will be paid by the Sponsor and, accordingly, will not be treated as
tax-exempt income. In the event Failed Bonds  in a Trust could not be  replaced,
the  Net Annual Interest Income per Unit for such Trust would be reduced and the
Estimated Current Return thereon might be lowered.
 
    SALE, MATURITY AND REDEMPTION OF BONDS.  Certain of the Bonds may from  time
to  time  under certain  circumstances be  sold  or redeemed  or will  mature in
accordance with their terms. The proceeds from  such events will be used to  pay
for   Units  redeemed  or   distributed  to  Unitholders   and  not  reinvested;
accordingly, no assurance can be given that  a Trust will retain for any  length
of time its present size and composition.
 
    All  of the Bonds in  each Trust are subject to  being called or redeemed in
whole or  in part  prior to  their stated  maturities pursuant  to the  optional
redemption  provisions described in  the "Schedules of  Investments" and in most
cases pursuant to sinking fund, special or extraordinary redemption  provisions.
A  bond  subject to  optional  call is  one which  is  subject to  redemption or
refunding prior to maturity at the option of the issuer. A refunding is a method
by which a bond issue is redeemed, at  or before maturity, by the proceeds of  a
new  bond  issue. A  bond subject  to sinking  fund redemption  is one  which is
subject to  partial call  from time  to time  from a  fund accumulated  for  the
scheduled  retirement of  a portion  of an issue  prior to  maturity. Special or
extraordinary redemption  provisions may  provide  for redemption  of all  or  a
portion  of an  issue upon  the occurrence  of certain  circumstances related to
defaults or unanticipated changes  in circumstances. Events  that may permit  or
require  the special or extraordinary redemption of bonds include, among others:
substantial damage to or  destruction of the project  for which the proceeds  of
the  bonds were used; exercise by a local, state or federal governmental unit of
its power of eminent domain to take all or substantially all of the project  for
which  the  proceeds of  the bonds  were  used; a  final determination  that the
interest on the bonds  is taxable; changes in  the economic availability of  raw
materials,  operating supplies or  facilities or technological  or other changes
which render the operation of  the project for which  the proceeds of the  bonds
were  used uneconomical; changes in law  or an administrative or judicial decree
which render the performance  of the agreement under  which the proceeds of  the
bonds  were made  available to  finance the  project impossible  or which create
unreasonable burdens or which impose  excessive liabilities, such as taxes,  not
imposed  on the date the bonds are issued on the issuer of the bonds or the user
of the  proceeds  of the  bonds;  an  administrative or  judicial  decree  which
requires  the cessation of a  substantial part of the  operations of the project
financed with the proceeds of the bonds;
 
                                      A-8
<PAGE>
an overestimate of the costs of the project to be financed with the proceeds  of
the  bonds resulting in excess proceeds which may be applied to redeem bonds; or
an underestimate of  a source of  funds securing the  bonds resulting in  excess
funds which may be applied to redeem bonds. The Sponsor is unable to predict all
of  the circumstances which may result in  such redemption of an issue of Bonds.
See the discussion of the various  types of bond issues, above, for  information
on  the  call  provisions of  such  bonds, particularly  single  family mortgage
revenue bonds.
 
    The exercise of redemption or call provisions will (except to the extent the
proceeds of the called Bonds are used to pay for Unit redemptions) result in the
distribution of  principal  and may  result  in a  reduction  in the  amount  of
subsequent  interest distributions;  it may  also affect  the current  return on
Units of the Trust involved. Redemption pursuant to optional call provisions  is
more  likely to  occur, and  redemption pursuant to  sinking fund  or special or
extraordinary redemption provisions may occur,  when the Bonds have an  offering
side  evaluation which  represents a  premium over  par. Redemption  pursuant to
optional call provisions  may be,  and redemption  pursuant to  sinking fund  or
special or extraordinary redemption provisions is likely to be, at a price equal
to the par value of the bonds without any premium (in the case of original issue
discount  bonds, such redemption is generally to be made at the issue price plus
the amount of original issue discount  accreted to the date of redemption;  such
price  is referred to herein  as "accreted value"). Because  Bonds may have been
valued at prices above or below par value or the then current accreted value  at
the  time Units were  purchased, Unitholders may  realize gain or  loss upon the
redemption of portfolio  Bonds. (See Sections  11 and 13  and the "Schedules  of
Investments.")
 
    CERTAIN  TAX  MATTERS;  LITIGATION.   Certain  of  the Bonds  in  each Trust
portfolio may be subject  to continuing requirements such  as the actual use  of
bond proceeds, manner of operation of the project financed from bond proceeds or
rebate  of excess  earnings on  bond proceeds that  may affect  the exemption of
interest on such  Bonds from Federal  income taxation. Although  at the time  of
issuance  of each  of the  Bonds in each  Trust an  opinion of  bond counsel was
rendered as to the exemption of interest on such obligations from Federal income
taxation, and the issuers covenanted  to comply with all requirements  necessary
to retain the tax-exempt status of the Bonds, there can be no assurance that the
respective  issuers  or  other obligors  on  such obligations  will  fulfill the
various continuing  requirements  established  upon issuance  of  the  Bonds.  A
failure to comply with such requirements may cause a determination that interest
on  such  obligations  is  subject  to  Federal  income  taxation,  perhaps even
retroactively from the  date of  issuance of  such Bonds,  thereby reducing  the
value of the Bonds and subjecting Unitholders to unanticipated tax liabilities.
 
    To  the best knowledge of the Sponsor,  there is no litigation pending as of
the Date of Deposit in respect of  any Bonds which might reasonably be  expected
to  have a  material adverse effect  on any of  the Trusts. It  is possible that
after the Date of Deposit, litigation may be initiated with respect to Bonds  in
any  Trust. Any  such litigation may  affect the  validity of such  Bonds or the
tax-exempt nature of the interest thereon,  but while the outcome of  litigation
of  such nature can never be entirely predicted, the opinions of bond counsel to
the issuer of  each Bond  on the  date of issuance  state that  such Bonds  were
validly issued and that the interest thereon is, to the extent indicated, exempt
from Federal income tax.
 
                                      A-9
<PAGE>
5.  WHY AND HOW ARE THE BONDS INSURED?
 
INSURANCE ON BONDS IN INSURED TRUSTS
 
Insurance  guaranteeing  the  timely payment,  when  due, of  all  principal and
interest on the Bonds in each Insured Trust has been obtained by the Sponsor  or
by  the  issuers or  underwriters  of Bonds  from  the Municipal  Bond Investors
Assurance Corporation (the "Insurer"). Some of  the Bonds in each Insured  Trust
may  be covered by a policy or policies  of insurance obtained by the issuers or
underwriters of  the  Bonds  from  Municipal  Bond  Insurance  Association  (the
"Association") or Bond Investors Guaranty Insurance Company ("BIG"). The Insurer
has  issued a policy or policies of insurance  covering each of the Bonds in the
Insured Trusts, each policy to remain in force until the payment in full of such
Bonds and whether or not the Bonds continue  to be held by an Insured Trust.  By
the  terms  of each  policy the  Insurer will  unconditionally guarantee  to the
holders or owners of the Bonds the payment, when due, required of the issuer  of
the  Bonds of an amount equal  to the principal of and  interest on the Bonds as
such payments shall become due but not be paid (except that in the event of  any
acceleration  of the due  date of principal  by reason of  mandatory or optional
redemption, default or otherwise, the payments  guaranteed will be made in  such
amounts  and  at  such times  as  would have  been  due  had there  not  been an
acceleration). The  Insurer will  be  responsible for  such payments,  less  any
amounts  received by the holders or owners of the Bonds from any trustee for the
bond issuers or  from any other  sources other than  the Insurer. The  Insurer's
policies  relating to small  industrial development bonds  and pollution control
revenue bonds also guarantee the full and complete payments required to be  made
by  or on behalf  of an issuer  of Bonds pursuant  to the terms  of the Bonds if
there occurs an event which results in the loss of the tax-exempt status of  the
interest  on such Bonds,  including principal, interest  or premium payments, if
any, as and when thereby required. The Insurer has indicated that its  insurance
policies  do not insure the payment of  principal or interest on bonds which are
not required to be paid by the issuer thereof because the bonds were not validly
issued; as  indicated  under  "What  is the  Tax  Status  of  Unitholders?"  the
respective  issuing authorities have received  opinions of bond counsel relating
to the valid issuance of each of the Bonds in the Insured Trusts. The  Insurer's
policy  also does not insure against non-payment  of principal of or interest on
the Bonds resulting from the insolvency, negligence or any other act or omission
of the trustee or other paying agent for the Bonds. The policy is not covered by
the Property/ Casualty Insurance  Security Fund specified in  Article 76 of  the
New  York  Insurance Law.  The policies  are  non-cancellable and  the insurance
premiums have been fully paid on or prior to the Date of Deposit, either by  the
Sponsor or, if a policy has been obtained by a Bond issuer, by such issuer.
 
    Upon  notification from  the trustee  for any bond  issuer or  any holder or
owner of the Bonds or coupons that such trustee or paying agent has insufficient
funds to pay any  principal or interest  in full when due,  the Insurer will  be
obligated  to deposit funds  promptly with State Street  Bank and Trust Company,
N.A., New York, New York, as fiscal  agent for the Insurer, sufficient to  fully
cover the deficit. If notice of nonpayment is received on or after the due date,
the  Insurer will provide for payment  within one business day following receipt
of the notice. Upon payment  by the Insurer of  any Bonds, coupons, or  interest
payments,  the Insurer shall succeed  to the rights of  the owner of such Bonds,
coupons or interest payments with respect thereto.
 
    The Insurer is the principal operating subsidiary of MBIA, Inc., a New  York
Stock  Exchange listed company. MBIA, Inc. is  not obligated to pay the debts of
or claims against the  Insurer. The Insurer is  a limited liability  corporation
rather  than a  several liability association.  The Insurer is  domiciled in the
State of New York and licensed to do business in all 50 states, the District  of
Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
 
                                      A-10
<PAGE>
    As  of December  31, 1993  the Insurer had  admitted assets  of $3.1 billion
(audited), total liabilities of  $2.1 billion (audited),  and total capital  and
surplus  of  $978  million  (audited) determined  in  accordance  with statutory
accounting  practices   prescribed   or  permitted   by   insurance   regulatory
authorities.  As of September 30, 1994, the  Insurer had admitted assets of $3.3
billion (unaudited), total  liabilities of $2.2  billion (unaudited), and  total
capital  and surplus of  $1.1 billion (unaudited)  determined in accordance with
statutory accounting practices prescribed  or permitted by insurance  regulatory
authorities.  Copies of the Insurer's year  end financial statements prepared in
accordance with statutory accounting practices  are available from the  Insurer.
The address of the Insurer is 113 King Street, Armonk, New York 10504.
 
    Each  insurance company comprising the Association will be severally and not
jointly obligated  under  the Association  policy  in the  following  respective
percentages:  The  AEtna  Casualty  and  Surety  Company,  33%;  Fireman's  Fund
Insurance Company, 30%;  The Travelers Indemnity  Company, 15%; AEtna  Insurance
Company  (now  known  as CIGNA  Property  and  Casualty Company),  12%;  and The
Continental Insurance Company, 10%.  As a several  obligor, each such  insurance
company  will be  obligated only to  the extent  of its percentage  of any claim
under the  Association  policy and  will  not be  obligated  to pay  any  unpaid
obligation  of any  other member  of the  Association. Each  insurance company's
participation is backed by all of its assets. However, each insurance company is
a multiline insurer involved in several lines of insurance other than  municipal
bond  insurance, and the assets of each insurance company also secure all of its
other insurance policy and surety bond obligations.
 
    The following table sets forth certain unaudited financial information  with
respect  to  the  five  insurance  companies  comprising  the  Association.  The
statistics, which have been furnished by the Association, are as reported by the
insurance  companies  to  the  New  York  State  Insurance  Department  and  are
determined in accordance with statutory accounting principles. No representation
is  made herein as to the accuracy or  adequacy of such information or as to the
absence of material adverse changes in  such information subsequent to the  date
thereof.  In addition,  these numbers  are subject to  revision by  the New York
State Insurance Department which, if revised, could either increase or  decrease
the amounts.
 
                      MUNICIPAL BOND INSURANCE ASSOCIATION
      FIVE MEMBER COMPANIES ASSETS AND POLICYHOLDERS' SURPLUS (UNAUDITED)
                              AS OF JUNE 30, 1994.
                                (000'S OMITTED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              NEW YORK         NEW YORK         NEW YORK
                                                              STATUTORY        STATUTORY     POLICYHOLDERS'
                                                               ASSETS         LIABILITIES       SURPLUS
                                                           ---------------  ---------------  --------------
<S>                                                        <C>              <C>              <C>
The AEtna Casualty & Surety Company......................  $    10,169,558  $     8,299,548   $  1,870,010
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company.........................        6,751,350        4,893,824      1,857,526
The Travelers Indemnity Company..........................       10,246,669        8,486,034      1,760,635
CIGNA Property and Casualty Company (formerly AEtna
  Insurance Company).....................................        4,992,242        4,924,356         67,886
The Continental Insurance Company........................        2,712,535        2,351,467        361,068
                                                           ---------------  ---------------  --------------
        Total............................................  $    34,872,354  $    28,955,229   $  5,917,125
                                                           ---------------  ---------------  --------------
                                                           ---------------  ---------------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
    Standard   &  Poor's  Corporation  rates  all  new  issues  insured  by  the
Association "AAA" Prime Grade.
 
    Moody's Investors Service rates all  bond issues insured by the  Association
"Aaa"  and  short term  loans  "MIG 1",  both designated  to  be of  the highest
quality.
 
                                      A-11
<PAGE>
    Each such rating should be evaluated  independently of any other rating.  No
application  has  been  made to  any  other  rating agency  in  order  to obtain
additional ratings  on the  Bonds.  The ratings  reflect the  respective  rating
agency's  current assessment of the creditworthiness  of the Association and its
ability to pay claims on its  policies of insurance. Any further explanation  as
to  the  significance  of  the  above ratings  may  be  obtained  only  from the
applicable rating agency.
 
    Moody's Investors Service rates all bond issues insured by the Insurer "Aaa"
and short-term loans "MIG 1," both designated to be of the highest quality.
 
    Standard & Poor's  Ratings Group,  a division  of McGraw  Hill ("Standard  &
Poor's") rates all new issues insured by the Insurer "AAA" Prime Grade."
 
    The  Moody's Investors  Service rating  of the  Insurer should  be evaluated
independently of the  Standard & Poor's  Corporation rating of  the Insurer.  No
application  has  been  made to  any  other  rating agency  in  order  to obtain
additional ratings  on the  Bonds.  The ratings  reflect the  respective  rating
agency's  current  assessment of  the creditworthiness  of  the Insurer  and its
ability to  pay  claims  on  its policies  of  insurance  (See  "Description  of
Ratings.")  Any further explanation as to  the significance of the above ratings
may be obtained only from the applicable rating agency.
 
    The above ratings are  not recommendations to buy,  sell or hold the  Bonds,
and  such ratings may  be subject to revision  or withdrawal at  any time by the
rating agencies. Any downward revision or  withdrawal of either or both  ratings
may have an adverse effect on the market price of the Bonds.
 
    Because  the insurance on the  Bonds will be effective  so long as the Bonds
are outstanding, such insurance  will be taken into  account in determining  the
market  value  of  the  Bonds  and therefore  some  value  attributable  to such
insurance will be included in the value of the Units of the Insured Trusts.  The
insurance  does not, however, guarantee the market  value of the Bonds or of the
Units.
 
INSURANCE ON CERTAIN BONDS IN TRADITIONAL TRUSTS
 
    Insurance guaranteeing the timely  payment, when due,  of all principal  and
interest  on certain Bonds in a Traditional  Trust may have been obtained by the
Sponsor, issuer or underwriter  of the particular Bonds  involved or by  another
party.  Such insurance, which  provides coverage substantially  the same as that
obtained with  respect  to  Bonds  in Insured  Trusts  as  described  above,  is
effective  so long as the insured Bond is outstanding and the insurer remains in
business. Insurance relates  only to the  particular Bond and  not to the  Units
offered hereby or to their market value. Insured Bonds have received a rating of
"Aaa"  by  Moody's Investors  Service, Inc.  and/or "AAA"  by Standard  & Poor's
Corporation in recognition of such insurance.
 
    If a Bond  in a Traditional  Trust is insured,  the Schedule of  Investments
will identify the insurer. Such insurance will be provided by Financial Guaranty
Insurance   Company  ("FGIC"),  AMBAC   Indemnity  Corporation  ("AMBAC"),  Bond
Investors Guaranty  Insurance  Company, now  known  as MBIA  Corp.  of  Illinois
("BIG"),   Capital  Guaranty  Insurance  Company  ("CGIC"),  Financial  Security
Assurance,   Inc.   ("FSA"),   Municipal   Bond   Insurance   Association   (the
"Association"),  Municipal  Bond  Investors  Assurance  Corporation  ("MBIA") or
Connie Lee Insurance Company  ("ConnieLee"). The Sponsor  to date has  purchased
and  presently intends  to purchase  insurance for  Bonds in  Traditional Trusts
exclusively from MBIA (see the  preceding disclosure regarding MBIA). There  can
be  no assurance  that any insurer  listed therein  will be able  to satisfy its
commitments in the
 
                                      A-12
<PAGE>
event claims are made in the future. However, Standard & Poor's Corporation  has
rated  the claims-paying  ability of each  insurer "AAA,"  and Moody's Investors
Service has rated  all bonds  insured by  each such  insurer, except  ConnieLee,
"Aaa."  Moody's  Investor's  Service  gives  no  ratings  for  bonds  insured by
ConnieLee.
 
    Because any such insurance  will be effective so  long as the insured  Bonds
are  outstanding, such insurance  will be taken into  account in determining the
market value  of  such Bonds  and  therefore  some value  attributable  to  such
insurance  will be included in the value of the Units of the Trust that includes
such Bonds. The insurance does not,  however, guarantee the market value of  the
Bonds or of the Units.
 
6.  HOW IS THE PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE DETERMINED?
 
The  Public Offering Price of the Units of  each Trust is equal to the Trustee's
determination of the aggregate  OFFERING prices of  the Bonds deposited  therein
(minus  any  advancement to  the  principal account  of  the Trust  made  by the
Trustee) plus a sales charge of 5.152%  of the aggregate offering prices in  the
case  of National and State  Trusts, 4.439% of the  aggregate offering prices in
the case of Long Intermediate Trusts, 4.058% of the aggregate offering prices in
the case of Intermediate Trusts, 3.093% of the aggregate offering prices in  the
case of Short Intermediate Trusts and 2.564% of the aggregate offering prices in
the  case of Short  Term Trusts, in each  case adding to  the total thereof cash
held by the Trust,  if any, and dividing  the sum so obtained  by the number  of
Units  outstanding in the Trust. This  computation produces a gross underwriting
profit equal to 4.90% of the Public  Offering Price in the case of National  and
State  Trusts,  4.25%  of  the  Public  Offering  Price  in  the  case  of  Long
Intermediate Trusts,  3.90%  of  the  Public  Offering  Price  in  the  case  of
Intermediate  Trusts, 3.00% of  the Public Offering  Price in the  case of Short
Intermediate Trusts and 2.50% of the Public Offering Price in the case of  Short
Term Trusts.
 
    The  sales charge applicable to quantity purchases is reduced on a graduated
scale for sales to any  purchaser of at least $50,000  or 500 Units and will  be
applied  on whichever basis is more favorable  to the purchaser. For purposes of
calculating the applicable  sales charge,  purchasers who  have indicated  their
intent  to purchase a specified amount of Units of any Trust described herein in
the primary offering period  or units of any  other series of Nuveen  Tax-Exempt
Unit  Trusts in the primary offering period by executing and delivering a letter
of intent to the Sponsor, which letter of intent must be in a form acceptable to
the Sponsor  and shall  have a  maximum  duration of  thirteen months,  will  be
eligible  to receive  a reduced  sales charge  according to  the following table
based on the amount of intended  aggregate purchases as expressed in the  letter
of  intent. By  establishing a  letter of intent,  a Unitholder  agrees that the
first purchase of Units following the execution of such letter of intent will be
at least 5% of the total amount of the intended aggregate purchases expressed in
such Unitholder's letter of  intent. Further, through  the establishment of  the
letter of intent, such Unitholder agrees that units representing 5% of the total
amount  of the intended purchases will be  held in escrow by United States Trust
Company of New York pending completion of these purchases. All distributions  on
units  held in escrow  will be credited  to such Unitholder's  account. If total
purchases prior to the expiration of the letter of intent period equal or exceed
the amount  specified in  a Unitholder's  letter of  intent, the  units held  in
escrow  will be transferred to such Unitholder's account. If the total purchases
are less than the amount specified, the Unitholder involved must pay the Sponsor
an amount equal to the difference  between the amounts paid for these  purchases
and  the amounts which would have been paid  if the higher sales charge had been
applied. If such Unitholder  does not pay the  additional amount within 20  days
after   written  request   by  the   Sponsor  or   the  Unitholder's  securities
representative, the Sponsor will instruct  the Trustee to redeem an  appropriate
number  of the escrowed  units to meet  the required payment.  By establishing a
letter of intent, a Unitholder irrevocably  appoints the Sponsor as attorney  to
 
                                      A-13
<PAGE>
give instructions to redeem any or all of such Unitholder's escrowed units, with
full  power  of substitution  in the  premises. A  Unitholder or  his securities
representative must notify the Sponsor whenever such Unitholder makes a purchase
of Units that he wishes to be counted towards the intended amount. Sales charges
during the primary offering period are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         NATIONAL AND STATE      LONG INTERMEDIATE
                                                               TRUSTS                  TRUSTS           INTERMEDIATE TRUSTS
                                                       ----------------------  ----------------------  ----------------------
<S>                                                    <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>
                                                         PERCENT     PERCENT     PERCENT     PERCENT     PERCENT     PERCENT
                                                           OF        OF NET        OF        OF NET        OF        OF NET
                                                        OFFERING     AMOUNT     OFFERING     AMOUNT     OFFERING     AMOUNT
                  NUMBER OF UNITS*                        PRICE     INVESTED      PRICE     INVESTED      PRICE     INVESTED
- -----------------------------------------------------  -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------
Less than 500........................................        4.90%      5.152%       4.25%      4.439%       3.90%      4.058%
500 but less than 1,000..............................        4.75       4.987        4.15       4.330        3.70       3.842
1,000 but less than 2,500............................        4.50       4.712        3.85       4.004        3.50       3.627
2,500 but less than 5,000............................        4.25       4.439        3.60       3.734        3.25       3.359
5,000 but less than 10,000...........................        3.50       3.627        3.35       3.466        3.00       3.093
10,000 but less than 25,000..........................        3.00       3.093        3.00       3.093        2.75       2.828
25,000 but less than 50,000..........................        2.50       2.564        2.50       2.564        2.50       2.564
50,000 or more.......................................        2.00       2.041        2.00       2.041        2.00       2.041
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         SHORT INTERMEDIATE
                                                               TRUSTS            SHORT TERM TRUSTS
                                                       ----------------------  ----------------------
<S>                                                    <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>
                                                         PERCENT     PERCENT     PERCENT     PERCENT
                                                           OF        OF NET        OF        OF NET
                                                        OFFERING     AMOUNT     OFFERING     AMOUNT
                  NUMBER OF UNITS*                        PRICE     INVESTED      PRICE     INVESTED
- -----------------------------------------------------  -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------
Less than 500........................................        3.00%      3.093%       2.50%      2.564%
500 but less than 1,000..............................        2.80       2.881        2.30       2.354
1,000 but less than 2,500............................        2.60       2.670        2.10       2.145
2,500 but less than 5,000............................        2.35       2.407        1.85       1.885
5,000 but less than 10,000...........................        2.10       2.145        1.60       1.626
10,000 but less than 25,000..........................        1.85       1.885        1.35       1.368
25,000 but less than 50,000..........................        1.80       1.833        1.25       1.266
50,000 or more.......................................        1.50       1.523        1.15       1.163
</TABLE>
 
*Breakpoint sales charges are computed both on  a dollar basis and on the  basis
 of the number of Units purchased, using the equivalent of 500 Units to $50,000,
 2,500  Units to $250,000 etc., and will be  applied on that basis which is more
 favorable to the purchaser.
 
    For "secondary market"  sales the  Public Offering  Price per  Unit of  each
Trust is determined by adding to the Trustee's determination of the BID price of
each  Bond in the Trust  a sales charge determined  in accordance with the table
set forth below based upon the number of years remaining to the maturity of each
such Bond, adjusting  the total to  reflect the amount  of any cash  held in  or
advanced  to the principal account  of the Trust and  dividing the result by the
number of Units then outstanding. For  purposes of this calculation, Bonds  will
be  deemed to mature on  their stated maturity dates  unless: (a) the Bonds have
been called for redemption or funds or securities have been placed in escrow  to
redeem  them on  an earlier  call date, in  which case  such call  date shall be
deemed to be the date upon which they mature; or (b) such Bonds are subject to a
"mandatory put," in which case such mandatory put date shall be deemed to be the
date upon  which  they  mature.  Any assumptions  regarding  maturity  made  for
purposes  of  determining the  appropriate  sales charge  in  no way  predict or
guarantee the actual remaining life of a given Trust.
 
    Pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Trustee may terminate a Trust if
the net asset value of such Trust, as shown by any evaluation, is less than  20%
of  the  original principal  amount of  the  Trust. In  the course  of regularly
appraising the  value  of Bonds  in  each Trust,  the  Sponsor will  attempt  to
estimate  the date on which a Trust's value  will fall below the 20% level based
on anticipated bond events over a five year period, including maturities, escrow
calls and  current  calls or  refundings,  assuming certain  market  rates.  The
Sponsor  intends from time to time to recommend that certain Trusts whose values
 
                                      A-14
<PAGE>
have fallen or are anticipated to fall  below the 20% level be terminated  based
on  certain criteria which  could adversely affect  the Trust's diversification.
Once the Sponsor has determined that a  Trust's value has or may fall below  the
20%  level within a five-year period, for purposes of computing the sales charge
using the table set forth below, the maturity of each bond in such Trust will be
deemed to be the earlier of the estimated termination date of the Trust, or  the
actual  date used  when pricing the  bond under  Municipal Securities Rulemaking
Board rules and interpretations issued thereunder.
 
    The effect of this method of sales charge calculation will be that different
sales charge rates will  be applied to  the various Bonds  in a Trust  portfolio
based  upon  the maturities  of  such Bonds,  in  accordance with  the following
schedule. As  shown, the  sales charge  on  Bonds in  each maturity  range  (and
therefore the aggregate sales charge on the purchase) is reduced with respect to
purchases of at least $50,000 or 500 Units:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  AMOUNT OF PURCHASE*
                             ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>            <C>
                                            $50,000     $100,000     $250,000     $500,000     $1,000,000     $2,500,000
                                UNDER         TO           TO           TO           TO            TO             TO
YEARS TO MATURITY              $50,000      $99,999     $249,999     $499,999     $999,999     $2,499,999     $4,999,999
- ---------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -------------  -------------
Less than 1................           0            0            0            0            0             0              0
1 but less than 2..........       1.523%       1.446%       1.369%       1.317%       1.215%        1.061%          .900%
2 but less than 3..........       2.041        1.937        1.833        1.729        1.626         1.420          1.225
3 but less than 4..........       2.564        2.433        2.302        2.175        2.041         1.781          1.546
4 but less than 5..........       3.093        2.961        2.828        2.617        2.459         2.175          1.883
5 but less than 7..........       3.627        3.433        3.239        3.093        2.881         2.460          2.165
7 but less than 10.........       4.167        3.951        3.734        3.520        3.239         2.828          2.489
10 but less than 13........       4.712        4.467        4.221        4.004        3.788         3.253          2.842
13 but less than 16........       5.263        4.988        4.712        4.439        4.167         3.627          3.169
16 or more.................       5.820        5.542        5.263        4.987        4.603         4.004          3.500
 
<CAPTION>
 
<S>                          <C>
 
                              $5,000,000
YEARS TO MATURITY               OR MORE
- ---------------------------  -------------
Less than 1................            0
1 but less than 2..........         .750%
2 but less than 3..........        1.030
3 but less than 4..........        1.310
4 but less than 5..........        1.590
5 but less than 7..........        1.870
7 but less than 10.........        2.150
10 but less than 13........        2.430
13 but less than 16........        2.710
16 or more.................        3.000
</TABLE>
 
 *Breakpoint  sales charges are computed both on a dollar basis and on the basis
  of the  number  of Units  purchased,  using the  equivalent  of 500  Units  to
  $50,000,  2,500 Units  to $250,000,  etc., and will  be applied  on that basis
  which is more favorable to the purchaser.
 
    The secondary market sales charges above  are expressed as a percent of  the
net  amount invested; expressed as  a percent of the  Public Offering Price, the
maximum sales charge on  any Trust, including one  consisting entirely of  Bonds
with  16 years  or more to  maturity, would be  5.50% (5.820% of  the net amount
invested). For purposes of illustration, the sales charge on a Trust  consisting
entirely  of Bonds maturing  in 13 to  16 years would  be 5% (5.263%  of the net
amount invested); that on a Trust consisting entirely of Bonds maturing in  five
to  seven years would be 3.5% (3.627% of the net amount invested); and that on a
Trust consisting entirely of Bonds maturing in three to four years would be 2.5%
(2.564% of the net  amount invested). The actual  secondary market sales  charge
included in the Public Offering Price of any particular Trust will depend on the
maturities of the Bonds in the portfolio of such Trust.
 
    At  all  times while  Units are  being  offered for  sale, the  Sponsor will
appraise or cause to  be appraised daily  the value of  the underlying Bonds  in
each  Trust as of 4:00 p.m. eastern time on each day on which the New York Stock
Exchange (the "Exchange") is normally open  and will adjust the Public  Offering
Price  of the Units commensurate with such appraisal. Such Public Offering Price
will be effective for all orders received by a dealer or the Sponsor at or prior
to 4:00 p.m. eastern time on each such day. Orders received after that time,  or
on a day when the Exchange is closed for a scheduled holiday or weekend, will be
held until the next determination of price.
 
    As  more fully set forth  in Section 8, accrued  interest from the preceding
Record Date to, but not including, the settlement date of the transaction  (five
business  days after  purchase) will  be added to  the Public  Offering Price to
determine the purchase price of Units.
 
                                      A-15
<PAGE>
    The above graduated sales charges will apply on all applicable purchases  of
Nuveen investment company securities on any one day by the same purchaser in the
amounts stated, and for this purpose purchases of this Series will be aggregated
with  concurrent purchases  of any  other Series  or of  shares of  any open-end
management investment company of which the Sponsor is principal underwriter  and
with respect to the purchase of which a sales charge is imposed.
 
    Purchases  by or for the account of an  individual and his or her spouse and
children under 21 years  of age will be  aggregated to determine the  applicable
sales  charge. The graduated sales  charges are also applicable  to a trustee or
other fiduciary  purchasing  securities for  a  single trust  estate  or  single
fiduciary account.
 
    Units  may be purchased at the Public  Offering Price without a sales charge
by officers or directors and by bona fide, full-time employees of Nuveen, Nuveen
Advisory Corp., Nuveen Institutional Advisory Corp. and The John Nuveen Company,
including in each case these individuals and their immediate family members  (as
defined above).
 
    Units  may be  purchased in  the primary or  secondary market  at the Public
Offering Price for  non-breakpoint purchases  minus the  concession the  Sponsor
typically  allows  to  brokers  and dealers  for  non-breakpoint  purchases (see
Section 17)  by  investors  who purchase  Units  through  registered  investment
advisers, certified financial planners and registered broker-dealers who in each
case  either charge periodic fees for financial planning, investment advisory or
asset management  services, or  provide  such services  in connection  with  the
establishment  of an  investment account  for which  a comprehensive  "wrap fee"
charge is imposed, and by bank trust departments investing funds over which they
exercise exclusive discretionary  investment authority  and that are  held in  a
fiduciary,  agency, custodial  or similar capacity.  Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in this Prospectus, investors and bank trust departments purchasing
Units through this program will not receive sales charge reductions for quantity
purchases.
 
    The initial or primary Public Offering Price  of the Units in each Trust  is
based upon a pro rata share of the OFFERING prices per Unit of the Bonds in such
Trust  plus the  applicable sales charge.  The secondary  market Public Offering
Price of each Trust is based upon a pro rata share of the BID prices per Unit of
the Bonds in such Trust plus the applicable sales charge. The OFFERING prices of
Bonds in a Trust may be expected to average approximately 1% to 2% more than the
BID prices of such Bonds  in the case of  National, Long Intermediate and  State
Trusts,  3/4%  to 1  1/2% in  the  case of  Intermediate and  Short Intermediate
Trusts, and  1/2% to  3/4% in  the case  of Short  Term Trusts.  The  difference
between the bid side evaluation and the offering side evaluation of the Bonds in
each  Trust on the  business day prior  to the Date  of Deposit is  shown in the
discussion of each Trust portfolio.
 
    Whether or not Units are being offered for sale, the Sponsor will  determine
the aggregate value of each Trust as of 4:00 p.m. eastern time: (i) on each June
30 or December 31 (or, if such date is not a business day, the last business day
prior  thereto), (ii) on any day on which  a Unit is tendered for redemption (or
the next succeeding business day  if the date of  tender is a non-business  day)
and (iii) at such other times as may be necessary. For this purpose, a "business
day" shall be any day on which the Exchange is normally open. (See Section 16.)
 
7.  MARKET FOR UNITS
 
During  the  initial public  offering period,  the Sponsor  intends to  offer to
purchase Units of each  Trust at a  price equivalent to the  pro rata share  per
Unit  of the OFFERING prices of the Bonds in such Trust (plus accrued interest).
Afterward, although  it  is not  obligated  to do  so,  the Sponsor  intends  to
maintain  a secondary  market for  Units of  each Trust  at its  own expense and
continuously to offer  to purchase  Units of each  Trust at  prices, subject  to
 
                                      A-16
<PAGE>
change  at  any time,  which  are based  upon  the BID  prices  of Bonds  in the
respective portfolios of the Trusts. If the supply of Units of any of the Trusts
of this Series exceeds  demand, or for some  other business reason, the  Sponsor
may discontinue purchases of Units of such Trust at such prices. UNITHOLDERS WHO
WISH  TO DISPOSE OF THEIR UNITS SHOULD INQUIRE OF THE TRUSTEE OR THEIR BROKER AS
TO THE  CURRENT  REDEMPTION PRICE  (SEE  SECTION  19). In  connection  with  its
secondary  marketmaking activities, the Sponsor may from time to time enter into
secondary market  joint  account  agreements with  other  brokers  and  dealers.
Pursuant to such an agreement the Sponsor will purchase Units from the broker or
dealer at the bid price and will place the Units into a joint account managed by
the  Sponsor; sales from  the account will  be made in  accordance with the then
current prospectus and the Sponsor and  the broker or dealer will share  profits
and  losses in  the joint account  in accordance  with the terms  of their joint
account agreement.
 
    Certificates, if any, for Units are  delivered to the purchaser as  promptly
after  the date of settlement (five business days after purchase) as the Trustee
can complete the mechanics of registration. Normally, Certificates, if any,  are
mailed  by  the  Trustee within  48  hours after  registration  instructions are
received. Purchasers of Units to whom Certificates are issued will be unable  to
exercise  any right of redemption until they have received their Certificates as
tender of the Certificate, properly endorsed for transfer. (See Section 19.)
 
    Each Unit  of each  respective Trust  initially offered  by this  Prospectus
represents  that fractional  undivided interest  in such  Trust as  is set forth
under "Essential Information Regarding the Trusts." To the extent that any Units
of any Trust are  redeemed by the  Trustee, the aggregate  value of the  Trust's
assets  will decrease by  the amount paid  to the redeeming  Unitholder, but the
fractional undivided  interest  of  each  unredeemed Unit  in  such  Trust  will
increase  proportionately. The  Sponsor will  initially, and  from time  to time
thereafter, hold Units in connection with their offering.
 
8.  WHAT IS ACCRUED INTEREST?
 
Accrued interest is the accumulation of unpaid interest on a bond from the  last
day  on which  interest thereon  was paid.  Interest on  Bonds in  each Trust is
accounted for daily on an accrual basis. For this reason, the purchase price  of
Units  of a Trust will  include not only the Public  Offering Price but also the
proportionate share  of accrued  interest to  the date  of settlement.  Interest
accrues  to the  benefit of Unitholders  commencing with the  settlement date of
their purchase transaction.
 
    Accrued interest does not include accrual of original issue discount on zero
coupon bonds, Stripped Obligations or other original issue discount bonds.  (See
"Summary  of Portfolios--General Trust Information" and  "What Is The Tax Status
of Unitholders.")
 
    In an effort to reduce the  amount of accrued interest that investors  would
have  to pay in addition to the Public Offering Price, the Trustee has agreed to
advance to each Trust the amount of accrued interest due on the Bonds as of  the
Date  of Deposit (which has been designated  the first Record Date for all plans
of distribution).  This accrued  interest will  be paid  to the  Sponsor as  the
holder  of record of  all Units on  the Date of  Deposit. Consequently, when the
Sponsor sells Units of a  Trust, the amount of accrued  interest to be added  to
the  Public Offering Price to determine the  purchase price of the Units of such
Trust purchased by an investor will include only accrued interest from the  Date
of  Deposit to,  but not  including, the  date of  settlement of  the investor's
purchase (five business days  after purchase), less  any distributions from  the
related  Interest Account.  The Trustee  will recover  its advancements (without
interest or  other cost  to the  Trusts)  from interest  received on  the  Bonds
deposited in each Trust.
 
    The  Trustee has no  cash for distribution to  Unitholders until it receives
interest payments on the Bonds in  the Trusts. Since municipal bond interest  is
accrued daily but
 
                                      A-17
<PAGE>
paid  only semi-annually, during the initial  months of the Trusts, the Interest
Accounts, consisting of accrued but uncollected interest and collected  interest
(cash),  will  be predominantly  the uncollected  accrued  interest that  is not
available for distribution. However, due to advances by the Trustee, the Trustee
will provide a first distribution between approximately 30 and 60 days after the
Date of Deposit. Assuming each Trust  retains its original size and  composition
and expenses and fees remain the same, annual interest collected and distributed
will  approximate  the  estimated  Net  Annual  Interest  Income  stated herein.
However, the amount of  accrued interest at  any point in  time will be  greater
than  the amount that the Trustee will have actually received and distributed to
the Unitholders. Therefore, there will always remain an item of accrued interest
that is included in the Purchase Price and the redemption price of the Units.
 
    Interest is accounted  for daily and  a proportionate share  of accrued  and
undistributed  interest computed from the preceding  Record Date is added to the
daily valuation of each Unit  of each Trust. (See Sections  3 and 13.) As  Bonds
mature,  or are redeemed or sold, the  accrued interest applicable to such bonds
is collected and subsequently distributed  to Unitholders. Unitholders who  sell
or redeem all or a portion of their Units will be paid their proportionate share
of  the remaining accrued interest to, but not including, the fifth business day
following the date of sale or tender.
 
9.  WHAT ARE ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN AND ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN?
 
The Estimated Long Term Return for each Trust is a measure of the return to  the
investor  earned over the estimated  life of the Trust.  The Estimated Long Term
Return represents an average of the yields to maturity (or call) of the Bonds in
the Trust's portfolio calculated in  accordance with accepted bond practice  and
adjusted  to reflect expenses  and sales charges.  Under accepted bond practice,
tax-exempt bonds are customarily offered to investors on a "yield price"  basis,
which  involves computation  of yield  to maturity  or to  an earlier  call date
(whichever produces the lower yield), and which takes into account not only  the
interest  payable  on the  bonds but  also  the amortization  or accretion  to a
specified date of any premium over or discount from the par (maturity) value  in
the  bond's  purchase  price. In  calculating  Estimated Long  Term  Return, the
average yield for  the Trust's  portfolio is  derived by  weighting each  Bond's
yield by the market value of the Bond and by the amount of time remaining to the
date  to which the Bond is priced. Once the average portfolio yield is computed,
this figure is then reduced to reflect estimated expenses and the effect of  the
maximum  sales  charge  paid  by  investors.  The  Estimated  Long  Term  Return
calculation does not take into account the effect of a first distribution  which
may  be less than a regular  distribution or may be paid  at some point after 30
days (or a second distribution which may be less than a normal distribution  for
Unitholders  who choose quarterly or semi-annual  plans of distribution), and it
also does  not  take  into account  the  difference  in timing  of  payments  to
Unitholders  who choose quarterly or semi-annual  plans of distribution, each of
which will reduce the return.
 
    Estimated Current Return  is computed  by dividing the  Net Annual  Interest
Income per Unit by the Public Offering Price. In contrast to Estimated Long Term
Return, Estimated Current Return does not reflect the amortization of premium or
accretion of discount, if any, on the Bonds in the Trust's portfolio. Net Annual
Interest Income per Unit is calculated by dividing the annual interest income to
the Trust, less estimated expenses, by the number of Units outstanding.
 
    Net  Annual Interest  Income per Unit,  used to  calculate Estimated Current
Return, will vary  with changes  in fees  and expenses  of the  Trustee and  the
Evaluator  and with the redemption, maturity, exchange or sale of Bonds. A Trust
may experience expenses and  portfolio changes different  from those assumed  in
the calculation of Estimated Long Term
 
                                      A-18
<PAGE>
Return.  There thus can  be no assurance  that the Estimated  Current Returns or
Estimated Long Term  Returns quoted  herein will be  realized in  the future.  A
Unitholder's  actual return may vary  significantly from the Estimated Long-Term
Return, based  on their  holding  period, market  interest rate  changes,  other
factors  affecting  the  prices  of  individual  bonds  in  the  portfolio,  and
differences between  the expected  remaining  life of  portfolio bonds  and  the
actual length of time that they remain in the Trust; such actual holding periods
may  be reduced  by termination  of the  Trust, as  described in  "AMENDMENT AND
TERMINATION OF  INDENTURE." Since  both  the Estimated  Current Return  and  the
Estimated  Long Term Return quoted  herein are based on  the market value of the
underlying Bonds on the  business day prior to  the Date of Deposit,  subsequent
calculations  of these performance measures will reflect the then current market
value of the underlying Bonds and may be higher or lower.
 
    A portion of the  monies received by  a Trust may be  treated, in the  first
year  only, as a return of principal due to the inclusion in the Trust portfolio
of "when-issued"  or  other  Bonds  having delivery  dates  after  the  date  of
settlement  for purchases  made on  the Date of  Deposit. A  consequence of this
treatment is that in the computation  of Estimated Current Return for the  first
year, such monies are excluded from Net Annual Interest Income and treated as an
adjustment  to the Public Offering  Price. (See "Essential Information Regarding
the Trusts" and Sections 4 and 11.)
 
    For a statement of the Net Annual Interest Income per Unit under the monthly
plan of  distribution,  and Estimated  Long  Term Yield  and  Estimated  Current
Returns based on the Public Offering Prices of the Trusts in this Series, all as
of  the day prior to  the Date of Deposit,  see "Essential Information Regarding
the Trusts."
 
10.  HOW WAS THE PRICE OF THE BONDS DETERMINED AT THE DATE OF DEPOSIT?
 
The prices at which the Bonds deposited in the Trusts would have been offered to
the public on the business day prior  to the Date of Deposit were determined  by
the  Trustee on the basis  of an evaluation of such  Bonds prepared by Kenny S&P
Evaluation Services,  a division  of J.  J. Kenny  Co., Inc.,  a firm  regularly
engaged  in the business of evaluating,  quoting or appraising comparable bonds.
With respect to Bonds in Insured Trusts and insured Bonds in Traditional Trusts,
Kenny S&P Evaluation Services,  a division of J.  J. Kenny Co., Inc.,  evaluated
the Bonds as so insured. (See Section 5).
 
    The  amount by which  the Trustee's determination of  the OFFERING PRICES of
the Bonds deposited  in the Trusts  was greater or  less than the  cost of  such
Bonds  to  the  Sponsor was  PROFIT  OR LOSS  to  the Sponsor  exclusive  of any
underwriting profit.  (See Section  3.)  The Sponsor  also may  realize  FURTHER
PROFIT  OR  SUSTAIN FURTHER  LOSS  as a  result  of fluctuations  in  the Public
Offering Price of the Units. Cash, if  any, made available to the Sponsor  prior
to  the settlement date for a purchase of  Units, or prior to the acquisition of
all Portfolio securities by a Trust, may  be available for use in the  Sponsor's
business, and may be of benefit to the Sponsor.
 
11.  WHAT IS THE TAX STATUS OF UNITHOLDERS?
 
At  the  respective times  of issuance  of  the Bonds  opinions relating  to the
validity thereof and to  the exemption of interest  thereon from Federal  income
tax  were rendered  by bond  counsel to  the respective  issuing authorities. In
addition, with respect to  State Trusts, where applicable,  bond counsel to  the
issuing  authorities rendered opinions  as to the exemption  of interest on such
Bonds, when held by residents  of the state in which  the issuers of such  Bonds
are  located, from state income taxes and certain state or local intangibles and
local income taxes.  For a  discussion of  the tax  status of  State Trusts  see
"Summary  of  Portfolios--  Tax Status"  for  the respective  State  Trust. (See
Sections 2 and 3.) Neither the Sponsor nor its
 
                                      A-19
<PAGE>
counsel have made any special review for the Trusts of the proceedings  relating
to  the issuance  of the  Bonds or  of the  basis for  the opinions  rendered in
connection therewith.
 
    Taxpayers  must  disclose  on  their  Federal  tax  returns  the  amount  of
tax-exempt  interest  earned  during  the  year.  Federally  tax-exempt  income,
including income on  Units of the  Trusts, will be  taken into consideration  in
computing the portion, if any, of social security benefits received that will be
included in a taxpayer's gross income subject to the Federal income tax.
 
    Gain  realized on the sale or redemption of the Bonds by the Trustee or of a
Unit by  a Unitholder  is includable  in  gross income  for Federal  income  tax
purposes,  and may be includable  in gross income for  state tax purposes. (Such
gain does not  include any amounts  received in respect  of accrued interest  or
accrued  original issue discount, if any.) A  portion of a Unitholder's gain, to
the extent of accreted market discount, may be treated as ordinary income rather
than capital gain if the Bonds were purchased by a Trust at a market discount or
if the Unitholder purchased his  or her Units at a  market discount on or  after
April  30, 1993. Market discount can arise based on the price the Trust pays for
the Bonds or the price a Unitholder pays for his or her Units.
 
    In the opinion of Chapman and Cutler, Counsel to the Sponsor, under existing
law:
 
    (1) the Trusts  are not  associations taxable  as corporations  for  Federal
        income  tax purposes. Tax-exempt interest received by each of the Trusts
        on  Bonds  deposited  therein  will  retain  its  status  as  tax-exempt
        interest,  for Federal income tax purposes,  when received by the Trusts
        and when distributed  to the  Unitholders, except  that the  alternative
        minimum  tax and environmental  tax (the "Superfund  Tax") applicable to
        corporate Unitholders  may, in  certain  circumstances, include  in  the
        amount  on which  such taxes  are calculated  a portion  of the interest
        income received by  the Trust.  See "Certain Tax  Matters Applicable  to
        Corporate Unitholders", below;
 
    (2) each  Unitholder of a Trust is considered to  be the owner of a pro rata
        portion of such Trust under Subpart E, subchapter J of Chapter 1 of  the
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code") and will have a taxable event
        when  the Trust  disposes of  a Bond or  when the  Unitholder redeems or
        sells Units. Unitholders must  reduce the tax basis  of their Units  for
        their  share of accrued interest received by the Trust, if any, on Bonds
        delivered after  the  date the  Unitholders  pay for  their  Units  and,
        consequently,  such Unitholders may have an  increase in taxable gain or
        reduction in capital loss  upon the disposition of  such Units. Gain  or
        loss  upon the sale or redemption of  Units is measured by comparing the
        proceeds of  such sale  or redemption  with the  adjusted basis  of  the
        Units.  If the  Trustee disposes of  Bonds (whether by  sale, payment at
        maturity, redemption or otherwise),  gain or loss  is recognized to  the
        Unitholder. The amount of any such gain or loss is measured by comparing
        the  Unitholder's  pro  rata  share  of  the  total  proceeds  from such
        disposition with  the  Unitholder's  basis for  his  or  her  fractional
        interest  in the  asset disposed  of. In  the case  of a  Unitholder who
        purchases Units, such basis (before adjustment for earned original issue
        discount  and  amortized  bond  premium,   if  any)  is  determined   by
        apportioning  the  cost of  the  Units among  each  of the  Trust assets
        ratably according to value as of  the date of acquisition of the  Units.
        The   tax  cost  reduction   requirements  of  said   Code  relating  to
        amortization of bond  premium may, under  some circumstances, result  in
        the  Unitholder realizing a taxable gain when  his or her Units are sold
        or redeemed for an amount equal to their original cost; and
 
    (3) any amounts paid on defaulted Bonds  held by the Trustee under  policies
        of  insurance issued with respect to  such Bonds will be excludable from
        Federal gross income if, and to the same extent as, such interest  would
        have been so excludable if
 
                                      A-20
<PAGE>
        paid  by the respective issuer provided  that, at the time such policies
        are purchased,  the  amounts  paid for  such  policies  are  reasonable,
        customary and consistent with the reasonable expectation that the issuer
        of  the bonds,  rather than  the insurer, will  pay debt  service on the
        bonds. Paragraph (2) of this opinion is accordingly applicable to policy
        proceeds representing maturing interest.
 
In the opinion of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn, counsel to the Trustee, and, in the
absence of a New York Trust from the Series, special counsel for the Series  for
New York tax matters, under existing law:
 
        Under  the income tax laws of the State and City of New York, each Trust
    is not an association taxable as a corporation and the income of each  Trust
    will be treated as the income of the Unitholders.
 
    For  a summary of  each opinion of  special counsel to  the respective State
Trusts for state tax matters, see Section 3.
 
    ALL STATEMENTS IN THE PROSPECTUS CONCERNING EXEMPTION FROM FEDERAL, STATE OR
OTHER TAXES ARE THE OPINION OF COUNSEL AND ARE TO BE SO CONSTRUED.
 
    The redemption of Units in a Trust  by a Unitholder would result in each  of
the  remaining Unitholders of said Trust owning a greater proportionate interest
in the remaining assets  of said Trust. Although  present law does not  directly
address  this matter, it  would appear reasonable  that a remaining Unitholder's
tax basis in  his Units would  include his proportionate  share of any  proceeds
received by the Trust on the sale of bonds which were not distributed to him but
were  instead used by  the Trust to redeem  Units and that his  tax basis in the
remaining assets of the  Trust would accordingly be  increased by such share  of
proceeds, based on the relative fair market value of the remaining assets of the
Trust as of the date of such redemption.
 
    Sections  1288 and 1272 of the Code provide a complex set of rules governing
the accrual of original issue discount. These rules provide that original  issue
discount  accrues either on  the basis of  a constant compound  interest rate or
ratably over the term of the Bond, depending on the date the Bond was issued. In
addition, special  rules apply  if the  purchase  price of  a Bond  exceeds  the
original issue price plus the amount of original issue discount which would have
previously  accrued based upon its issue price (its "adjusted issue price"). The
application of these rules will also vary depending on the value of the Bond  on
the  date a Unitholder acquires his Units, and the price the Unitholder pays for
his Units. The  accrual of  tax-exempt original  issue discount  on zero  coupon
bonds  and other original issue discount bonds will result in an increase in the
Unitholder's basis in  such obligations and,  accordingly, in his  basis in  his
Units.
 
    The  Tax Act subjects tax-exempt  bonds to the market  discount rules of the
Code effective for  bonds purchased  after April  30, 1993.  In general,  market
discount is the amount (if any) by which the stated redemption price at maturity
exceeds an investor's purchase price (except to the extent that such difference,
if  any, is attributable to original issue  discount not yet accrued). Under the
Tax Act, accretion of market discount is taxable as ORDINARY INCOME; under prior
law, the  accretion had  been  treated as  capital  gain. Market  discount  that
accretes  while the Trust holds a Bond would be recognized as ordinary income by
the Unitholders when principal payments are  received on the Bond, upon sale  or
at  redemption (including early  redemption), or upon the  sale or redemption of
his or  her Units,  unless a  Unitholder elects  to include  market discount  in
taxable  income  as  it  accrues.  The market  discount  rules  are  complex and
Unitholders should consult their  tax advisors regarding  these rules and  their
application.
 
    The Internal Revenue Code provides that interest on indebtedness incurred or
continued  to purchase  or carry  obligations, the  interest on  which is wholly
exempt from Federal
 
                                      A-21
<PAGE>
income taxes, is not deductible. Because each Unitholder is treated for  Federal
income  tax purposes as the owner of a pro  rata share of the Bonds owned by the
applicable Trust, interest on borrowed funds used to purchase or carry Units  of
such  Trust will not be deductible for  Federal income tax purposes. Under rules
used by the  Internal Revenue Service  for determining when  borrowed funds  are
considered used for the purpose of purchasing or carrying particular assets, the
purchase  of Units may be considered to  have been made with borrowed funds even
though the borrowed funds  are not directly traceable  to the purchase of  Units
(however,  these rules generally  do not apply to  interest paid on indebtedness
incurred to  purchase  or  improve  a personal  residence).  Similar  rules  are
generally  applicable for state tax purposes. Special rules apply in the case of
certain financial  institutions that  acquire  Units. Investors  with  questions
regarding these issues should consult with their tax advisers.
 
    In  general,  each  issue of  bonds  in  the Trusts  is  subject  to certain
post-issuance requirements which must  be met in order  for the interest on  the
Bonds to be and remain exempt from Federal income taxation. Bond counsel to each
issuer generally has opined that, assuming continuing compliance by such issuers
with  certain covenants, interest on such Bonds  will continue to be exempt from
Federal income taxation (other than with respect to the application to corporate
Unitholders of the alternative  minimum tax or the  Superfund Tax, as  discussed
below).
 
    For  purposes of computing  the alternative minimum  tax for individuals and
corporations, interest on certain specified tax-exempt private activity bonds is
included as a preference item. The Trusts do not include any such bonds.
 
    For taxpayers  other  than corporations,  net  capital gains  are  presently
subject  to a maximum tax  rate of 28 percent. However,  it should be noted that
legislative proposals are introduced from time to time that affect tax rates and
could affect relative differences at which ordinary income and capital gains are
taxed.
 
    CERTAIN TAX  MATTERS APPLICABLE  TO CORPORATE  UNITHOLDERS. In  the case  of
certain  corporations, the alternative minimum tax  and the Superfund Tax depend
upon the corporation's alternative minimum taxable income ("AMTI"), which is the
corporation's taxable income  with certain  adjustments. One  of the  adjustment
items  used in computing AMTI and the Superfund Tax of a corporation (other than
an S corporation, Regulated Investment Company, Real Estate Investment Trust, or
REMIC) is an amount equal to 75%  of the excess of such corporation's  "adjusted
current  earnings" over an amount equal to its AMTI (before such adjustment item
and the  alternative  tax net  operation  loss deduction).  Although  tax-exempt
interest  received by each of the Trusts  on Bonds deposited therein will not be
included in the gross  income of corporations for  Federal income tax  purposes,
"adjusted current earnings" includes all tax-exempt interest, including interest
on all Bonds in the Trust and tax-exempt original issue discount.
 
    Corporate  Unitholders  are urged  to consult  their  own tax  advisers with
respect to the particular tax consequences  to them resulting under the  Federal
tax  law, including the corporate alternative minimum tax, the Superfund Tax and
the branch profits tax imposed by Section 884 of the Code.
 
    EXCEPT AS NOTED ABOVE AND IN SECTION  3, THE EXEMPTION OF INTEREST ON  STATE
AND  LOCAL  OBLIGATIONS FOR  FEDERAL INCOME  TAX  PURPOSES DOES  NOT NECESSARILY
RESULT IN EXEMPTION UNDER THE INCOME OR OTHER TAX LAWS OF ANY STATE OR CITY. THE
LAWS  OF  THE  SEVERAL  STATES  VARY  WITH  RESPECT  TO  THE  TAXATION  OF  SUCH
OBLIGATIONS.
 
12.  WHAT ARE NORMAL TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES?
 
No  annual advisory fee is charged the  Trusts by the Sponsor. The Sponsor does,
however, receive a fee  of $0.17 per  annum per $1,000  principal amount of  the
underlying Bonds in
 
                                      A-22
<PAGE>
each  Trust for regularly evaluating the  Bonds and for maintaining surveillance
over the portfolio. (See Section 16.)
 
    The Trustee receives for ordinary recurring services an annual fee for  each
plan  of  distribution for  each Trust  as set  forth in  "Essential Information
Regarding the Trusts."  Each annual fee  is per $1,000  principal amount of  the
underlying  Bonds in  a Trust for  that portion  of the Trust  that represents a
particular plan of distribution. The Trustee's fee may be periodically  adjusted
in response to fluctuations in short-term interest rates (reflecting the cost to
the  Trustee of advancing funds to a  Trust to meet scheduled distributions) and
may be further adjusted in accordance with the cumulative percentage increase of
the United  States Department  of  Labor's Consumer  Price Index  entitled  "All
Services  Less Rent" since the establishment of  the Trusts. The Trustee has the
use of funds, if any, being held in the Interest and Principal Accounts of  each
Trust  for  future distributions,  payment  of expenses  and  redemptions. These
Accounts are non-interest  bearing to  Unitholders. Pursuant  to normal  banking
procedures, the Trustee benefits from the use of funds held therein. Part of the
Trustee's  compensation for its services to the  Fund is expected to result from
such use of these funds.
 
    Premiums for the  policies of insurance  obtained by the  Sponsor or by  the
Bond issuers with respect to the Bonds in the Insured Trusts and with respect to
insured  Bonds in Traditional Trusts have been paid in full prior to the deposit
of the Bonds in the Trusts, and the value of such insurance has been included in
the evaluation of the Bonds in each Trust and accordingly in the Public Offering
Price of Units of each Trust. There  are no annual continuing premiums for  such
insurance.
 
    The Sponsor has borne all costs of creating and establishing the Trusts. The
following  are expenses  of the  Trusts and,  when paid  by or  are owed  to the
Trustee, are secured by  a lien on the  assets of the Trust  or Trusts to  which
such expenses are allocable: (1) the expenses and costs of any action undertaken
by  the  Trustee to  protect  the Trusts  and the  rights  and interests  of the
Unitholders; (2) all taxes and other governmental charges upon the Bonds or  any
part of the Trusts (no such taxes or charges are being levied or made or, to the
knowledge  of the Sponsor, contemplated); (3)  amounts payable to the Trustee as
fees  for  ordinary  recurring  services  and  for  extraordinary  non-recurring
services  rendered  pursuant to  the Indenture,  all disbursements  and expenses
including counsel fees  (including fees of  bond counsel which  the Trustee  may
retain)  sustained or incurred  by the Trustee in  connection therewith; and (4)
any losses or liabilities accruing to the Trustee without negligence, bad  faith
or  willful misconduct on  its part. The  Trustee is empowered  to sell Bonds in
order to  pay  these  amounts  if  funds are  not  otherwise  available  in  the
applicable Interest and Principal Accounts.
 
    The  Indenture requires each Trust  to be audited on  an annual basis at the
expense of the Trust by independent public accountants selected by the  Sponsor.
The  Trustee  shall not  be  required, however,  to cause  such  an audit  to be
performed if its cost to a Trust shall exceed $.05 per Unit on an annual  basis.
Unitholders  of a  Trust covered by  an audit may  obtain a copy  of the audited
financial statements upon request.
 
13.  WHEN ARE DISTRIBUTIONS MADE TO UNITHOLDERS?
 
Interest received by the Trustee on the Bonds in each Trust, including that part
of the proceeds of  any disposition of Bonds  which represents accrued  interest
and  including  any insurance  proceeds representing  interest due  on defaulted
Bonds, shall be credited to the "Interest  Account" of such Trust and all  other
moneys  received by the Trustee shall be  credited to the "Principal Account" of
such Trust.
 
    The pro rata share of  cash in the Principal Account  in each Trust will  be
computed as of each semi-annual Record Date and distributions to the Unitholders
as of such Record Date
 
                                      A-23
<PAGE>
will  be  made on  or shortly  after the  fifteenth day  of the  month. Proceeds
received from the disposition, including sale,  call or maturity, of any of  the
Bonds  and  all amounts  paid with  respect  to zero  coupon bonds  and Stripped
Obligations will be held  in the Principal  Account and either  used to pay  for
Units  redeemed  or  distributed on  the  Distribution Date  following  the next
semi-annual Record Date. The Trustee is not required to make a distribution from
the Principal Account of any Trust unless the amount available for  distribution
in such account equals at least ten cents per Unit.
 
    The pro rata share of the Interest Account in each Trust will be computed by
the  Trustee each month as of each Record Date and distributions will be made on
or shortly after the fifteenth day of the month to Unitholders of such Trust  as
of the Record Date who are entitled to distributions at that time under the plan
of  distribution chosen. Persons who purchase Units  between a Record Date and a
Distribution Date will receive their first distribution on the Distribution Date
following the next Record Date under the applicable plan of distribution.
 
    Purchasers of  Units  who desire  to  receive interest  distributions  on  a
monthly or quarterly basis may elect to do so at the time of purchase during the
initial  public offering  period. Those indicating  no choice will  be deemed to
have chosen the  semi-annual distribution  plan. All  Unitholders, however,  who
purchase  Units during the initial  public offering period and  who hold them of
record on the first Record Date will receive the first distribution of interest.
Thereafter, Record Dates for monthly distributions will be the first day of each
month; Record  Dates  for quarterly  distributions  will  be the  first  day  of
February,   May,  August  and   November;  and  Record   Dates  for  semi-annual
distributions will be the first day of May and November.
 
    Details of distributions  per Unit  of each  Trust under  the various  plans
based upon estimated Net Annual Interest Income at the Date of Deposit are shown
in  the tables appearing in  Section 3. The amount  of the regular distributions
will remain the same so long as  each Trust portfolio remains the same and  fees
and expenses remain the same, and will generally change when Bonds are redeemed,
mature or are sold or when fees and expenses increase or decrease.
 
    The  plan of  distribution selected  by a  Unitholder will  remain in effect
until changed.  Unitholders  purchasing  Units  in  the  secondary  market  will
initially  receive distributions  in accordance with  the election  of the prior
owner. Unitholders desiring to  change their plan of  distribution may do so  by
sending   a   written  notice   requesting   the  change,   together   with  any
Certificate(s), to  the  Trustee. The  notice  and any  Certificate(s)  must  be
received  by  the Trustee  not  later than  the  semi-annual Record  Date  to be
effective  as  of   the  semi-annual  distribution   following  the   subsequent
semi-annual  Record Date.  Unitholders are  requested to  make any  such changes
within 45 days prior to the applicable Record Date. Certificates should only  be
sent  by registered or certified mail to minimize the possibility of their being
lost or stolen. (See Section 18.) If no notice is received in proper form by the
Trustee, the Unitholder  will be  deemed to have  elected to  continue the  same
plan.
 
    As  of the first day of each month the Trustee will deduct from the Interest
Account of a Trust or, to the extent funds are not sufficient therein, from  the
Principal  Account of a  Trust, amounts needed  for payment of  expenses of such
Trust. The Trustee also may withdraw from said accounts such amount, if any,  as
it  deems necessary to establish a  reserve for any governmental charges payable
out of such Trust. Amounts  so withdrawn shall not be  considered a part of  the
Trust's  assets until such time  as the Trustee shall return  all or any part of
such amounts to the appropriate account.
 
    For the purpose  of minimizing  fluctuations in the  distributions from  the
Interest  Account of a Trust, the Trustee  is authorized to advance such amounts
as may be necessary to provide for interest distributions of approximately equal
amounts. The Trustee shall be
 
                                      A-24
<PAGE>
reimbursed, without interest, for any such  advances from funds in the  Interest
Account  of  such  Trust.  The  Trustee's  fee  takes  into  account  the  costs
attributable to the outlay of capital needed to make such advances.
 
    The Trustee  shall withdraw  from  the Interest  Account and  the  Principal
Account  of a  Trust such amounts  as may  be necessary to  cover redemptions of
Units of such Trust by the Trustee. (See Section 19.)
 
    Funds which are available for future distributions, redemptions and  payment
of  expenses are held in accounts  which are non-interest bearing to Unitholders
and are available for use by the Trustee pursuant to normal banking procedures.
 
14.  ACCUMULATION PLAN
 
The Sponsor, John Nuveen & Co.  Incorporated, is also the principal  underwriter
of  the  Nuveen Municipal  Bond Fund,  Inc. (the  "Bond Fund"),  Nuveen Tax-Free
Reserves, Inc. ("Tax-Free Reserves"), Nuveen California Tax-Free Fund, Inc. (the
"California Fund"),  Nuveen Tax-Free  Bond Fund,  Inc. ("Tax-Free  Bond  Fund"),
Nuveen  Insured Tax-Free  Bond Fund, Inc.  (the "Insured Bond  Fund") and Nuveen
Tax-Free Money  Market Fund,  Inc.  (the "Money  Market  Fund") and  the  Nuveen
Multistate  Tax-Free  Trust  (the  "Multistate  Trust").  Each  of  these  funds
(together, the  "Accumulation Funds")  is  an open-end,  diversified  management
investment   company  into  which  Unitholders  may  choose  to  reinvest  Trust
distributions automatically,  without any  sales  charge. (Reinvestment  in  the
California  Fund is available only to  Unitholders who are California residents.
Reinvestment in the State Portfolios of the Tax-Free Bond Fund, the Insured Bond
Fund, the  Money Market  Fund and  the  Multistate Trust  is available  only  to
Unitholders  who  are residents  of  the states  for  which such  portfolios are
named.) Unitholders may  reinvest both interest  and principal distributions  or
principal  distributions only. Each Accumulation  Fund has investment objectives
which differ in  certain respects from  those of  the Trusts and  may invest  in
securities which would not be eligible for deposit in the Trusts. The investment
adviser  to  each Accumulation  Fund is  Nuveen  Advisory Corp.,  a wholly-owned
subsidiary of  the  Sponsor. The  following  is  a general  description  of  the
investment  objectives  and  policies  of each  Accumulation  Fund.  For  a more
detailed description, Unitholders should read the prospectus of the Accumulation
Fund in which they are interested.
 
THE BOND FUND
 
    The Bond  Fund has  the  objective of  providing,  through investment  in  a
professionally  managed portfolio of long-term municipal  bonds, as high a level
of current interest income exempt from Federal income tax as is consistent  with
preservation  of capital. The Bond Fund  may include in its portfolio tax-exempt
bonds rated Baa or BBB or better by Moody's or Standard & Poor's, unrated  bonds
which,  in the  opinion of the  investment adviser,  have credit characteristics
equivalent  to  bonds  rated  Baa  or  BBB  or  better,  and  certain  temporary
investments,  including securities the interest income from which may be subject
to Federal income tax.
 
TAX-FREE RESERVES
 
    Tax-Free Reserves is a  "money market" fund that  includes in its  portfolio
only  obligations  maturing  within  one  year  from  the  date  of acquisition,
maintains an average maturity of all investments of 120 days or less, values its
portfolio at amortized cost and seeks to maintain a net asset value of $1.00 per
share. It provides checkwriting and expedited wire redemption privileges for its
shareholders.  Tax-Free  Reserves  has  the  objective  of  providing,   through
investment  in  a professionally  managed portfolio  of high  quality short-term
municipal obligations, as high  a level of current  interest income exempt  from
Federal  income  tax  as is  consistent  with  preservation of  capital  and the
maintenance of liquidity. Tax-Free
 
                                      A-25
<PAGE>
Reserves may  include in  its  portfolio municipal  obligations rated  Aaa,  Aa,
MIG-1,  VMIG-1 or  Prime-1 by  Moody's or  AAA, AA,  SP-1 or  A-1 by  Standard &
Poor's, unrated municipal  obligations that,  in the opinion  of the  investment
adviser,  have credit characteristics equivalent  to obligations rated as above,
tax-exempt obligations backed by the U.S. Government, and temporary  investments
that may be subject to Federal income tax.
 
THE CALIFORNIA FUND
 
    The  California Fund has  the objective of  providing, through investment in
professionally managed portfolios of California municipal obligations, as high a
level of current interest income exempt from both Federal and California  income
taxes as is consistent with the investment policies of each of the portfolios of
the  California Fund  and with  preservation of  capital. Each  portfolio of the
California Fund may include  temporary investments that may  be subject to  tax.
California Unitholders may reinvest in one of three portfolios of the California
Fund:  The Nuveen California Tax-Free Value  Fund, the Nuveen California Insured
Tax-Free Value Fund and the Nuveen California Tax-Free Money Market Fund.
 
    The Nuveen California  Tax-Free Value  Fund invests  primarily in  long-term
investment  grade California  tax-exempt bonds  (I.E., bonds  rated in  the four
highest categories by  Moody's or Standard  & Poor's or,  if unrated, that  have
equivalent credit characteristics). The Nuveen California Insured Tax-Free Value
Fund  invests primarily  in the  same type  of investments  as the  Special Bond
Portfolio, each of which is covered by insurance guaranteeing the timely payment
of principal  and  interest  or  is  backed by  a  deposit  of  U.S.  Government
securities.
 
    The  Nuveen  California  Tax-Free  Money Market  Fund  invests  primarily in
high-quality short term  California tax-exempt money  market instruments  (I.E.,
obligations  rated in the two highest categories by Moody's or Standard & Poor's
or, if unrated,  that have  equivalent credit  characteristics). This  portfolio
will  include  only  obligations  maturing  within one  year  from  the  date of
acquisition, will maintain an average maturity of all investments of 120 days or
less, will value its portfolio at amortized cost and will seek to maintain a net
asset value of $1.00 per share. The Nuveen California Tax-Free Money Market Fund
provides for an expedited wire redemption privilege.
 
THE TAX-FREE BOND FUND
 
    The Tax-Free Bond Fund consists  of the Nuveen Massachusetts Tax-Free  Value
Fund,  the Nuveen New York  Tax-Free Value Fund, the  Nuveen Ohio Tax-Free Value
Fund, and the Nuveen  New Jersey Tax-Free Value  Fund, which are each  available
for  reinvestment to Unitholders who  are residents of the  state for which such
portfolio is  named. The  Tax-Free Bond  Fund has  the objective  of  providing,
through  investment in a professionally managed portfolio of municipal bonds, as
high a level of current interest income exempt both from Federal income tax  and
from  the  income  tax  imposed  by  each  portfolio's  designated  state  as is
consistent with preservation of capital. The  Tax-Free Bond Fund may include  in
each  of its  portfolios tax-exempt  bonds rated Baa  or BBB  or better; unrated
bonds  which,  in   the  opinion   of  the  investment   adviser,  have   credit
characteristics  equivalent to  bonds rated  Baa or  BBB or  better; and certain
temporary investments, including securities the  interest income from which  may
be subject to Federal and state income tax.
 
THE INSURED BOND FUND
 
    The  Insured Bond Fund  consists of the Nuveen  Insured Municipal Bond Fund,
the Nuveen Massachusetts  Insured Tax-Free Value  Fund and the  Nuveen New  York
Insured  Tax-Free  Value  Fund, which  are  each available  for  reinvestment to
Unitholders. (The Massachusetts and  New York Portfolios  are available only  to
those Unitholders who are residents of the
 
                                      A-26
<PAGE>
state for which the portfolio is named.) The Insured Bond Fund has the objective
of  providing,  through  investment  in  professionally  managed  portfolios  of
municipal bonds, as  high a level  of current interest  income exempt from  both
Federal  income tax and,  in the case  of designated state  portfolios, from the
income tax imposed by each portfolio's  designated state, as is consistent  with
preservation  of  capital. The  Insured Bond  Fund  may include  in each  of its
portfolios the same type of investments as the Tax-Free Bond Fund, each of which
is covered  by  insurance  guaranteeing  the timely  payment  of  principal  and
interest or is backed by a deposit of U.S. Government securities.
 
THE MONEY MARKET FUND
 
    The  Money Market Fund  consists of the  Nuveen Massachusetts Tax-Free Money
Market Fund and the Nuveen New York  Tax-Free Money Market Fund, which are  each
available  for reinvestment  to Unitholders who  are residents of  the state for
which such portfolio is named. The Money Market Fund includes in its  portfolios
only  obligations  maturing  within  one  year  from  the  date  of acquisition,
maintains an average  maturity of  120 days or  less, values  its portfolios  at
amortized  cost and seeks to maintain a net  asset value of $1.00 per share. The
Money Market  Fund  has  the  objective  of  providing,  through  investment  in
professionally   managed  portfolios   of  high   quality  short-term  municipal
obligations, as high a level of current interest income exempt both from Federal
income tax and from the income tax imposed by each portfolio's designated  state
as  is consistent with stability of  principal and the maintenance of liquidity.
The  Money  Market  Fund  may  include  in  each  of  its  portfolios  municipal
obligations  rated Aaa, Aa, MIG-1, MIG-2, VMIG-1,  VMIG-2, Prime 1 or Prime 2 by
Moody's or  AAA, AA,  SP-1,  SP-2, A-1  or A-2  by  Standard &  Poor's;  unrated
municipal  obligations  that, in  the opinion  of  the investment  adviser, have
credit characteristics equivalent to obligations  rated as above; and  temporary
investments that may be subject to Federal and state income tax.
 
THE MULTISTATE TRUST
 
    The Multistate Trust consists of the Nuveen Arizona Tax-Free Value Fund, the
Nuveen Florida Tax-Free Value Fund, the Nuveen Maryland Tax-Free Value Fund, the
Nuveen  Michigan Tax-Free Value Fund, the Nuveen New Jersey Tax-Free Value Fund,
the Nuveen Pennsylvania  Tax-Free Value Fund  and the Nuveen  Virginia Tax  Free
Value  Fund, which  are each available  for reinvestment to  Unitholders who are
residents of the state for which  such portfolio is named. The Multistate  Trust
has  the objective of providing, through  investment in a professionally managed
portfolio of municipal bonds, as high a level of current interest income  exempt
from  both regular Federal  income tax and the  applicable state personal income
tax as is  consistent with  preservation of  capital. The  Multistate Trust  may
include  in each  of its  portfolios tax-exempt  bonds rated  "Baa" or  "BBB" or
better, unrated bonds  which, in  the opinion  of the  investment advisor,  have
credit  characteristics  equivalent to  bonds rated  "baa"  or "BBB"  or better,
limited to  no more  than 20%  of  the Multistate  Trust's assets,  and  certain
temporary investments that may be subject to Federal and state income tax.
 
    Each  person who purchases Units of a  Trust may become a participant in the
Accumulation Plan and elect  to have his  or her distributions  on Units of  the
Trust  invested directly in shares of one of the Accumulation Funds. Reinvesting
Unitholders  may  select  any  interest  distribution  plan.  Thereafter,   each
distribution  of  interest  income  or  principal  on  the  participant's  Units
(principal only in  the case of  a Unitholder  who has chosen  to reinvest  only
principal  distributions) will, on the applicable distribution date, or the next
day on which the New  York Stock Exchange is  normally open ("business day")  if
the  distribution  date is  not  a business  day,  automatically be  received by
Shareholder Services, Inc., transfer agent  for each of the Accumulation  Funds,
on  behalf of such participant  and applied on that  date to purchase shares (or
fractions  thereof)   of   the   Accumulation   Fund   chosen   at   net   asset
 
                                      A-27
<PAGE>
value  as  computed  as  of  4:00  p.m. eastern  time  on  each  such  date. All
distributions will be  reinvested in the  Accumulation Fund chosen  and no  part
thereof  will be retained  in a separate  account. These purchases  will be made
without a sales charge.
 
    Shareholder Services, Inc. will mail to each participant in the Accumulation
Plan a quarterly  statement containing  a record of  all transactions  involving
purchases of Accumulation Fund shares (or fractions thereof) with Trust interest
distributions or as a result of reinvestment of Accumulation Fund dividends. Any
distribution  of principal used to purchase  shares of an Accumulation Fund will
be separately  confirmed by  Shareholder Services,  Inc. Unitholders  will  also
receive   distribution  statements  from  the   Trustee  detailing  the  amounts
transferred to their Accumulation Fund accounts.
 
    Participants may at any time, by so notifying the Trustee in writing,  elect
to  change  the  Accumulation  Fund into  which  their  distributions  are being
reinvested, to change from principal  only reinvestment to reinvestment of  both
principal and interest or vice versa, or to terminate their participation in the
Accumulation  Plan altogether and receive future distributions on their Units in
cash. There will be no  charge or other penalty for  such change of election  or
termination.
 
    The  character of  Trust distributions for  income tax  purposes will remain
unchanged even if they are reinvested in an Accumulation Fund.
 
15.  HOW DETAILED ARE REPORTS TO UNITHOLDERS?
 
The Trustee  shall  furnish Unitholders  of  a  Trust in  connection  with  each
distribution,  a statement of the amount of  interest and, if any, the amount of
other receipts (received  since the preceding  distribution) being  distributed,
expressed  in each case  as a dollar  amount representing the  pro rata share of
each Unit of a Trust outstanding and a year to date summary of all distributions
paid on said Units.  Within a reasonable  period of time after  the end of  each
calendar  year, the Trustee shall furnish to  each person who at any time during
the calendar  year was  a registered  Unitholder  of a  Trust a  statement  with
respect  to  such  Trust  (i)  as to  the  Interest  Account:  interest received
(including amounts  representing  interest  received  upon  any  disposition  of
Bonds),  and, except  for any  State Trust, the  percentage of  such interest by
states in which the issuers  of the Bonds are  located, deductions for fees  and
expenses of such Trust, redemption of Units and the balance remaining after such
distributions  and deductions,  expressed in  each case  both as  a total dollar
amount and as  a dollar  amount representing  the pro  rata share  of each  Unit
outstanding  on the  last business  day of  such calendar  year; (ii)  as to the
Principal Account: the dates  of disposition of any  Bonds and the net  proceeds
received  therefrom (excluding  any portion representing  accrued interest), the
amount paid for purchase of Replacement  Bonds, the amount paid upon  redemption
of  Units, deductions for payment  of applicable taxes and  fees and expenses of
the Trustee, and the balance  remaining after such distributions and  deductions
expressed  both as a total dollar amount and as a dollar amount representing the
pro rata  share of  each  Unit outstanding  on the  last  business day  of  such
calendar  year;  (iii)  a  list  of  the Bonds  held  and  the  number  of Units
outstanding on the last business day of such calendar year; (iv) the Unit  Value
based  upon the last computation thereof made during such calendar year; and (v)
amounts actually distributed during such calendar year from the Interest Account
and from  the Principal  Account,  separately stated,  expressed both  as  total
dollar  amounts and as  dollar amounts representing  the pro rata  share of each
Unit outstanding.
 
    Each annual statement will reflect  pertinent information in respect of  all
plans  of distribution so that Unitholders may be informed regarding the results
of other plans of distribution.
 
                                      A-28
<PAGE>
16.  UNIT VALUE AND EVALUATION
 
The value of each  Trust is determined by  the Sponsor on the  basis of (1)  the
cash  on hand in the Trust or moneys  in the process of being collected, (2) the
value of the Bonds  in the Trust based  on the BID prices  of the Bonds and  (3)
interest   accrued  thereon  not   subject  to  collection,   LESS  (1)  amounts
representing taxes or governmental charges payable out of the Trust and (2)  the
accrued  expenses of the Trust. The result of such computation is divided by the
number of Units of such  Trust outstanding as of  the date thereof to  determine
the  per Unit value ("Unit Value") of  such Trust. The Sponsor may determine the
value of the Bonds in each Trust (1)  on the basis of current BID prices of  the
Bonds  obtained from dealers or brokers who customarily deal in bonds comparable
to those held by the Trust, (2) if  bid prices are not available for any of  the
Bonds, on the basis of bid prices for comparable bonds, (3) by causing the value
of  the Bonds to be determined by  others engaged in the practice of evaluating,
quoting or appraising comparable bonds or  (4) by any combination of the  above.
Although  the Unit Value of each Trust is  based on the BID prices of the Bonds,
the Units are sold initially to the public at the Public Offering Price based on
the OFFERING prices of the Bonds.
 
    Because the insurance  obtained by the  Sponsor or by  the issuers of  Bonds
with  respect to  the Bonds in  the Insured  Trusts and with  respect to insured
Bonds in Traditional Trusts is effective so long as such Bonds are  outstanding,
such  insurance will be taken  into account in determining  the bid and offering
prices of such  Bonds and therefore  some value attributable  to such  insurance
will be included in the value of Units of Trusts that include such Bonds.
 
17.  HOW UNITS OF THE TRUSTS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE PUBLIC
 
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated is the Sponsor and sole Underwriter of the Units.
It  is  the  intention  of  the  Sponsor  to  qualify  Units  of  National, Long
Intermediate, Intermediate, Short  Intermediate and Short  Term Trusts for  sale
under  the laws of  substantially all of  the states, and  Units of State Trusts
only in the state for which the Trust is named and selected other states.
 
    Promptly following the deposit of Bonds in exchange for Units of the Trusts,
it is the practice of the Sponsor to place all of the Units as collateral for  a
letter or letters of credit from one or more commercial banks under an agreement
to  release such Units from time to  time as needed for distribution. Under such
an arrangement  the Sponsor  pays  such banks  compensation  based on  the  then
current  interest  rate. This  is a  normal  warehousing arrangement  during the
period of distribution of the Units to public investors.
 
    The Sponsor plans to allow a  discount to brokers and dealers in  connection
with   the  primary  distribution   of  Units  and   also  in  secondary  market
transactions. The primary market discounts are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         DISCOUNT PER UNIT
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>         <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
                                 NATIONAL    LONG INTER-                  SHORT INTER-
                                AND STATE      MEDIATE     INTERMEDIATE      MEDIATE     SHORT TERM
NUMBER OF UNITS*                  TRUSTS       TRUSTS         TRUSTS         TRUSTS        TRUSTS
- ------------------------------  ----------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -----------
Less than 500.................    $3.20         $2.90          $2.70          $2.00         $1.50
500 but less than 1,000.......     3.20         2.90           2.70           2.00          1.50
1,000 but less than 2,500.....     3.20         2.70           2.50           1.80          1.30
2,500 but less than 5,000.....     3.20         2.45           2.25           1.55          1.05
5,000 but less than 10,000....     2.50         2.45           2.25           1.55          1.05
10,000 but less than 25,000...     2.00         2.00           2.00           1.30           .80
25,000 but less than 50,000...     1.75         1.75           1.75           1.30           .60
50,000 or more................     1.75         1.50           1.50           1.00           .60
</TABLE>
 
*Breakpoint sales charges and related dealer concessions are computed both on  a
 dollar  basis and  on the  basis of  the number  of Units  purchased, using the
 equivalent of 500 Units to  $50,000, 2,500 Units to  $250,000 etc. and will  be
 applied on that basis which is more favorable to the purchaser.
 
                                      A-29
<PAGE>
    The  Sponsor currently intends  to maintain a secondary  market for Units of
each Trust. See  Section 7.  The amount of  the dealer  concession on  secondary
market  purchases of Trust Units through the Sponsor will be computed based upon
the value  of the  Bonds in  the  Trust portfolio,  including the  sales  charge
computed as described in Section 6, and adjusted to reflect the cash position of
the  Trust principal  account, and will  vary with  the size of  the purchase as
shown in the following table:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               AMOUNT OF PURCHASE*
                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                         <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>
                                        $50,000   $100,000   $250,000   $500,000   $1,000,000  $2,500,000
                              UNDER       TO         TO         TO         TO          TO          TO      $5,000,000
YEARS TO MATURITY            $50,000    $99,999   $249,999   $499,999   $999,999   $2,499,999  $4,999,999   OR MORE
- --------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Less than 1...............      0          0          0          0          0          0           0           0
1 but less than 2.........    1.00%      .90%       .85%       .80%       .70%        .55%       .467%       .389%
2 but less than 3.........    1.30%      1.20%      1.10%      1.00%      .90%        .73%       .634%       .538%
3 but less than 4.........    1.60%      1.45%      1.35%      1.25%      1.10%       .90%       .781%       .662%
4 but less than 5.........    2.00%      1.85%      1.75%      1.55%      1.40%      1.25%       1.082%      .914%
5 but less than 7.........    2.30%      2.15%      1.95%      1.80%      1.65%      1.50%       1.320%      1.140%
7 but less than 10........    2.60%      2.45%      2.25%      2.10%      1.95%      1.70%       1.496%      1.292%
10 but less than 13.......    3.00%      2.80%      2.60%      2.45%      2.30%      2.00%       1.747%      1.494%
13 but less than 16.......    3.25%      3.15%      3.00%      2.75%      2.50%      2.15%       1.878%      1.606%
16 or more................    3.50%      3.50%      3.40%      3.35%      3.00%      2.50%       2.185%      1.873%
</TABLE>
 
 *Breakpoint sales charges and related dealer concessions are computed both on a
  dollar basis and  on the basis  of the  number of Units  purchased, using  the
  equivalent of 500 Units to $50,000, 2,500 Units to $250,000, etc., and will be
  applied on that basis which is more favorable to the purchaser.
 
    The  Sponsor reserves the  right to change  the foregoing dealer concessions
from time to time.
 
    Registered investment advisers, certified financial planners and  registered
broker-dealers  who  in  each case  either  charge periodic  fees  for financial
planning, investment  advisory or  asset management  services, or  provide  such
services in connection with the establishment of an investment account for which
a  comprehensive  "wrap  fee"  charge is  imposed,  and  bank  trust departments
investing funds  over which  they  exercise exclusive  discretionary  investment
authority  and  that  are held  in  a  fiduciary, agency,  custodial  or similar
capacity, are  not entitled  to receive  any dealer  concession for  primary  or
secondary market purchases in which an investor purchases any number of Units at
the  Public Offering Price for non-breakpoint purchases minus the concession the
sponsor typically allows  to brokers  and dealers  for non-breakpoint  purchases
(see Section 6).
 
    Certain  commercial banks are making Units  of the Trusts available to their
customers on  an agency  basis. A  portion of  the sales  charge paid  by  these
customers  is retained by or  remitted to the banks in  the amounts shown in the
above table.  The Glass-Steagall  Act prohibits  banks from  underwriting  Trust
Units;  the Act  does, however, permit  certain agency  transactions and banking
regulators have not indicated that these particular agency transactions are  not
permitted  under the Act. In Texas and  in certain other states, any bank making
Units available must be registered as a broker-dealer under state law.
 
    To facilitate the handling of transactions, sales of Units shall be  limited
to  transactions involving a minimum of either  $5,000 or 50 Units, whichever is
less. The Sponsor reserves the right to  reject, in whole or in part, any  order
for the purchase of Units.
 
18.  OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER OF UNITS
 
The  ownership of  Units is  evidenced by book  entry positions  recorded on the
books and records of the Trustee  unless the Unitholder expressly requests  that
the  purchased Units be evidenced in Certificate form. The Trustee is authorized
to treat as the owner of Units that person who at the time is registered as such
on the books of the Trustee. Any  Unitholder who holds a Certificate may  change
to    book    entry   ownership    by    submitting   to    the    Trustee   the
 
                                      A-30
<PAGE>
Certificate along with  a written  request that  the Units  represented by  such
Certificate  be held in book entry form.  Likewise, a Unitholder who holds Units
in book entry form may obtain a Certificate for such Units by written request to
the Trustee. Units may be held in  denominations of one Unit or any multiple  or
fraction  thereof. Fractions of Units are  computed to three decimal places. Any
Certificates issued will be numbered serially for identification, and are issued
in fully registered form,  transferable only on the  books of the Trustee.  Book
entry  Unitholders will  receive a  Book Entry  Position Confirmation reflecting
their ownership.
 
    Certificates for  Units will  bear  an appropriate  notation on  their  face
indicating  which plan of distribution has been selected. When a change is made,
the  existing  Certificates  must  be   surrendered  to  the  Trustee  and   new
Certificates  issued to  reflect the  currently effective  plan of distribution.
There will be no charge for this service. Holders of book entry Units can change
their plan of  distribution by making  a written request  to the Trustee,  which
will issue a new Book Entry Position Confirmation to reflect such change.
 
    Units  are transferable by making  a written request to  the Trustee and, in
the case of Units  evidenced by Certificate(s),  by presenting and  surrendering
such  Certificate(s) to the Trustee,  at its corporate trust  office in New York
City, properly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of
transfer. The Certificate(s) should be sent registered or certified mail for the
protection of the Unitholder.  Each Unitholder must  sign such written  request,
and  such Certificate(s) or transfer instrument,  exactly as his name appears on
(a) the face of the Certificate(s) representing the Units to be transferred,  or
(b)  the  Book  Entry  Position  Confirmation(s) relating  to  the  Units  to be
transferred. Such signature(s) must be  guaranteed by a guarantor acceptable  to
the  Trustee. In certain instances the  Trustee may require additional documents
such  as,  but  not  limited  to,  trust  instruments,  certificates  of  death,
appointments   as  executor  or  administrator   or  certificates  of  corporate
authority. Mutilated Certificates must  be surrendered to  the Trustee in  order
for a replacement Certificate to be issued.
 
    Although  at the date hereof  no charge is made  and none is contemplated, a
Unitholder may be  required to  pay $2.00 to  the Trustee  for each  Certificate
reissued or transfer of Units requested and to pay any governmental charge which
may be imposed in connection therewith.
 
REPLACEMENT OF LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED CERTIFICATES.
 
    To  obtain a new  Certificate replacing one  that has been  lost, stolen, or
destroyed,  the   Unitholder   must   furnish  the   Trustee   with   sufficient
indemnification and pay such expenses as the Trustee may incur.
 
    The  indemnification protects the  Trustee, Sponsor, and  Trust from risk if
the original Certificate is presented for transfer or redemption by a person who
purchased it  in good  faith,  for value  and without  notice  of any  fraud  or
irregularity.
 
    This  indemnification  must  be in  the  form  of an  Open  Penalty  Bond of
Indemnification. The premium for  such an indemnity bond  may vary from time  to
time,  but currently amounts to 1% of  the market value of the Units represented
by the  Certificate. In  the case  however, of  a Trust  as to  which notice  of
termination  has been given, the premium currently amounts to 0.5% of the market
value of the Units represented by such Certificate.
 
19.  HOW UNITS MAY BE REDEEMED WITHOUT CHARGE
 
Unitholders may redeem all or a portion  of their Units by (1) making a  written
request  for such redemption (book entry Unitholders may use the redemption form
on the reverse side of their Book Entry Position Confirmation) to the Trustee at
its corporate trust office in New York City (redemptions of 1,000 Units or  more
will require a signature guarantee), (2) in the
 
                                      A-31
<PAGE>
case  of Units evidenced by a Certificate, by also tendering such Certificate to
the Trustee, duly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer with
signatures guaranteed  as explained  in Section  18 above,  and (3)  payment  of
applicable  governmental charges,  if any. Certificates  should be  sent only by
registered or certified mail to minimize the possibility of their being lost  or
stolen.  In order to effect a redemption  of Units evidenced by a Certificate, a
Unitholder must tender the  Certificate to the  Trustee or provide  satisfactory
indemnity  required in  connection with  lost, stolen  or destroyed Certificates
(See Section 18). No redemption fee will be charged. A Unitholder may  authorize
the  Trustee to honor telephone instructions for the redemption of Units held in
book entry  form. Units  represented  by Certificates  may  not be  redeemed  by
telephone.  The proceeds of  Units redeemed by  telephone will be  sent by check
either to  the Unitholder  at  the address  specified on  his  account or  to  a
financial  institution specified by the Unitholder  for credit to the account of
the Unitholder.  A Unitholder  wishing to  use this  method of  redemption  must
complete  a Telephone Redemption Authorization Form  and furnish the Form to the
Trustee. Telephone  Redemption  Authorization  Forms  can  be  obtained  from  a
Unitholder's  registered  representative or  by  calling the  Trustee.  Once the
completed Form is on file, the Trustee will honor telephone redemption  requests
by  any person. If  the telephone redemption  request is received  prior to 4:00
p.m. eastern time,  the Unitholder  will be entitled  to receive  for each  Unit
tendered  the  Redemption  Price  as determined  above.  A  telephone redemption
request received after  4:00 p.m. eastern  time will be  treated as having  been
received  the following  business day.  The redemption  proceeds will  be mailed
within seven calendar days following the telephone redemption request. Telephone
redemptions are limited to 1,000 Units or  less. Only Units held in the name  of
individuals may be redeemed by telephone; accounts registered in broker name, or
accounts  of  corporations  or fiduciaries  (including  among  others, trustees,
guardians, executors and  administrators) may not  use the telephone  redemption
privilege.
 
    On  the seventh calendar day following the date of tender, or if the seventh
calendar day is not a business day, on the first business day prior thereto, the
Unitholder will be entitled to receive in cash for each Unit tendered an  amount
equal to the Unit Value of such Trust determined by the Trustee, as of 4:00 p.m.
eastern  time on the date of tender  as defined hereafter, plus accrued interest
to, but  not  including,  the  fifth  business day  after  the  date  of  tender
("Redemption  Price"). The  price received upon  redemption may be  more or less
than the amount paid by  the Unitholder depending on the  value of the Bonds  on
the  date of  tender. Such  value will vary  with market  and credit conditions,
including changes in  interest rate  levels. Unitholders should  check with  the
Trustee  or  their broker  to determine  the  Redemption Price  before tendering
Units.
 
    While the Trustee has the power to determine Redemption Price when Units are
tendered, the authority has  by practice been delegated  by the Trustee to  John
Nuveen  & Co.  Incorporated, which  determines the  Redemption Price  on a daily
basis.
 
    The "date of  tender" is  deemed to  be the date  on which  the request  for
redemption  of Units is received  in proper form by  the Trustee, except that as
regards a redemption request received after 4:00 p.m. eastern time or on any day
on which the New  York Stock Exchange (the  "Exchange") is normally closed,  the
date  of tender  is the  next day on  which such  Exchange is  normally open for
trading and such request will  be deemed to have been  made on such day and  the
redemption will be effected at the Redemption Price computed on that day.
 
    Accrued  interest paid  on redemption shall  be withdrawn  from the Interest
Account of the  appropriate Trust or,  if the balance  therein is  insufficient,
from  the Principal Account of such Trust.  All other amounts paid on redemption
shall be withdrawn from the Principal Account. The Trustee is empowered to  sell
underlying  Bonds of a  Trust in order  to make funds  available for redemption.
(See Section 21.) Units so redeemed shall be cancelled.
 
                                      A-32
<PAGE>
    To the extent that Bonds  are sold from a Trust,  the size and diversity  of
such  Trust will  be reduced. Such  sales may be  required at a  time when Bonds
would not  otherwise  be  sold and  might  result  in lower  prices  than  might
otherwise be realized.
 
    The  Redemption Price is  determined on the  basis of the  BID prices of the
Bonds in each Trust, while  the initial Public Offering  Price of Units will  be
determined  on the  basis of the  OFFERING prices of  the Bonds as  of 4:00 p.m.
eastern time on any day on which  the Exchange is normally open for trading  and
such determination is made. As of any given time, the difference between the bid
and  offering  prices of  such Bonds  may be  expected  to average  1% to  2% of
principal amount in the case of  Bonds in National, Long Intermediate and  State
Trusts,  3/4%  to  1  1/2% in  the  case  of Bonds  in  Intermediate,  and Short
Intermediate Trusts and 1/2% to 3/4% in the case of Bonds in Short Term  Trusts.
In  the case of actively traded Bonds, the difference may be as little as 1/4 to
1/2 of 1%, and in  the case of inactively  traded Bonds such difference  usually
will  not exceed 3%. The difference between the aggregate offering prices of the
Bonds in each Trust  and the aggregate  bid prices thereof  on the business  day
prior  to  the Date  of Deposit  is shown  in the  discussion of  specific trust
matters.
 
    The right  of redemption  may be  suspended and  payment postponed  for  any
period  during  which the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  determines that
trading in the municipal bond market is restricted or an emergency exists, as  a
result  of  which  disposal  or  evaluation  of  the  Bonds  is  not  reasonably
practicable, or for such other periods as the Securities and Exchange Commission
may by order permit.
 
    Under regulations issued by the  Internal Revenue Service, the Trustee  will
be  required to withhold 31% of the principal amount of a Unit redemption if the
Trustee has not  been furnished  the redeeming  Unitholder's tax  identification
number  in the manner  required by such  regulations. Any amount  so withheld is
transmitted to  the  Internal  Revenue  Service and  may  be  recovered  by  the
Unitholder  only when filing  his or her tax  return. Under normal circumstances
the Trustee obtains the Unitholder's tax identification number from the  selling
broker  at the time the Certificate or Book Entry Return Confirmation is issued,
and this number is printed on the Certificate or Book Entry Return  Confirmation
and on distribution statements. If a Unitholder's tax identification number does
not  appear as  described above,  or if it  is incorrect,  the Unitholder should
contact the Trustee before redeeming Units to determine what action, if any,  is
required to avoid this "back-up withholding."
 
20.  HOW UNITS MAY BE PURCHASED BY THE SPONSOR
 
The  Trustee will notify the  Sponsor of any tender  of Units for redemption. If
the Sponsor's bid in  the secondary market  at that time  equals or exceeds  the
Redemption  Price it may purchase such Units by notifying the Trustee before the
close of business on  the second succeeding business  day and by making  payment
therefor  to  the Unitholder  not  later than  the  day on  which  payment would
otherwise have been made by the Trustee. (See Section 19.) The Sponsor's current
practice is to bid at the Redemption  Price in the secondary market. Units  held
by the Sponsor may be tendered to the Trustee for redemption as any other Units.
 
    The  Public Offering  Price upon  resale of any  Units thus  acquired by the
Sponsor will be  calculated in accordance  with the procedure  described in  the
then currently effective prospectus relating to such Units. Any profit resulting
from  the resale of  such Units will  belong to the  Sponsor which likewise will
bear any loss resulting from a  lower Public Offering Price or Redemption  Price
subsequent to its acquisition of such Units.
 
                                      A-33
<PAGE>
21.  HOW BONDS MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE TRUSTS
 
Bonds will be removed from a Trust as they mature or are redeemed by the issuers
thereof.  See  the "Schedules  of Investments"  and "General  Trust Information"
under Section 3 for a discussion of call provisions of portfolio Bonds.
 
    The Indenture also  empowers the Trustee  to sell Bonds  for the purpose  of
redeeming  Units tendered by any Unitholder, and for the payment of expenses for
which income may not be available. Under the Indenture the Sponsor is  obligated
to  provide the Trustee with a current list of Bonds in each Trust to be sold in
such circumstances. In deciding which Bonds  should be sold the Sponsor  intends
to  consider, among  other things, such  factors as: (1)  market conditions; (2)
market  prices  of  the  Bonds;  (3)  the  effect  on  income  distributions  to
Unitholders  of the sale of various Bonds; (4) the effect on principal amount of
underlying Bonds  per Unit  of the  sale  of various  Bonds; (5)  the  financial
condition of the issuers; and (6) the effect of the sale of various Bonds on the
investment  character of the Trust. Such sales, if required, could result in the
sale of Bonds by the Trustee at prices less than original cost to the Trust.  To
the extent Bonds are sold, the size and diversity of such Trust will be reduced.
 
    In  addition, the  Sponsor is empowered  to direct the  Trustee to liquidate
Bonds upon the happening of certain other events, such as default in the payment
of principal and/or interest, an action of the issuer that will adversely affect
its ability to continue payment of the  principal of and interest on its  Bonds,
or  an  adverse  change  in  market, revenue  or  credit  factors  affecting the
investment character of the Bonds. If a default in the payment of the  principal
of  and/or interest  on any  of the Bonds  occurs, and  if the  Sponsor fails to
instruct the Trustee whether to  sell or continue to  hold such Bonds within  30
days  after notification  by the  Trustee to  the Sponsor  of such  default, the
Indenture provides that  the Trustee  shall liquidate said  Bonds forthwith  and
shall not be liable for any loss so incurred.
 
    In  connection with its determination  as to the sale  or liquidation of any
Bonds, the Sponsor  will consider the  Bond's then current  rating, but  because
such  ratings are the opinions of the rating agencies as to the quality of Bonds
they undertake to rate and not  absolute standards of quality, the Sponsor  will
exercise its independent judgment as to Bond creditworthiness.
 
    The Sponsor may also direct the Trustee to liquidate Bonds in a Trust if the
Bonds  in  the  Trust  are  the  subject  of  an  advanced  refunding, generally
considered to be when  refunding bonds are issued  and the proceeds thereof  are
deposited  in irrevocable trust to retire the refunded Bonds on their redemption
date.
 
    Except as stated in Section 4 regarding the limited right of substitution of
Replacement Bonds for Failed Bonds, and except for refunding securities that may
be exchanged for Bonds under certain conditions specified in the Indenture,  the
Indenture  does  not permit  either the  Sponsor  or the  Trustee to  acquire or
deposit bonds either in addition  to, or in substitution  for, any of the  Bonds
initially deposited in a Trust.
 
22.  INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRUSTEE
 
The Trustee is United States Trust Company of New York, with its principal place
of  business at 114 West 47th Street, New York, New York 10036 and its corporate
trust office at  770 Broadway,  New York, New  York 10003.  United States  Trust
Company  of New York, established in  1853, has, since its organization, engaged
primarily in the  management of trust  and agency accounts  for individuals  and
corporations. The Trustee is a member of the New York Clearing House Association
and  is subject to supervision and examination by the Superintendent of Banks of
the State of New York, the  Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the  Board
of  Governors of the Federal Reserve System.  In connection with the storage and
handling of  certain Bonds  deposited in  the Trusts,  the Trustee  may use  the
services of The
 
                                      A-34
<PAGE>
Depository  Trust Company. These services would include safekeeping of the Bonds
and coupon-clipping,  computer book-entry  transfer and  institutional  delivery
services.  The  Depository  Trust Company  is  a limited  purpose  trust company
organized under  the Banking  Law of  the State  of New  York, a  member of  the
Federal  Reserve System  and a clearing  agency registered  under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
 
LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITIES OF SPONSOR AND TRUSTEE
 
    The Sponsor and the Trustee shall  be under no liability to Unitholders  for
taking  any action or for  refraining from any action  in good faith pursuant to
the Indenture, or for errors in judgment, but shall be liable only for their own
negligence, lack of good faith or  willful misconduct. The Trustee shall not  be
liable for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of the sale by the Trustee of
any  of the Bonds. In the  event of the failure of  the Sponsor to act under the
Indenture, the Trustee may act thereunder and shall not be liable for any action
taken by it in good faith under the Indenture.
 
    The Trustee shall not be liable for any taxes or other governmental  charges
imposed  upon or in respect of the Bonds or upon the interest thereon or upon it
as Trustee under  the Indenture or  upon or in  respect of any  Trust which  the
Trustee  may be required  to pay under any  present or future  law of the United
States of  America or  of any  other taxing  authority having  jurisdiction.  In
addition,  the  Indenture  contains  other  customary  provisions  limiting  the
liability of the Trustee.
 
SUCCESSOR TRUSTEES AND SPONSORS
 
    The Trustee or any successor trustee  may resign by executing an  instrument
of resignation in writing and filing same with the Sponsor and mailing a copy of
a  notice of resignation to all Unitholders  then of record. Upon receiving such
notice, the Sponsor is required to promptly appoint a successor trustee. If  the
Trustee becomes incapable of acting or is adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a
receiver  or other public officer shall take  charge of its property or affairs,
the  Sponsor  may  remove  the  Trustee  and  appoint  a  successor  by  written
instrument.  The resignation or  removal of a  trustee and the  appointment of a
successor trustee shall become effective only when the successor trustee accepts
its appointment as such. Any successor trustee shall be a corporation authorized
to exercise  corporate  trust  powers, having  capital,  surplus  and  undivided
profits of not less than $5,000,000. Any corporation into which a trustee may be
merged  or with which it may be  consolidated, or any corporation resulting from
any merger or consolidation to  which a trustee shall be  a party, shall be  the
successor trustee.
 
    If  upon resignation of  a trustee no  successor has been  appointed and has
accepted the appointment within 30 days after notification, the retiring trustee
may apply  to  a  court of  competent  jurisdiction  for the  appointment  of  a
successor.
 
    If the Sponsor fails to undertake any of its duties under the Indenture, and
no  express  provision is  made for  action by  the Trustee  in such  event, the
Trustee may, in addition to its other  powers under the Indenture (1) appoint  a
successor sponsor or (2) terminate the Indenture and liquidate the Trusts.
 
23.  INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR
 
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated, the Sponsor and Underwriter, was founded in 1898
and  is  the oldest  and  largest investment  banking  firm specializing  in the
underwriting and distribution of tax-exempt securities and maintains the largest
research department in the investment  banking community devoted exclusively  to
the  analysis of municipal securities. In  1961 the Sponsor began sponsoring the
Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust and, since this  time, it has issued more than  $30
billion   in   tax-exempt   unit   trusts,   including   over   $8   billion  in
 
                                      A-35
<PAGE>
insured trusts.  The  Sponsor  is  also  principal  underwriter  of  the  Nuveen
Municipal Bond Fund, Inc., the Nuveen Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund, Inc., Nuveen
Tax-Free  Reserves, Inc., Nuveen California Tax-Free Fund, Inc., Nuveen Tax-Free
Bond Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen Insured Tax-Free  Bond Fund, Inc.  and Nuveen  Tax-Free
Money   Market  Fund,  Inc.,  all   registered  open-end  management  investment
companies, and acted as co-managing underwriter of Nuveen Municipal Value  Fund,
Inc.,  Nuveen California Municipal  Value Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen New York Municipal
Value  Fund,  Inc.,  Nuveen  Municipal  Income  Fund,  Inc.,  Nuveen  California
Municipal Income Fund, Inc., Nuveen New York Municipal Income Fund, Inc., Nuveen
Premium  Income Municipal  Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen Performance  Plus Municipal Fund,
Inc., Nuveen California Performance Plus  Municipal Fund, Inc., Nuveen New  York
Performance  Plus Municipal Fund,  Inc., Nuveen Municipal  Advantage Fund, Inc.,
Nuveen Municipal  Market Opportunity  Fund,  Inc., Nuveen  California  Municipal
Market  Opportunity  Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen New  York Municipal  Market Opportunity
Fund, Inc., Nuveen  Investment Quality Municipal  Fund, Inc., Nuveen  California
Investment  Quality  Municipal Fund,  Inc., Nuveen  New York  Investment Quality
Municipal Fund,  Inc.,  Nuveen  Insured Quality  Municipal  Fund,  Inc.,  Nuveen
Florida  Investment  Quality  Municipal  Fund,  Nuveen  Pennsylvania  Investment
Quality Municipal Fund,  Nuveen New  Jersey Investment  Quality Municipal  Fund,
Inc.,  and the  Nuveen Select  Quality Municipal  Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen California
Quality Municipal Fund,  Inc., Nuveen  New York Select  Quality Municipal  Fund,
Inc.,  Nuveen  Quality Income  Municipal  Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen  Insured Municipal
Opportunity Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen Florida  Quality Income  Municipal Fund,  Nuveen
Michigan  Quality Income Municipal Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen New Jersey Quality Income
Municipal Fund, Inc., Nuveen  Ohio Quality Income  Municipal Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen
Pennsylvania   Quality  Income  Municipal  Fund,  Nuveen  Texas  Quality  Income
Municipal Fund, Nuveen  California Quality Income  Municipal Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen
New  York Quality Income Municipal Fund,  Inc., Nuveen Premier Insured Municipal
Income Fund, Inc., Nuveen  Select Tax Free Income  Portfolio, Nuveen Select  Tax
Free  Income  Portfolio  2,  Nuveen Insured  California  Select  Tax-Free Income
Portfolio, Nuveen  Insured New  York Select  Tax-Free Income  Portfolio,  Nuveen
Premium  Income Municipal Fund 2, Inc.,  Nuveen Select Tax Free Income Portfolio
3, Nuveen Select  Maturities Municipal Fund,  Nuveen Insured California  Premium
Income Municipal Fund, Inc., Nuveen Arizona Premium Income Municipal Fund, Inc.,
Nuveen  Insured  Premium Income  Municipal  Fund, Inc.,  Nuveen  Insured Florida
Premium Income Municipal  Fund, Nuveen Michigan  Premium Income Municipal  Fund,
Inc.,  Nuveen New Jersey Premium Income Municipal Fund, Inc., Nuveen Insured New
York Premium Income Municipal Fund,  Inc., Nuveen Ohio Premium Income  Municipal
Fund,  Inc.,  Nuveen Pennsylvania  Premium Income  Municipal Fund,  Nuveen Texas
Premium Income Municipal  Fund, Nuveen  Premium Income Municipal  Fund 4,  Inc.,
Nuveen  Pennsylvania  Premium Income  Municipal Fund  2, Nuveen  Insured Florida
Premium Income Municipal Fund 2, Nuveen Maryland Premium Income Municipal  Fund,
Nuveen  Virginia  Premium Income  Municipal  Fund, Nuveen  Massachusetts Premium
Income Municipal Fund, Nuveen Insured  California Premium Income Municipal  Fund
2,  Inc., Nuveen Insured  New York Premium  Income Municipal Fund  2, Nuveen New
Jersey Premium  Income  Municipal  Fund  2,  Nuveen  Washington  Premium  Income
Municipal  Fund, Nuveen Michigan Premium Income Municipal Fund 2, Nuveen Georgia
Premium Income Municipal  Fund, Nuveen Missouri  Premium Income Municipal  Fund,
Nuveen  Connecticut Premium Income Municipal Fund, Nuveen North Carolina Premium
Income Municipal Fund, Nuveen New Jersey Premium Income Municipal Fund 3, Nuveen
Florida Premium Income Municipal Fund, Nuveen New York Premium Income  Municipal
Fund,  Nuveen  California  Premium Income  Municipal  Fund,  Nuveen Pennsylvania
Premium Income Municipal Fund 3, Nuveen Maryland Income Municipal Fund 2, Nuveen
Virginia Premium Income Municipal Fund  2, Nuveen Ohio Premium Income  Municipal
Fund   2,   Nuveen   Insured   Premium   Income   Municipal   Fund   2,   Nuveen
 
                                      A-36
<PAGE>
California Premium Income Municipal Fund 2, all registered closed-end management
investment  companies.  These  registered  open-end  and  closed-end  investment
companies  currently have  approximately $32.8 billion  in tax-exempt securities
under management.  Nationwide, more  than  1,000,000 individual  investors  have
purchased  Nuveen's tax  exempt trusts  and funds.  The present  corporation was
organized in 1967 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Corporation,  successor
to  the original John Nuveen & Co. founded  in 1898 as a sole proprietorship and
incorporated in  1953.  In  1974,  John  Nuveen  &  Co.  Incorporated  became  a
wholly-owned  subsidiary of The  St. Paul Companies,  Inc., a financial services
management company  located in  St. Paul,  Minnesota. On  May 19,  1992,  common
shares  comprising a  minority interest  in The  John Nuveen  Company ("JNC"), a
newly organized corporation which holds all  of the shares of Nuveen, were  sold
to  the  general  public in  an  initial  public offering.  St.  Paul  retains a
controlling interest in  JNC with over  70% of  JNC's shares. The  Sponsor is  a
member  of  the  National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers,  Inc.  and  the
Securities Industry Association and has its principal offices located in Chicago
(333 W. Wacker Drive) and New York  (Swiss Bank Tower, 10 East 50th Street).  It
maintains 14 regional offices.
 
    To help advisers and investors better understand and more efficiently use an
investment  in the Trust  to reach their investment  goals, the Trust's sponsor,
John Nuveen &  Co. Incorporated,  may advertise and  create specific  investment
programs  and  systems.  For  example, such  activities  may  include presenting
information on how to use  an investment in the  Trust, alone or in  combination
with  an investment in other mutual funds or unit investment trusts sponsored by
Nuveen, to accumulate  assets for  future education needs  or periodic  payments
such  as  insurance  premiums.  The  Trust's  sponsor  may  produce  software or
additional sales literature to promote the advantages of using the Trust to meet
these and other specific investor needs.
 
24.  OTHER INFORMATION
AMENDMENT OF INDENTURE
 
    The Indenture may  be amended  by the Trustee  and the  Sponsor without  the
consent  of any of  the Unitholders (1) to  cure any ambiguity  or to correct or
supplement any provision thereof which may be defective or inconsistent, or  (2)
to  make such  other provisions as  shall not adversely  affect the Unitholders,
provided, however, that the Indenture may not be amended to increase the  number
of Units in any Trust or to permit the deposit or acquisition of bonds either in
addition  to, or in substitution for any of the Bonds initially deposited in any
Trust except as stated in Section 4 regarding the limited right of  substitution
of  Replacement Bonds and  except for the substitution  of refunding bonds under
certain circumstances. The Trustee shall advise the Unitholders of any amendment
promptly after execution thereof.
 
TERMINATION OF INDENTURE
 
    Each Trust may be liquidated at any  time by written consent of 100% of  the
Unitholders  or by  the Trustee when  the value of  such Trust, as  shown by any
evaluation, is less than 20% of the original principal amount of such Trust  and
will  be  liquidated  by  the Trustee  in  the  event that  Units  not  yet sold
aggregating more  than 60%  of the  Units originally  created are  tendered  for
redemption  by the Sponsor thereby reducing the  net worth of such Trust to less
than 40%  of the  principal amount  of  the Bonds  originally deposited  in  the
portfolio. (See "Essential Information Regarding the Trusts.") The sale of Bonds
from  the Trusts upon termination  may result in realization  of a lesser amount
than might otherwise be realized  if such sale were  not required at such  time.
For  this  reason,  among  others,  the amount  realized  by  a  Unitholder upon
termination  may  be  less  than  the  principal  amount  of  Bonds   originally
represented  by the Units held by  such Unitholder. The Indenture will terminate
upon the
 
                                      A-37
<PAGE>
redemption, sale or other disposition of  the last Bond held thereunder, but  in
no  event shall it  continue beyond the  end of the  calendar year preceding the
fiftieth anniversary of its execution for National and State Trusts, beyond  the
end  of the calendar  year preceding the twentieth  anniversary of its execution
for Long Intermediate, and Intermediate Trusts or beyond the end of the calendar
year preceding the tenth anniversary of its execution for Short Intermediate and
Short Term Trusts.
 
    Written notice of  any termination  specifying the  time or  times at  which
Unitholders  may surrender their Certificates, if any, for cancellation shall be
given by  the  Trustee  to each  Unitholder  at  the address  appearing  on  the
registration  books of the Trust maintained  by the Trustee. Within a reasonable
time thereafter the Trustee shall liquidate any Bonds in the Trust then held and
shall deduct  from  the assets  of  the Trust  any  accrued costs,  expenses  or
indemnities  provided  by  the  Indenture which  are  allocable  to  such Trust,
including estimated compensation of the Trustee and costs of liquidation and any
amounts required as a reserve to provide for payment of any applicable taxes  or
other  governmental charges. The Trustee shall then distribute to Unitholders of
such Trust their pro  rata share of  the balance of  the Interest and  Principal
Accounts.  With such  distribution the  Unitholders shall  be furnished  a final
distribution  statement,  in   substantially  the  same   form  as  the   annual
distribution statement, of the amount distributable. At such time as the Trustee
in  its sole discretion shall determine that  any amounts held in reserve are no
longer necessary, it shall make distribution thereof to Unitholders in the  same
manner.
 
LEGAL OPINION
 
    The legality of the Units offered hereby has been passed upon by Chapman and
Cutler, 111 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603. Special counsel for the
Trusts for respective state tax matters are named in "Tax Status" for each Trust
under  Section 3. Carter, Ledyard  & Milburn, 2 Wall  Street, New York, New York
10005, has acted as counsel for the Trustee with respect to the Series, and,  in
the absence of a New York Trust from the Series, as special New York tax counsel
for the Series.
 
AUDITORS
 
    The  Statements of Condition and Schedules of Investments at Date of Deposit
included  in  this  Prospectus  have  been  audited  by  Arthur  Andersen   LLP,
independent public accountants, as indicated in their report in this Prospectus,
and  are included herein in reliance upon  the authority of said firm as experts
in giving said report.
 
                                      A-38
<PAGE>
                            DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS*
 
    STANDARD & POOR'S CORPORATION.  A  description of the applicable Standard  &
Poor's Corporation rating symbols and their meanings follows:
 
    A  Standard & Poor's rating is  a current assessment of the creditworthiness
of an obligor with  respect to a specific  debt obligation. This assessment  may
take into consideration obligors such as guarantors, insurers or lessees.
 
    The  rating is not  a recommendation to  purchase, sell or  hold a security,
inasmuch as  it  does not  comment  as to  market  price or  suitability  for  a
particular investor.
 
    The  ratings are  based on  current information  furnished by  the issuer or
obtained by Standard & Poor's from other sources it considers reliable. Standard
& Poor's does not  perform an audit  in connection with any  rating and may,  on
occasion,  rely on unaudited financial information.  The ratings may be changed,
suspended or withdrawn  as a result  of changes in,  or unavailability of,  such
information, or for other circumstances.
 
    The ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations:
 
     I.  Likelihood  of default--capacity and  willingness of the  obligor as to
         the timely payment of interest and repayment of principal in accordance
         with the terms of the obligation;
 
     II.  Nature of and provisions of the obligation;
 
    III.  Protection afforded by,  and relative position  of, the obligation  in
          the  event of  bankruptcy, reorganization or  other arrangements under
          the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors' rights.
 
    AAA--This is the  highest rating  assigned by Standard  & Poor's  to a  debt
obligation. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
 
    AA--Bonds  rated AA have  a very strong  capacity to pay  interest and repay
principal, and differ from the highest rated issues only in small degree.
 
    A--Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal,
although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions than bonds in higher rated categories.
 
    BBB--Bonds rated BBB  are regarded  as having  an adequate  capacity to  pay
interest  and repay principal. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection
parameters, adverse  economic  conditions  or changing  circumstances  are  more
likely  to lead to a  weakened capacity to pay  interest and repay principal for
bonds in this category than for bonds in the higher rated categories.
 
    PLUS (+) OR MINUS (-): The ratings from "AA" to "BB" may be modified by  the
addition  of a  plus or minus  sign to  show relative standing  within the major
rating categories.
 
    PROVISIONAL  RATINGS:  The   letter  "p"  indicates   that  the  rating   is
provisional.  A  provisional rating  assumes  the successful  completion  of the
project being financed by  the issuance of the  bonds being rated and  indicates
that  payment of debt service requirements is largely or entirely dependent upon
the successful and timely completion of the project. This rating, however, while
addressing credit  quality subsequent  to completion  of the  project, makes  no
comment  on the  likelihood of,  or the  risk of  default upon  failure of, such
completion. Accordingly,  the investor  should exercise  his own  judgment  with
respect to such likelihood and risk.
 
- ----------
*As published by the rating companies.
 
                                      A-39
<PAGE>
    NOTE  RATINGS:  A  Standard  & Poor's  note  rating  reflects  the liquidity
concerns and market access risks unique to  notes. Notes due in 3 years or  less
will  likely receive  a note  rating. Notes  maturing beyond  3 years  will most
likely receive a long-term debt rating.
 
    Note rating symbols are as follows:
 
        SP-1  Very strong  or strong  capacity to  pay principal  and  interest.
              Those   issues   determined   to   possess   overwhelming   safety
              characteristics will be given a plus (+) designation.
 
        SP-2  Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.
 
RATINGS OF INSURED TRUST UNITS.
 
    A Standard  &  Poor's  Corporation's  rating on  the  units  of  an  insured
investment  trust (hereinafter referred to collectively as "units" and "trusts")
is a current assessment of creditworthiness with respect to the investment  held
by  such trust. This assessment takes  into consideration the financial capacity
of the  issuers and  of any  guarantors, insurers,  lessees or  mortgagors  with
respect to such investments. The assessment, however, does not take into account
the  extent to which trust  expenses or portfolio asset  sales for less than the
trust purchase price will reduce payment  to the unitholder of the interest  and
principal  required to be paid on the  portfolio assets. In addition, the rating
is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold units, inasmuch as the  rating
does not comment as to market price of the units or suitability for a particular
investor.
 
    Units rated "AAA" are composed exclusively of assets that are rated "AAA" by
Standard  &  Poor's and/or  certain  short-term investments.  Standard  & Poor's
defines its  AAA  rating for  such  assets as  the  highest rating  assigned  by
Standard  & Poor's  to a  debt obligation.  Capacity to  pay interest  and repay
principal is very strong.  However, unit ratings may  be subject to revision  or
withdrawal  at any time by Standard & Poor's and each rating should be evaluated
independently of any other rating.
 
    MOODY'S INVESTORS  SERVICE, INC.    A brief  description of  the  applicable
Moody's Investors Service, Inc. rating symbols and their meanings follows:
 
    Aaa--Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be the best quality. They carry
the  smallest degree of investment  risk and are generally  referred to as "gilt
edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally  stable
margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely
to  change, such changes  as can be  visualized are most  unlikely to impair the
fundamentally strong position of such issues. Their safety is so absolute  that,
with  the  occasional  exception  of oversupply  in  a  few  specific instances,
characteristically, their  market  value  is affected  solely  by  money  market
fluctuations.
 
    Aa--Bonds  which  are rated  Aa  are judged  to be  of  high quality  by all
standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as
high grade bonds. They are  rated lower than the  best bonds because margins  of
protection  may  not  be  as  large as  in  Aaa  securities  or  fluctuations of
protective elements may be of greater  amplitude or there may be other  elements
present  which  make the  long-term  risks appear  somewhat  larger than  in Aaa
securities. Their  market value  is virtually  immune to  all but  money  market
influences,  with  the  occasional exception  of  oversupply in  a  few specific
instances.
 
    A--Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes  and
are  to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving security
to principal and interest are considered  adequate, but elements may be  present
which  suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future. The market
value of A-rated bonds may be influenced to some degree by economic  performance
during  a sustained period of depressed business conditions, but, during periods
of normalcy, A-rated bonds frequently move in
 
                                      A-40
<PAGE>
parallel  with  Aaa  and  Aa  obligations,  with  the  occasional  exception  of
oversupply in a few specific instances.
 
    Moody's  bond rating  symbols may contain  numerical modifiers  of a generic
rating classification. The modifier 1 indicates that the bond ranks at the  high
end  of its  category; the  modifier 2  indicates a  mid-range ranking;  and the
modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating
category.
 
    Baa--Bonds which are rated Baa  are considered as medium grade  obligations,
i.e.,  they are neither  highly protected nor  poorly secured. Interest payments
and principal security appear  adequate for the  present but certain  protective
elements  may be lacking or may  be characteristically unreliable over any great
length of time. Such  bonds lack outstanding  investment characteristics and  in
fact  have speculative  characteristics as well.  The market  value of Baa-rated
bonds is more  sensitive to changes  in economic circumstances,  and aside  from
occasional  speculative factors applying to some bonds of this class, Baa market
valuations move in  parallel with Aaa,  Aa and A  obligations during periods  of
economic normalcy, except in instances of oversupply.
 
    Con.  (--)--Bonds for which the security depends upon the completion of some
act or the  fulfillment of  some condition  are rated  conditionally. These  are
bonds  secured by (a)  earnings of projects under  construction, (b) earnings of
projects unseasoned  in  operation  experience, (c)  rentals  which  begin  when
facilities are completed, or (d) payments to which some other limiting condition
attaches.  Parenthetical rating denotes probable  credit stature upon completion
of construction or elimination of basis of condition.
 
    NOTE RATINGS:
 
    MIG 1-- This  designation  denotes best  quality.  There is  present  strong
           protection  by established cash flows,  superior liquidity support or
           demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
 
    MIG 2-- This designation  denotes high  quality. Margins  of protection  are
           ample although not so large as in the preceding group.
 
                                      A-41
<PAGE>
                      (THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)
 
                                      A-42
<PAGE>
                      (THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)
 
                                      A-43
<PAGE>
                      (THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)
 
                                      A-44
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<C>                <S>        <C>
           NUVEEN             Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
 
                           PROSPECTUS
                           145,000 Units
                           Connecticut Traditional
                           Trust 271
                           New Jersey Insured Trust 186
                           New York Insured Trust 230
                           Pennsylvania Insured Trust
                           193
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<C>                 <S>        <C>
            NUVEEN             Tax-Exempt Unit Trusts
 
           SPONSOR             John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
                               333 West Wacker Drive
                               Chicago, IL 60606-1286
                               Telephone: 312.917.7700
 
                               Swiss Bank Tower
                               10 East 50th Street
                               New York, NY 10022
                               212.207.2000
 
           TRUSTEE             United States Trust Company
                               of New York
                               770 Broadway
                               New York, NY 10003
                               800.257.8787
 
     LEGAL COUNSEL             Chapman and Cutler
        TO SPONSOR             111 West Monroe Street
                               Chicago, IL 60603
 
       INDEPENDENT             Arthur Andersen LLP
            PUBLIC             33 West Monroe Street
       ACCOUNTANTS             Chicago, IL 60603
    FOR THE TRUSTS
</TABLE>
 
   Except as to statements made herein furnished by the Trustee, the Trustee has
   assumed  no responsibility for the accuracy, adequacy and completeness of the
   information contained in this Prospectus.
                   This Prospectus does not contain  all of the information  set
   forth in the registration statement and exhibits relating thereto, filed with
   the   Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,   Washington,  D.C.,  under  the
   Securities Act of 1933, and to which reference is made.
                   No person is authorized  to give any  information or to  make
   representations  not contained in  this Prospectus or  in supplementary sales
   literature prepared by the Sponsor, and any information or representation not
   contained therein must not be relied upon as having been authorized by either
   the Trusts, the Trustee or the  Sponsor. This Prospectus does not  constitute
   an  offer to sell,  or a solicitation of  an offer to  buy, securities in any
   State to any  person to  whom it is  not lawful  to make such  offer in  such
   state.  The  Trusts  are registered  as  a  Unit Investment  Trust  under the
   Investment Company Act  of 1940. Such  registration does not  imply that  the
   Trusts  or any of their Units  has been guaranteed, sponsored, recommended or
   approved by the United States or any State or agency or officer thereof.
 
   
   780
    
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This   schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted  from  the
Connecticut Traditional Trust 271 which is incorporated in the Prospectus  dated
January  24,  1995  and  is  qualified in  its  entirety  by  reference  to such
prospectus.
</LEGEND>
 
       
<S>                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               Dec-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                                    Dec-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                             3,366,592
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                            3,378,001
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        47,168
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,425,169
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                  0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                   0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                            47,168
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                  47,168
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                           0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                                  0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                                35,000
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                                     0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                                   0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                  0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                                  0
<NET-ASSETS>                                                      3,378,001
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                         0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                         0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                            0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                            0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                   0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                                  0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                                 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                                     0
<EQUALIZATION>                                                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                                  0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                     0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                                   0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                               0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                       0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                           0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                 96.51
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                           0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                                   0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                                 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                       0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                           0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                    0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                      0
        

</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains summary  financial information  extracted from  the New
Jersey Insured Trust 186 which is  incorporated in the Prospectus dated  January
24, 1995 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such prospectus.
</LEGEND>
 
       
<S>                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               Dec-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                                    Dec-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                             3,320,513
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                            3,327,835
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        32,854
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,360,689
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                  0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                   0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                            32,854
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                  32,854
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                           0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                                  0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                                35,000
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                                     0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                                   0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                  0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                                  0
<NET-ASSETS>                                                      3,327,835
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                         0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                         0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                            0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                            0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                   0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                                  0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                                 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                                     0
<EQUALIZATION>                                                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                                  0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                     0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                                   0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                               0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                       0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                           0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                 95.08
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                           0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                                   0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                                 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                       0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                           0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                    0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                      0
        

</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the New York
Insured Trust 230 which is incorporated in the Prospectus dated January 24, 1995
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such prospectus.
</LEGEND>
 
       
<S>                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               Dec-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                                    Dec-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                             3,808,047
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                            3,827,086
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        41,551
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,868,637
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                  0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                   0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                            41,551
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                  41,551
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                           0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                                  0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                                40,000
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                                     0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                                   0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                  0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                                  0
<NET-ASSETS>                                                      3,827,086
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                         0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                         0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                            0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                            0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                   0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                                  0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                                 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                                     0
<EQUALIZATION>                                                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                                  0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                     0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                                   0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                               0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                       0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                           0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                 95.68
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                           0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                                   0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                                 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                       0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                           0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                    0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                      0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This   schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted  from  the
Pennsylvania Insured Trust  193 which  is incorporated in  the Prospectus  dated
January  24,  1995  and  is  qualified in  its  entirety  by  reference  to such
prospectus.
</LEGEND>
 
       
<S>                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               Dec-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                                    Dec-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                             3,339,677
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                            3,353,740
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        48,330
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,402,070
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                  0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                   0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                            48,330
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                  48,330
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                           0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                                  0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                                35,000
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                                     0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                                   0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                  0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                                  0
<NET-ASSETS>                                                      3,353,740
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                         0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                         0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                            0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                            0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                   0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                                  0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                                 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                                     0
<EQUALIZATION>                                                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                                  0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                     0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                                   0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                               0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                       0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                                    0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                   0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                                0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                           0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                 95.82
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                           0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                                   0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                                 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                      0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                       0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                           0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                    0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                      0
        

</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>

Statement of differences between electronic filing and printed document.
   Pursuant to Rule 499(c) (7) under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule
20-11 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, Registrant hereby identifies
those differences in the foregoing document between the electronic format in
which it is filed and the printed form in which it will be circulated:
   (1) The printed and distributed prospectus may be paged differently
because the printed document may contain a different amount of information on
each page from that contained in the electronic transmission.
   (2) On the cover page, in the index and on the last page of the printed
document, solid vertical bars will appear.
   (3) In the printed document, footnote symbols may include a "dagger" or
multiple "dagger".  The "dagger" symbol is represented as # in the electronic
document.
   (4) The printed and distributed prospectus will not  contain the
preliminary prospectus legend included at the beginning of the first
prospectus page.


<PAGE>

                       CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT

A.  BONDING ARRANGEMENTS OF DEPOSITOR:

    The Depositor has obtained  the following Stockbrokers Blanket Bonds
for its officers, directors and employees:

    INSURER/POLICY NO.                                     AMOUNT

    United Pacific Insurance Co.                           $10,000,000
    Reliance Insurance Company
    B 74 92 20

    Aetna Casualty and Surety                              $10,000,000
    08 F10618BCA

    St. Paul Insurance Co.                                 $ 6,000,000
    400 HC 1051

B.  This amendment of Registration Statement comprises the following papers 
and documents:

              The facing sheet
              The Prospectus

              The signatures

              Consents of Independent Public
              Accountants and Counsel as indicated

              Exhibits as listed on page S-5


<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

    The Registrant, Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 780 hereby
identifies Series 401, 507, 512, 515, 517, 519 and 723 of the Nuveen 
Tax-Exempt Unit Trust for purposes of the representations required by 
Rule 487 and represents the following:

    (1) that the portfolio securities deposited in the series as to the
securities of which this Registration Statement is being filed do not differ
materially in type or quality from those deposited in such previous series;

    (2) that, except to the extent necessary to identify the specific
portfolio securities deposited in, and to provide essential financial
information for, the series with respect to the securities of which this
Registration Statement is being filed, this Registration Statement does not
contain disclosures that differ in any material respect from those contained
in the registration statements for such previous series as to which the
effective date was determined by the Commission or the staff; and

    (3) that it has complied with Rule 460 under the Securities Act of 1933.

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 780 has duly caused this
Amendment of Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized in the City of Chicago and State of
Illinois on 1/24/95.

 
                                NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 780
                                (Registrant)

                                By JOHN NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED
                                (Depositor)


                       
                                By: Larry Woods Martin
                                    _________________________________
                                    Vice President


                        
                           Attest:  Morrison C. Warren
                                    __________________________________
                                    Assistant Secretary


<PAGE>

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
of Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in 
the capacities and on the dates indicated:


    SIGNATURE                     TITLE*                       DATE

Richard J. Franke       Chairman, Board of Directors  )
                        Chief Executive Officer and   )
                        Director                      )
                                                      )
Donald E. Sveen         President, Chief Operating    )
                        Officer and Director          )
                                                      )
                                             
Anthony T. Dean         Executive Vice President      ) Larry Woods Martin
                        and Director                  ) Attorney-In-Fact**
                                                      )
Timothy T. Schwertfeger Executive Vice President      )
                        and Director                  )

O. Walter Renfftlen     Vice President and Controller )
                        (Principal Accounting Officer))
                                                      )
                                                      )1/24/95
___________________

*The titles of the persons named herein represent their capacity in and
relationship to John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated, the Depositor.

**The powers of attorney were filed on Form SE for Messrs. Franke, 
Sveen, Renfftlen, Dean and Schwertfeger with the Amendment to the 
Registration Statement on Form S-6 of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, 
Series 671 (File No. 33-49175). 



<PAGE>

780

                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

    As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the use of our
report and to all references to our Firm included in or made a part of this
Registration Statement.

                                 
                                            Arthur Andersen LLP
Chicago, Illinois
1/24/95


                         CONSENT OF CHAPMAN AND CUTLER

    The consent of Chapman and Cutler to the use of its name in the Prospectus
included in the Registration Statement is contained in its opinions filed by
this amendment as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 to the Registration Statement.

                            CONSENT OF STATE COUNSEL

    The consents of special counsel to the Fund for state tax matters to the 
use of their names in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement 
are contained in their opinions filed by this amendment as Exhibit 3.3 to the
Registration Statement.

                   CONSENT OF STANDARD + POOR'S CORPORATION

    The consent of Standard + Poor's Corporation to the use of its name in
the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement is filed by this
amendment as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement.

                   CONSENT OF KENNY S+P EVALUATION SERVICES

    The consent of Kenny S+P Evaluation Services to the use of its name in the
Prospectus included in the Registration Statement is filed by this amendment 
as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement.

                      CONSENT OF CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN

    The consent of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn to the use of its name in the
Prospectus included in the Registration Statement is filed by this amendment 
as Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement.

<PAGE>

                                LIST OF EXHIBITS


1.1 (a)  Copy of Trust Indenture and Agreement between John Nuveen &
         Co. Incorporated, Depositor, and United States Trust Company of
         New York, Trustee (as Exibit 1.1 (a) to the Sponsor's Registration
         Statement on Form S-6 relating to Series 723 of the Fund (file No.
         33-52527) and incorporated herein by reference).

1.1 (b)  Schedules to the Trust Indenture and Agreement.

2.1      Copy of Certificate of Ownership (Included in Exhibit 1.1(a) on
         pages 2 to 8, inclusive, and incorporated herein by reference).

3.1      Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities being registered.

3.2      Opinion of counsel as to Federal income tax status of securities
         being registered.

3.3      Opinions of special state counsel to the Fund for state tax matters
         as to income tax status to residents of the respective states of the
         units of the respective trusts and consents to the use of their names
         in the Prospectus.

4.1      Consent of Standard + Poor's Corporation.

4.2      Consent of Kenny S+P Evaluation Services.

4.3      Consent of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn.

                                                                      
<PAGE>                                                                        
                                                                              
Exhibit 1.1(b)                                                                
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                 SCHEDULE A                                   
                                                                              
                                                                              
Series 780                                           January 24, 1995         
                                                                              
Item 1.  This Indenture relates to the Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust           
         Series 780.                                                          
                                                                              
Item 2.  The date of this Indenture is January 24, 1995.                      
                                                                              
Item 3.  Series 780 shall initially contain Trusts as follows:                
                                                                              
         (a)   Connecticut Traditional Trust 271                              
         (b)   New Jersey Insured Trust 186                                   
         (c)   New York Insured Trust 230                                     
         (d)   Pennsylvania Insured Trust 193                                 
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 4.  Each Trust shall initially consist of the following number of Units: 
                                                                              
         (a)   Connecticut Traditional Trust            35,000 Units          
         (b)   New Jersey Insured Trust                 35,000 Units          
         (c)   New York Insured Trust                   40,000 Units          
         (d)   Pennsylvania Insured Trust               35,000 Units          
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 5.  (a) The amount of the second distribution from the Interest          
             Account of the respective Trusts will be as follows:             
                                                                              
         ( 1)  Connecticut Traditional Trust           $ .6127 per Unit       
         ( 2)  New Jersey Insured Trust                $ .5971 per Unit       
         ( 3)  New York Insured Trust                  $ .6204 per Unit       
         ( 4)  Pennsylvania Insured Trust              $ .6160 per Unit       
                                                                              
         (b) The date of the second distribution from the Interest Account    
             of the respective Trusts will be as follows:                     
                                                                              
         ( 1)  Connecticut Traditional Trust           March 15, 1995         
         ( 2)  New Jersey Insured Trust                March 15, 1995         
         ( 3)  New York Insured Trust                  March 15, 1995         
         ( 4)  Pennsylvania Insured Trust              March 15, 1995         
                                                                              
         (c) The record date for the second distribution from the             
             Interest Account of the respective Trusts will be as             
             follows:                                                         
                                                                              
         ( 1)  Connecticut Traditional Trust           March 1, 1995          
         ( 2)  New Jersey Insured Trust                March 1, 1995          
         ( 3)  New York Insured Trust                  March 1, 1995          
         ( 4)  Pennsylvania Insured Trust              March 1, 1995          
                                                                              
                                                                              
         PAGE 2                                                               
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 6.  Record dates for subsequent semi-annual distributions from the       
         Interest Account for each of the respective Trusts will be the 1st   
         day of May and November of each year.                                
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 7.  (a) Record date for distibution from the Principal Account of each   
             of the respective Trusts will be the first day of May and        
             November of each year.                                           
                                                                              
         (b) The first record date for distributions from the Principal       
             Account of each of the respective Trusts will be                 
             May 1, 1995.                                                     
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 8.  The Trust shall in no event continue beyond the end of the calendar  
         year preceding the fiftieth anniversary of the execution of this     
         Indenture for National and State Trusts, beyond the end of the       
         calendar year preceding the twentieth anniversary of its execution   
         for Long Intermediate and Intermediate Trusts and beyond the end of  
         the calendar year preceding the tenth anniversary of its execution   
         for Short Intermediate and Short Term Trusts.                        
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 9.  Quarterly distributions from the Interest Account of the respective  
         Trusts will be computed as of the 1st day of February, May, August,  
         and November.                                                        
                                                                              
                                                                              
Item 10. Certain deductions from the Interest Account by the Trustee          
         will commence as follows:                                            
                                                                              
         (a)   Connecticut Traditional Trust           March 1, 1995          
         (b)   New Jersey Insured Trust                March 1, 1995          
         (c)   New York Insured Trust                  March 1, 1995          
         (d)   Pennsylvania Insured Trust              March 1, 1995          
                                                                              
Item 11. (a)  For services performed prior to the date indicated in           
              Item 5(c) of this Schedule A, the Trustee shall be paid at      
              the following annual rates per $1,000 of principal amount       
              of Bonds:                                                       
                                                                              
         ( 1)  Connecticut Traditional Trust           $1.6387                
         ( 2)  New Jersey Insured Trust                $1.7166                
         ( 3)  New York Insured Trust                  $1.74                  
         ( 4)  Pennsylvania Insured Trust              $1.6775                
                                                                              
         (b)  For services performed on or after the date indicated in        
              Item 5(c) of this Schedule A, the Trustee shall be paid at      
              the following annual rates per $1,000 of principal amount       
              of Bonds:                                                       
                                                                              
         ( 1)  Connecticut Traditional Trust                                  
                                                                              
               Monthly Plan of Distribution                  $1.6387          
               Quarterly Plan of Distribution                $1.3187          
               Semi-Annual Plan of Distribution              $1.1287          
                                                                              
         ( 2)  New Jersey Insured Trust                                       
                                                                              
               Monthly Plan of Distribution                  $1.7166          
               Quarterly Plan of Distribution                $1.3966          
               Semi-Annual Plan of Distribution              $1.2066          
                                                                              
         ( 3)  New York Insured Trust                                         
                                                                              
               Monthly Plan of Distribution                  $1.74            
               Quarterly Plan of Distribution                $1.42            
               Semi-Annual Plan of Distribution              $1.23            
                                                                              
         ( 4)  Pennsylvania Insured Trust                                     
                                                                              
               Monthly Plan of Distribution                  $1.6775          
               Quarterly Plan of Distribution                $1.3575          
               Semi-Annual Plan of Distribution              $1.1675          
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                            ADDITIONAL SCHEDULES                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                         BONDS INITIALLY DEPOSITED                            
                                                                              
                  NUVEEN TAX-EXEMPT UNIT TRUST SERIES 780                     
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
Incorporated herein and made a part hereof as indicated below are the         
following annual rates per $1,000 of principal amount of Bonds:               
corresponding portions of the 'Schedules of Investments at Date of Deposit'   
contained in the Prospectus dated the Date of Deposit and relating to the     
above-named Series:                                                           
                                                                              
         Schedule B:  Connecticut Traditional Trust 271                       
         Schedule C:  New Jersey Insured Trust 186                            
         Schedule D:  New York Insured Trust 230                              
         Schedule E:  Pennsylvania Insured Trust 193                          


<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 3.1

(ON CHAPMAN AND CUTLER LETTERHEAD)

1/24/95


John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois  60606

RE:  Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 780

Gentlemen:

    We have served as counsel for you, as depositor of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit
Trust, Series 780 (hereinafter referred to as the "Fund"), in connection
with the issuance under the Trust Indenture and Agreement dated the date 
hereof between John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated, as Depositor, and United 
States Trust Company of New York, as Trustee, of Units of fractional 
undivided interest in the one or more Trusts of said Fund (hereinafter 
referred to as the "Units").
 
    In connection therewith, we have examined such pertinent records and
documents and matters of law as we have deemed necessary in order to enable us
to express the opinions hereinafter set forth.

    Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

   1.   The execution and delivery of the Trust Indenture and Agreement and
the establishment of book entry positions and the execution and issuance of 
certificates evidencing the Units in the Trusts of the Fund have been duly 
authorized; and

    2.   The book entry positions and certificates positions evidencing the 
Units in the Trusts of the Fund when duly executed and delivered or duly 
established by the Depositor and the Trustee in accordance with the 
aforementioned Trust Indenture and Agreement, will constitute valid and 
binding obligations of such Trusts and the Depositor in accordance with the 
terms thereof.

    We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement (File No. 33-57123) relating to the Units referred
to above and to the use of our name and to the reference to our firm in said
Registration Statement and in the related Prospectus.

Respectfully submitted,



CHAPMAN AND CUTLER

<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 3.2

(ON CHAPMAN AND CUTLER LETTERHEAD)

1/24/95

John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois  60606

RE:  Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 780

Gentlemen:

    We have served as counsel for you, as Depositor of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit
Trust, Series 780 (the "Fund") in connection with the issuance under the
Trust Indenture and Agreement, dated the date hereof between John Nuveen & Co.
Incorporated, as Depositor, and United States Trust Company of New York, as
Trustee, of Units of fractional undivided interest (the "Units"), as evidenced
by a book entry position or certificate, if requested by the purchaser of 
Units, in the one or more Trusts of said Fund.

    We have also served as counsel for you in connection with all previous
Series of the Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust and as such have previously 
examined such pertinent records and documents and matters of law as we have 
deemed necessary, including (but not limited to) the Trust Indenture and 
Agreements with respect to those series.  We have also examined such 
pertinent records and documents and matters of law as we have deemed 
necessary including (but not limited to) the Trust Indenture and Agreement 
relating to Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 780.

    We have concluded that the Trust Indenture and Agreement for the Fund and
its counterpart in each of the prior issues of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust 
are in all material respects substantially identical.

    Based upon the foregoing, and upon such matters of law as we consider
to be applicable we are of the opinion that, under existing federal income
law:

    (i)  For Federal income tax purposes, each of the Trusts will not be
taxable as an association but will be governed by the provisions of 
Subchapter J (relating to Trusts) of Chapter 1, Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 (the "Code").

    (ii) Each Unitholder will be considered as owning a pro rata
share of each asset of the respective Trust of the Fund in the proportion
that the number of Units of such Trust held by him bears to the total number
of outstanding Units of such Trust. Under Subpart E, Subchapter J of Chapter
1 of the Code, income of each Trust will be treated as income of each
Unitholder thereof in the proportion described and an item of Fund income
will have the same character in the hands of a Unitholder as it would have in
the hands of the Trustee.  Accordingly, to the extent that the income of a
Trust consists of interest and original issue discount excludable from gross
income under Section 103 of the Code, such income will be excludable from
federal gross income of the Unitholder, except in the case of a Unitholder
who is a substantial user (or a person related to such user) of a facility
financed through issuance of any industrial development bonds or certain
private activity bonds held by the Trust. In the case of such Unitholder who
is a substantial user (and no other) interest received and original issue
discount with respect to his Units attributable to such industrial
development bonds or such private activity bonds is includable in his gross
income. In the case of certain corporations, interest on the Bonds is included
in computing the alternative minimum tax pursuant to Sections 56(f) and 56(g)
of the Code, the enviromental tax (the "Superfund Tax") imposed by Sections
59A of the Code, and the branch profits tax imposed by Section 884 of the Code
with repect to U.S. branches of foreign corporations.

    (iii) Gain or loss will be recognized to a Unitholder upon
redemption or sale of his Units.  Such gain or loss is measured by comparing 
the proceeds of such redemption or sale with the adjusted basis of such Units.
Before adjustment, such basis would normally be cost if the Unitholder had
acquired his Units by purchase, plus his aliquot share of advances by the
Trustee to the Trust to pay interest on Bonds delivered after the Unitholder's
settlement date to the extent that such interest accrued on the Bonds during
the period from the Unitholder's settlement date to the date such Bonds are
delivered to the Trust, but only to the extent that such advances are to be
repaid to the Trustee out of interest received by the Fund with respect to
such Bonds.  In addition, such basis will be increased by both the
Unitholder's aliquot share of the accrued original issued discount with
respect to each Bond held by the Trust with respect to which there was an
original issue discount and reduced by the annual amortization of bond
premium, if any, on Bonds held by the Trust.

<PAGE>

    (iv) If the Trustee disposes of a Trust asset (whether by sale, payment on
maturity, redemption or otherwise), gain or loss is recognized to the
Unitholder and the amount thereof is measured by comparing the
Unitholder's aliquot share of the total proceeds from the transaction
with his basis for his fractional interest in the asset disposed of.  Such 
basis is ascertained by apportioning the tax basis for his Units among each 
of the Trust assets (as of the date on which his Units were acquired) ratably 
according to their values as of the valuation date nearest the date on which 
he purchased such Units.  A Unitholder's basis in his Units and of his
fractional interest in each Trust asset must be reduced by the amount of his 
aliquot share of interest received by the Fund, if any, on Bonds delivered
after the Unitholder's settlement date to the extent that such
interest accrued on the Bonds during the period from the Unitholder's
settlement date to the date such Bonds are delivered to the Trust, must be 
reduced by the annual amortization of bond premium, if any, on Bonds held by 
the Trust and must be increased by the Unitholder's share of accrued
original issue discount with respect to each Bond which, at the time
the Bond was issued, had original issue discount.

     (v)  In the case of any Bond held by the Trust where the "stated
redemption price at maturity" exceeds the "issue price," such excess shall
be original issue discount.  With respect to each Unitholder, upon the
purchase of his Units subsequent to the original issuance of Bonds held by the
Trust Section 1272(a)(7) of the Code provides for a reduction in the accrued
"daily portion" of such original issue discount upon the purchase of a Bond
subsequent to the Bond's original issue, under certain circumstances.  In the
case of any Bond held by the Trust the interest on which is excludable from
gross income under Section 103 of the Code, any original issue discount which
accrues with respect thereto will be treated as interest which is excludable
from gross income under Section 103 of the Code.

    (vi)  In the case of any Bond which matures within one year of the date
issued, the accrual of tax-exempt original issue discount will generally be
computed daily on a ratable basis unless the Unitholder elects to accrue such
discount under a constant yield method, compounded daily.

    (vii)  In the case of any Bond which does not mature within one year
after the date issued, tax-exempt original issue discount will accrue
daily, computed generally under a constant yield method, compounded
semiannually (with straight line interpolation between compounding dates).

    (viii)  In the case of Trusts for which Municipal Bond Investors Assurance
Corporation ("MBIA") insurance with respect to each of the Bonds deposited
therein has been obtained by the Depositor or the issuer or underwriter of the
Bonds, we have examined the form of MBIA's policy or several policies of
insurance (the "Policies") which have been delivered to the Trustee.  Assuming
issuance of Policies in such form, in our opinion, any amounts paid under said
Policies representing maturing interest on defaulted obligations held by the
Trustee will be excludable from Federal gross income if, and to the same
extent as, such interest would have been so excludable if paid by the
respective issuer, provided that, at the time such policies are purchased,
the amounts paid for such policies are reasonable, customary and consistent
with the reasonable expectation that the issuer of the bonds, rather than
the insurer, will pay debt service on the bonds.  Paragraph (ii) of this 
opinion is accordingly applicable to Policy proceeds representing maturing 
interest.
<PAGE>

    Because the Trusts do not include any "specified private activity bonds"
within the meaning of Section 57(a)(5) of the Code issued on or after August
8, 1986, none of the Trust Fund's interest income shall be treated as an item
of tax preference when computing the alternative minimum tax.  In the case of
corporations, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1986, the alter-
native minimum tax and the Superfund Tax depend upon the corporation's
alternative minimum taxable income ("AMTI"), which is the corporation's
taxable income with certain adjustments.

    Pursuant to Section 56(c) of the Code, one of the adjustment
items used in computing AMTI and the Superfund Tax of a corporation
(other than an S Corporation, Regulated Investment Company, Real Estate
Investment Trust or REMIC) is an amount equal to 50% of the excess of such
corporation's "adjusted net book income" over an amount equal to its AMTI
(before such adjustment item and the alternative tax net operating
loss deduction).  For taxable years beginning after 1989, such adjustment item
will be 75% of the excess of such corporation's "adjusted current earnings"
over an amount equal to its AMTI (before such adjustment item and the
alternative tax net operating net operating loss deduction) pursuant to
Section 56(g) of the Code.  Both "adjusted net book income" and "adjusted
current earnings" include all tax-exempt interest, including interest on all
Bonds in the Trust, and tax-exempt original issue discount.

   Effective for tax returns filed after December 31, 1987,  all taxpayers
are required to disclose to the Internal Revenue Service the amount of
tax-exempt interest earned during the year.

    Section 265 of the Code generally provides for a reduction
in each taxable year of 100% of the otherwise deductible interest on
indebtedness incurred or continued by financial institutions, to which either 
Section 585 or Section 593 of the Code applies, to purchase or carry 
obligations acquired after August 7, 1986, the interest on which is exempt
from federal income taxes for such taxable year.  Under rules prescribed by 
Section 265, the amount of interest otherwise deductible by such financial
institutions in any taxable year which is deemed to be attributable to 
tax-exempt obligations acquired after August 7, 1986 will be the amount
that bears the same ratio to the interest deduction otherwise allowable
(determined without regard to Section 265) to the taxpayer for the taxable
year as the taxpayer's average adjusted basis (within the meaning of Section
1016) of tax-exempt obligations acquired after August 7, 1986, bears to
such average adjusted basis for all assets of the taxpayer, unless such 
financial institution can otherwise establish under regulations to be
prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, the amount of interest on 
indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry such obligations.

<PAGE>

    We also call attention to the fact that, under Section 265 of the
Code,  interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry
Units by taxpayers other than certain financial institutions, as referred to
above, is not deductible for Federal income tax purposes. Under rules used by
the Internal Revenue Service for determining when borrowed funds are con-
sidered used for the purpose of purchasing or carrying particular assets, the
purchase of Units may be considered to have been made with borrowed funds even
though the borrowed funds are not directly traceable to the purchase of Units.
However, these rules generally do not apply to interest paid on indebtedness
incurred for expenditures of a personal nature such as a mortgage incurred to
purchase or improve a personal residence.

    "The Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993" (the "Tax Act") subjects tax-exempt
bonds to the market discount rules of the Code effective for bonds purchased
after April 30, 1993.  In general, market discount is the amount (if any) by
which the stated redemption price at maturity exceeds an investor's purchase
price (except to the extent that such difference, if any, is attributable to
original issue discount not yet accrued) subject to a statutory de minimis
rule.  Market discount can arise based on the price a Trust pays for Bonds or 
the price a Unitholder pays for his or her Units.  Under the Tax Act, accretion
of market discount is taxable as ordinary income; under prior law, the 
accretion had been treated as capital gain.  Market discount that accretes 
while a Trust holds a Bond would be recognized as ordinary income by the 
Unitholders when principal payments are received on the Bond, upon sale or at 
redemption (including early redemption), or upon the sale or redemption of 
his or her Units, unless a Unitholder elects to include market discount in 
taxable income as it accrues.
     
    We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement (File No. 33-57123) relating to the Units referred
to above and to the use of our name and to the reference to our firm in said
Registration Statement and in the related Prospectus.

Respectfully submitted,


CHAPMAN AND CUTLER


<PAGE>
          
EXHIBIT 3.3

( ON DAY, BERRY & HOWARD LETTER)

1/24/95

John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois  60606
RE:  Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 780
     Connecticut Traditional Trust 271

Gentlemen:

        You have requested that we act as special counsel with respect to
certain Connecticut tax aspects of Connecticut Traditional Trust 271 (the
"Connecticut Traditional Trust"), being created as part of the Nuveen
Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 780 (the "Fund").
       
        The Fund is created under a Trust Indenture and Agreement dated the 
date hereof between John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated, as Depositor, and United 
States Trust Company of New York, as Trustee.  The Fund will issue units in 
several state trusts, one of which is the Connecticut Traditional Trust.
Each unit of the Connecticut Traditional Trust (a "Unit") represents a 
fractional undivided interest in the principal and net income of the 
Connecticut Traditional Trust.  The Connecticut Traditional Trust and the 
trust for any other state included in the Fund will each be administered 
as a separate and distinct entity for all purposes, each having its own 
separate assets, accounts, and certificates.

        You have informed us that, upon the sale of Units of the Connecticut
Traditional Trust to investors (the "Unitholders"), the assets of the
Connecticut Traditional Trust will consist of certain obligations 
(the "Bonds").  Each of the Bonds has been issued by or on behalf of the 
State of Connecticut, a political subdivision thereof, or public 
instrumentality, state or local authority, district, or similar public 
entity created under the laws of the State of Connecticut or by or on 
behalf of a United States territory or possession the interest on the   

<PAGE>

obligations of which Federal law would prohibit Connecticut from taxing 
if received directly by a Unitholder.  In the opinion of bond counsel to the
issuer of each of the Bonds, the interest thereon is exempt from Federal 
income taxation. Distributions to Unitholders of interest received by the 
Connecticut Traditional Trust and of amounts received thereby upon the
maturity, redemption, sale, or other disposition of the Bonds will be made 
semi-annually except in the case of Unitholders who have elected a shorter 
distribution period.

        You have informed us that, in the opinion of Messrs. Chapman and 
Cutler, for Federal income tax purposes (i) the Connecticut Traditional Trust
will not be classified as an association, but will be governed by the
provisions of subchapter J of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
relating to trusts;  (ii) pursuant to subpart E of said subchapter J, each
Unitholder will be considered to be the owner of a portion of each asset of
the Connecticut Traditional Trust and to have a portion of each item of
income of the Connecticut Traditional Trust, in each case such portion being
equal to the part of the whole thereof that the number of Units of the
Connecticut Traditional Trust held by him bears to the total number of
outstanding Units of the Connecticut Traditional Trust; (iii) each such
item of income will have the same character in the hands of a Unitholder as
in the hands of the Trustee; (iv) gain or loss will be recognized by a
Unitholder upon the redemption or sale of his Units or upon the maturity,
redemption, sale, or other disposition of a Bond held by the Connecticut
Traditional Trust; and (v) such income will be excludable from a Unitholder's
Federal gross income to the extent it consists of interest excludable
therefrom for Federal income tax purposes.
 
        Based on the foregoing, and relying explicitly on the opinion of 
Messrs. Chapman and Cutler regarding Federal income tax matters, we are of 
the opinion that, under existing Connecticut law:

1.   The Connecticut Traditional Trust is not liable for any tax on
     or measured by net income imposed by the State of Connecticut.

<PAGE>

2.   Interest income from a Bond held by the Connecticut Traditional
     Trust is not taxable under the Connecticut tax on the Connecticut
     taxable income of individuals, trusts, and estates (the "Connecticut 
     Income Tax"), when such interest is received by the Connecticut 
     Traditional Trust or distributed by it to a Unitholder.

3.   Gains and losses recognized by a Unitholder for Federal income tax 
     purposes upon the maturity, redemption, sale, or other disposition by the 
     Connecticut Traditional Trust of a Bond held by the Connecticut 
     Traditional Trust or upon the redemption, sale, or other disposition of a 
     Unit of the Connecticut Traditional Trust held by a Unitholder are taken 
     into account as gains or losses, respectively, for purposes of the 
     Connecticut Income Tax, except that, in the case of a Unitholder holding
     a Unit of the Connecticut Traditional Trust as a capital asset, such gains
     and losses recognized upon the maturity, redemption, sale, or exchange of
     a Bond issued by or on behalf of the State of Connecticut, any political 
     subdivision thereof, or public instrumentality, state or local authority,
     district, or similar public entity created under the laws of the State of
     Connecticut (a "Connecticut Bond") held by the Connecticut Traditional 
     Trust are excluded from gains and losses taken into account for purposes 
     of such tax and no opinion is expressed as to the treatment for purposes 
     of such tax of gains and losses recognized, to the extent attributable to
     Connecticut Bonds, upon the redemption, sale, or other disposition by a 
     Unitholder of a Unit of the Connecticut Traditional Trust held by him.

4.   The portion of any interest income or capital gain of the Connecticut
     Traditional Trust that is allocable to a Unitholder that is subject to 
     the Connecticut corporation business tax is includable in the gross 
     income of such Unitholder for purposes of such tax.

<PAGE>

5.   An interest in a Unit of the Connecticut Traditional Trust that is owned
     by or attributable to a Connecticut resident at the time of his death is 
     includable in his gross estate for purposes of the Connecticut succession
     tax and the Connecticut estate tax.

          

        We hereby consent, without admitting that we are in the category of
persons whose consent is required, to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement relating to the Units and to the reference to 
our firm as special Connecticut tax counsel in such Registration Statement 
and the Prospectus contained therein.

        We understand that you may deliver a copy of this opinion to the 
Trustee and hereby consent to the Trustee's relying on this opinion as though 
it were addressed to the Trustee.

Very truly yours,



DAY, BERRY & HOWARD


<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 3.3

(ON PITNEY, HARDIN, KIPP & SZUCH LETTERHEAD)

1/24/95

John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois  60606

RE:  Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 780
      
     New Jersey Insured Trust 186

Gentlemen:

    We have acted as special counsel, with respect to New Jersey state tax
matters, to Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 780 (the "Fund")
concerning a Registration Statement (No. 33-57123) on Form S-6 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the issuance by the Fund of units
of fractional undivided interest (the "Units") in several state trusts (the
"State Trusts"), one of which is the above-captioned trust ("New
Jersey Trust").  Such Units will be purchased by various investors
("Unitholders").

     The Fund is organized under a Trust Indenture and Agreement (the
"Indenture") of even date herewith between John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated (the
"Depositor") and United States Trust Company of New York (the "Trustee").
Each Unit of the New Jersey Trust represents a fractional undivided interest
in the principal and net income of the New Jersey Trust in the ratio of ten
Units for each one thousand dollars ($1,000) of principal amount of the
obligations initially acquired by the New Jersey Trust.  The New Jersey Trust
will be administered as a distinct entity with separate certificates,
investments, expenses, books and records.

    In acting as special counsel, we have examined such documents and records
with respect to the immediately preceding series of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit
Trust - Series which included a State Trust consisting primarily of Bonds
(herein defined) (the "Prior Series") as we deem necessary, including, but not
limited to, the Trust Indenture and Agreement (the "Prior Series Indenture")
and the Prospectus.  You have advised that the Indenture is identical in all
material respects to the Prior Series Indenture.  You have also advised that
the opinion of Messrs. Chapman and Cutler with respect to the Federal income
tax status of the Fund, its constituent State Trusts and its Unitholders is
in all material respects identical to the opinion issued by Messrs. Chapman
and Cutler for the Prior Series.

    We note that the assets of the New Jersey Trust will consist of
interest-bearing obligations issued by or on behalf of the State of New
Jersey, and counties, municipalities, authorities and other political
subdivisions thereof, and certain territories of the United States including
Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands (the
"Bonds").  Distributions of the interest received by the New Jersey Trust will
be made to each Unitholder semi-annually unless the Unitholder elects to
receive such distributions on a monthly or quarterly basis.  In the
opinion of bond counsel to each issuer, the interest on all Bonds in the New
Jersey Trust is exempt from Federal income tax under existing law.

    We understand that on this date (the "Date of Deposit") the Depositor has
deposited with the Trustee the total principal amount of interest-bearing
obligations and/or contracts for the purchase thereof together with an
irrevocable letter of credit in the amount required for the purchase price and
accrued interest, if any, and an insurance policy or policies purchased by the
Depositor and issued by the Municipal Bond Investors Assurance Corporation
(the "Insurer") evidencing the insurance guaranteeing the timely payment of
principal and interest of some of the obligations comprising the corpus of the
Fund, as more fully set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus.  All other
obligations included in the deposit described above will be covered by
insurance obtained by the issuer of such obligations from the Insurer
guaranteeing timely payment of principal and interest.  Such insurance will
provide that the amount paid by the Insurer in respect of any Bond may
not exceed the amount of principal and interest due on the Bond and such
payment will in no event relieve the issuer from its continuing obligation
to pay such defaulted principal and interest in accordance with the terms of
the obligation.

    Section 2.04 of the Indenture provides that each State Trust is a separate
and distinct trust for all purposes, the assets of one State Trust may not be
commingled with the assets of any other State Trust, and that the expenses of
one State Trust shall not be charged against any other State Trust.  Section
2.04 further provides that the certificates representing the ownership of an
undivided fractional interest in one State Trust shall not be exchangeable for
certificates representing the ownership of an undivided fractional interest in
any other State Trust.

<PAGE>

     The Indenture provides further, among other things, that the Trustee
shall:

    A.  Collect all interest and monies payable to the New Jersey Trust, and
hold the funds collected in trust on behalf of the Unitholders of the
New Jersey Trust;

    B.  Set aside from such funds any amounts necessary for the reimbursement
of advances and for the payment of expenses, taxes and governmental charges in
respect of the New Jersey Trust;

    C.  Distribute all remaining amounts semi-annually, or monthly or
quarterly if so elected by a Unitholder, to the Unitholders in proportion
to their interest in the New Jersey Trust;

    D.  Redeem any certificates tendered for redemption by a Unitholder
provided that the Trustee has notified the Depositor of the tender and the
Depositor has failed to indicate within a time specified in the Indenture that
it will purchase the tendered certificates from the tendering Unitholder;

    E.  Sell or liquidate any or all Bonds at the sole direction of the
Depositor and at such price and time and in such manner as shall be determined
by the Depositor, provided that the Depositor has determined that any one or
more of certain conditions specified in the Indenture exists;

    F.  In connection with an offer made by an obligor of any of the Bonds to
issue new obligations, in exchange and substitution for any issue of Bonds
pursuant to a plan for the refunding or refinancing of such Bonds, pursuant to
the sole instruction of the Depositor in writing, reject such offer and either
hold or sell such Bonds, or accept or reject such offer or to take any other
action with respect thereto as the Depositor may deem proper; and

    G.  At the direction of the Depositor, acquire Replacement Bonds, as
defined in the Prospectus, to make up the original corpus of the New Jersey
Trust in the event of a failure to deliver any Bond that has been purchased
for the New Jersey Trust under a contract, including those Bonds purchased on
a "when, as and if issued" basis.

    The Trustee has no power of sale except (a) on order of the Depositor as
stated herein, (b) to provide funds, not otherwise available, to pay taxes,
charges, expenses, fees or indemnities, (c) in case of default on any of the
Bonds, but only after notification of the Depositor, and provided that the
Depositor has not, within 30 days of such notification, given any instructions
to sell or to hold, or has not taken any other action in connection with, such
Bonds, or (d) for the purpose of redeeming certificates tendered by any
Unitholder.  The Trustee has no  power to reinvest, except as stated in
Section 3.08 of the Indenture.  Such limited power of reinvestment is in
furtherance of the Trustee's obligation to protect the trust assets, and does
not constitute power to vary investments.

    The Indenture provides further, among other things, that the Unitholders:

    A.  May tender their certificate or certificates to the Trustee for
redemption except in limited circumstances;

    B.  Will not have any right to vote or in any manner otherwise control the
operation and management of the Fund, the New Jersey Trust, or the obligations
of the Depositor or Trustee;

    C.  May elect to receive distributions from the New Jersey Trust on a
monthly or quarterly basis;

    D.  May terminate the New Jersey Trust at any time by written consent of
100% of the Unitholders of the New Jersey Trust; and

    E.  Shall be under no liability to any third persons by reason of any
action taken by the Depositor or Trustee or any other Unitholder, or any
other cause whatsoever.

<PAGE>

    You have advised that, in the opinion of Messrs. Chapman and Cutler, for
Federal income tax purposes the Fund and New Jersey Trust will not be taxable
as a corporation or association but will be governed by the provisions of
Subchapter J (relating to trusts) of Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended.  Each Unitholder will be considered the owner of a
pro rata portion of the New Jersey Trust and will be subject to tax on the
income therefrom under the provisions of Subpart E of Subchapter J of
Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  The New Jersey
Trust itself will not be subject to Federal income taxes.  For Federal income
tax purposes, each item of trust income will have the same character in the
hands of the Unitholder as it would have in the hands of the Trustee.
Accordingly, to the extent that the income of the New Jersey Trust consists
of interest excludable from gross income under Section 103 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, such income will be excludable from Federal
gross income of the Unitholder.  Furthermore, any proceeds paid under
the insurance policy or policies issued to the Trustee of the Fund with re-
spect to each Bond which represent maturing interest on defaulted obligations
held by the Trustee will be excludable from Federal gross income if, and to
the same extent as, such interest would have been so excludable if paid by the
issuer of the defaulted obligations and the excludability from Federal
gross income of interest on Bonds which may be insured by  policies issued
directly to the respective Bond issuers will not be affected if the source
of any interest payment is from policy proceeds.

    Based on our examination of the Prior Series Indenture, your advice that
the  Indenture is identical in all material respects to the Prior Series
Indenture, your advice that the opinion of Messrs. Chapman and Cutler with
respect to the Federal income tax status of the Fund, its constituent State
Trusts and its Unitholders dated as of the date hereof is identical in all
material respects to its counterpart in the Prior Series, and, with respect
to Federal income tax matters, with your approval, relying solely upon the
opinion of Messrs. Chapman and Cutler, and our examination of such other
documents, records and matters of law as we deem necessary, we are of the
opinion that for New Jersey state and local tax purposes:

    1.  The New Jersey Trust will be recognized as a trust and not an
association taxable as a corporation.  The New Jersey Trust will not be
subject to the New Jersey Corporation Business Tax or the New Jersey
Corporation Income Tax.

    2.  With respect to the non-corporate Unitholders who are residents
of New Jersey, the income of the New Jersey Trust which is allocable to each
such Unitholder will be treated as the income of such Unitholder
under the New Jersey Gross Income Tax.  Interest on the underlying Bonds which
would be exempt from New Jersey Gross Income Tax if directly received by such
Unitholder will retain its status as tax-exempt interest when received
by the New Jersey Trust and distributed to such Unitholder.  Any
proceeds paid under the insurance policy or policies issued to the Trustee of
the Fund with respect to each Bond or under individual policies obtained by
issuers of Bonds which represent maturing interest on defaulted obligations
held by the Trustee will be exempt from New Jersey Gross Income Tax if, and to
the same extent as, such interest would have been so exempt if paid by the
issuer of the defaulted obligations.

    3.  A non-corporate Unitholder will not be subject to the New
Jersey Gross Income Tax on any gain realized either when the New Jersey Trust
disposes of a Bond (whether by sale, exchange, redemption, or payment at
maturity), when the Unitholder redeems or sells his Units, or upon
payment of any proceeds under the insurance policy or policies issued to
the Trustee of the Fund with respect to each Bond or under individual policies
obtained by issuers of Bonds which represent maturing principal on defaulted
obligations held by the Trustee.  Any loss realized on such disposition may
not be utilized to offset gains realized by such Unitholder on the
disposition of assets the gain on which is subject to the New Jersey Gross
Income Tax.

    4.  Units of the New Jersey Trust may be taxable on the death of a
Unitholder under the New Jersey Transfer Inheritance Tax Law or the New
Jersey Estate Tax Law.

    5.  If a Unitholder is a corporation subject to the New Jersey
Corporation Business Tax or New Jersey Corporation Income Tax, interest from
the Bonds in the New Jersey Trust which is allocable to such corporation will
be includable in its entire net income for purposes of the New Jersey
Corporation Business Tax or New Jersey Corporation Income Tax, less any
interest expense incurred to carry such investment to the extent such interest
expense has not been deducted in computing Federal taxable income.  Net gains
derived by such corporation on the disposition of the Bonds by the New Jersey
Trust or on the disposition of its Units will be included in its entire net
income for purposes of the New Jersey Corporation Business Tax or New Jersey
Corporation Income Tax.  Any proceeds paid under the insurance policy or
policies issued to the Trustee of the Fund with respect to each Bond or
under individual policies obtained by issuers of Bonds which represent
maturing interest or maturing principal on defaulted obligations held by the
Trustee will be included in its entire net income for purposes of the New
Jersey Corporation Business Tax or New Jersey Corporation Income Tax if, and
to the same extent as, such interest or proceeds would have been so included
if paid by the issuer of the defaulted obligations.

<PAGE>

    We have not examined any of the obligations to be deposited in the Fund,
and express no opinion as to whether the interest on any such obligations
would in fact be tax-exempt if directly received by a Unitholder; nor
have we made any review of the proceedings relating to the issuance of Bonds
or the basis for bond counsel opinions.

    We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm and a summary of
this opinion included in such Registration Statement and the Prospectus
included therein.  In giving such consent we do not thereby admit that we
are in the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder.

     Except as indicated in the immediately preceding paragraph hereof and
except with our prior written consent, this opinion may not be quoted in
whole or in part or otherwise referred to in any document or instrument
or be furnished to or relied upon by any person other than the addressee
and United States Trust Company of New York, as Trustee (including any
successor trustee).

Very truly yours,



Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch



<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 3.3


(ON EDWARDS & ANGELL LETTERHEAD)

1/24/95

Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust,
Series 780
In care of John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606

Attention of James J. Wesolowski, Esq.
             Vice President, General Counsel
             and Secretary

United States Trust Company of New York,
as Trustee of Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust,
Series 780
770 Broadway
New York, NY  10003

Re:  
    New York Insured Trust 230
     
     

Dear Sirs:

    We have acted as special counsel, with respect to New York State and New
York City tax matters, to the above Trusts(s) ("New York Trust(s)") of Nuveen
Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 780 (the "Fund") concerning a
Registration Statement (No. 33-57123) on Form S-6 under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Registration Statement"), covering the issuance by the
New York Trusts(s) of units of fractional undivided interest in the New York
Trust(s)( "Units").
    We have not been furnished with a copy of the Registration Statement or
the prospectus, which is a part of the Registration Statement, relating to the
issuance by the New York Trust(s) of the Units.  However, John Nuveen & Co.
Incorporated has authorized us to assume that the proposed offer and sale of
the Units will be carried out in that same manner and upon the same terms and
conditions as that described in the prospectus for the Nuveen Tax Exempt Unit
Trust, Insured Series 193, dated May 19, 1989, which we were furnished and did
examine. In the case of a Fund which contains a New York Insured Trust or
New York Intermediate Insured Trust, we also were not furnished the
Insurance Agreement (the "Policy") between the Municipal Bond Investors
Assurance Corporation (the "Insurer"), the Depositor and the Trustee.
However, John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated has authorized us to
assume that the Policy will be implemented at the closing of the Trust and
be in substance and form materially similiar to the Policy applicable to
New York Insured Trust 108, which we were furnished and did examine.

    We have not been furnished with a copy of the Opinion of Chapman & Cutler
on the Federal Tax status of the Fund, its constituent Trusts and their
Unitholders.  However, John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated has authorized us to
assume that such Opinion will be in substance and form materially similar to
that which was issued in connection with Nuveen Tax Exempt Unit Trust, Insured
Series 193 dated May 19, 1989, which we were furnished and did examine.

    Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, for purposes of New
York State and New York City franchise taxes, a New York Trust will be a
trust not an association taxable as a corporation; the proposed activities
of a New York Trust will not constitute doing business within the meaning
of section 208.1 of the New York Tax Law or section R46-3.0 of the N.Y.C.
Administrative Code; a New York Trust will not be subject to New York State
or New York City franchise tax imposed on business corporations; a New York
Trust will not be subject to the unincorporated business income tax imposed
by Article 23 of the N.Y. Tax Law or Chapter 46, Title S of the N.Y.C.
Administrative Code; and the income of a New York Trust will be treated as
income of the Unitholders.

    We are further of the opinion that, under existing laws and
administration of the affairs of the New York Trust(s):

    (A)  Interest on obligations issued by New York State, a political
subdivision thereof, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern
Mariana Islands, or other possessions of the United States within the meaning
of Section 103(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
("Obligations") which would be exempt from New York State or New York City
personal income tax if directly received by a Unitholder, will retain its
status as tax-exempt interest when received by a New York Trust and
distributed to such Unitholder;

    (B) Interest (less amortizable premium, if any) derived
from a New York Trust by a Unitholder who is a resident of New York State
(or New York City) in respect of Obligations issued by states other than New
York (or their political subdivisions) will be subject to New York State
(or New York City) personal income tax;

<PAGE>


    (C) A Unitholder who is a resident of New York State (or New York City)
will be subject to New York State (or New York City) personal income tax with
respect to gains realized when Obligations held in the Unitholder's respective
New York Trust are sold, redeemed or paid at maturity or when the Unitholder's
Units are sold or redeemed; such gain will equal the proceeds of sale,
redemption or payment less the tax basis of the Obligation or Unit
(adjusted to reflect (a) the amortization of premium or discount (if any) on
Obligations held by the New York Trust, (b) accrued original issue discount
with respect to each Obligation which, at the time the Obligation was issued,
had original issue discount, and (c) the deposit of Obligations with accrued
interest in the New York Trust after the Unitholder's settlement date);

    (D) Interest or gain from a New York Trust derived by a
Unitholder who is not a resident of New York State (or New York City)
will not be subject to New York State (or New York City) personal income
tax, unless the Units are property employed in a business, trade,
profession or occupation carried on in New York State (or New York City);

    (E)  In the case of a New York Insured Trust or New York Intermediate
Insured Trust, amounts paid under the Policies representing maturing interest
on defaulted Obligations held by the Trustee in the Trust will be excludable
from New York State and New York City income if, and to the same extent as,
such interest would have been excludable if paid by the respective
issuer; and

    (F) Amounts distributable from a New York Trust which are, pursuant to
a Unitholder's election, automatically reinvested in Nuveen Municipal
Bond Fund, Inc. will be treated as if actually distributed to and reinvested 
by such Unitholder.

    Because of the requirement that tax cost basis be adjusted as discussed in
(C) above, under some circumstances a Unitholder may realize taxable
gain when his Units are sold or redeemed for an amount equal to or
less than his original cost.

    Although interest on Obligations issued by New York (or a political
subdivision thereof) would generally be exempt from New York State and
New York City tax, a special limitation may apply with respect to private
activity bonds which are not qualified bonds within the meaning of section 
103(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  The interest 
on such bonds, to the extent received by a Unitholder who is a "substantial 
user" (or person related to such user) of the facilities financed by such 
bonds, will not be exempt from New York State and New York City tax for any 
period during which such bonds are beneficially held by such "substantial user" 
or "related person".

    As an additional matter, if borrowed funds are used to purchase Units
in a New York Trust, all (or part) of the interest on such indebtedness will
not be deductible for New York State and New York City tax purposes.  The
purchase of Units may be considered to have been made with borrowed funds even
though such funds are not directly traceable to the purchase of Units in any
New York Trust.

    We are further of the opinion that, for purposes of the New York State and
New York City franchise tax on corporations, Unitholders which are
subject to such tax will be required to include in their entire net income any
interest or gains distributed to them in respect of obligations of any state
or political subdivision thereof, including New York.  No opinion is rendered
on the includability in entire net income of interest distributed to such
Unitholders in respect of obligations issued by Puerto Rico, the Virgin
Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands or other possessions of the
United States within the meaning of Section 103(c) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended.

    The foregoing opinions are based upon present provisions of Federal,
New York State and New York City law, administrative interpretations thereof
and court decisions.

    In connection with this offering, we have not examined any of the
obligations to be deposited in the New York Trust(s), and express no opinion
whether the interest on any such obligations is, in fact, exempt from Federal,
New York State, or New York City income taxation, or that such interest would 
be tax-exempt under Federal, New York State, or New York City law if directly
received by a Unitholder, nor have we made any review of the proceedings
relating to the issuance of any such obligations.

    We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm in such Registration
Statement and the Prospectus included therein.

Very truly yours,



EDWARDS & ANGELL

<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 3.3


(On Dechert Price & Rhoads Letterhead)

1/24/95


John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois  60606

RE:  Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 780
      
     Pennsylvania Insured Trust 193

Gentlemen:

    You have requested our opinion as to the Pennsylvania tax aspects of the
above-captioned Trust(s) (the "Pennsylvania Trust(s)") which is (are) a part
of the Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust Series 780 ("Fund").  The Fund is
organized under the Trust Indenture and Agreement, of even date, between John
Nuveen & Co. Incorporated, as Depositor, and United States Trust Company of
New York, as Trustee.  The Fund will contain several trusts, including the
Pennsylvania Trust(s), which will issue Units of fractional undivided
interests.  The Units will be purchased by various investors ("Unit Holder").
Each Unit of the Pennsylvania Trust(s) represents a fractional undivided
interest in the principal and net income of such Trust(s) in the ratio of ten
Units for each $1,000 of value of the obligations initially acquired by such
Trust(s).  Each Pennsylvania Trust will be administered as a distinct entity
with separate certificates, investments, expenses, books and records.
 
    The proceeds of the sale of the Units will be invested primarily in
interest-bearing obligations issued by or on behalf of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, its agencies and instrumentalities, or political subdivisions
thereof, including any county, city, borough, town, township, school disrict,
municipality, and local housing or parking authority in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania or issued by Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam or the
Northern Mariana Islands ("Bonds").  Distributions of the interest received by
the Trust will be made semi-annually unless the Unit Holder elects otherwise.
In the opinion of bond counsel to each issuer, the interest on all bonds in
the Trust is exempt fromn federal income tax under existing law.

    You have advised us that for federal income tax purposes each Pennsylvania
Trust will not be taxable as an association but will be governed by the
provisions of Subchapter J (relating to Trusts) of Chapter 1 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986.  Each Unit Holder will be considered the owner of a pro
rata portion of the Unit Holder's respective Pennsylvania Trust and will be
subject to tax on the income therefrom under the provisions of Subpart E of
Subchapter J of Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. A Pennsylvania
Trust itself will not be subject to federal income taxes. For federal income
tax purposes, each item of trust income will have the same character in the
hands of a Unit Holder as it would have in the hands of the Trustee.
Accordingly, to the extent that the income of a Pennsylvania Trust consists of
interest excludable from gross income under Section 103 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, such income will be excludable from federal gross income
of the Unit Holder.

    Based upon the above facts, it is our opinion that for Pennsylvania state
and local tax purposes, a Pennsylvania Trust will be recognized as a trust not
taxable as a corporation.  It will, therefore, not be subject to the 
Pennsylvania Capital Stock/Franchise Tax or the Pennsylvania Corporate Net
Income Tax.  Since all of the income of a Trust is either itself income exempt
from Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax, as described below, or is required by 
the terms of the Trust to be distributed to the holders of Units, a Trust 
should not be subject to Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax.  The Philadelphia
School District Investment Income Tax described below, is not imposed on 
trusts.

    Various personal property taxes are in effect in Pennsylvania, however, 
each of them exempts, inter alia, Bonds, cash, checking and savings accounts 
in and certificates of deposit issued by commercial banks, savings 
institutions or trust companies and United States Treasury obligations.  In
general, these taxes apply to a specified list of items of intangible 
personal property including, inter alia, mortgages and other evidences of
indebtedness and shares of stock issued by business corporations not doing
business in Pennsylvania.  The taxes referred to above include the County 
Personal Property Tax imposed on residents of Pennsylvania by the Act of 
June 17, 1913, P.L. 507, as amended, the additional personal property taxes 
imposed on Pittsburgh residents by the School District of Pittsburgh under 
the Act of June 20, 1947, P.L. 733, as amended, and by the City of Pittsburgh 
by Ordinance No. 599 of December 28, 1967, under the Act of December 31, 1965,
P.L. 1257, and any additional personal property taxes that the School District
of Philadelphia may reimpose on Philadelphia residents under the authority 
contained in the Act of May 23, 1949, P.L. 1676, as amended.  Units evidencing 
fractional undivided interests in a Pennsylvania Trust will not be subject to 
any of these personal property taxes to the extent of that proportion of a 
Pennsylvania Trust represented by Bonds and other exempt assets. Only that 
proportion of the Units represented by taxable assets will be subject to the 
personal property taxes.  Pennsylvania Trust Units may be taxable under the 
Pennsylvania inheritance and estate taxes.
 
    The interest and gain from obligations issued by the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania or by its political subdivisions or by any public authority of
either are exempt from tax under the Act of August 31, 1971, P.L. 395, 
Act No. 94.  However, that Act was repealed by the Act of December 3, 1993,
P.L. 473, Act No. 68 ("Act 68 of 1993") with respect to obligations issued
on or after February 1, 1994.  Pursuant to Act 68 of 1993, profits, gains or
income derived from the sale, exchange or other disposition of exempt 
government obligations issued after February 1, 1994 will be subject to
state or local taxation although interest and "income" derived from the
exempt obligations will continue to be exempt from all state and local 
taxation.  Therefore, the proportion of income representing interest from 
Bonds distributable to Unit Holders is not taxable under the Pennsylvania
Personal Income Tax imposed by Article III of the Pennsylvania "Tax Reform
Code of 1971", as amended by the Act of August 31, 1971, P.L. 362, Act No. 93,
or under the Corporate Net Income Tax imposed on corporations by Article IV of
the Tax Reform Code.  Similarly, such interest will not be taxable under the 
Philadelphia School District Investment Income Tax imposed on

<PAGE>

Philadelphia resident individuals under the authority of the Act of August 9,
1963, P.L. 640, as implemented by Section 19-1804 of the Philadelphia Code,
as amended, and resolutions of the Board of Education of the School District
of Philadelphia made pursuant to the ordinances, and such interest will not be
subject to any of the taxes on net income from business activities in 
Philadelphia under Philadelphia Code Sections 19-1500 and 19-2600, imposing
a Net Profits Tax and a Business Privilege Tax respectively.  The City and
School District of Pittsburgh do not impose any taxes on unearned income.
 
    Under the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax Law, personal income tax is
imposed upon the following specified classes of income:  (1) compensation for
services, (2) net profits from the operation of a business, profession, or 
other activity, (3) net gains or income from the disposition of property, (4) 
net gains or income in the form of rents and royalties, (5) dividends, (6) 
interest from obligations not otherwise exempt, (7) gambling and lottery
winnings, (8) net gains or income from estates or trusts which fall under any 
of the preceding classifications.  Although there is no published authority
on the question, it is our opinion that any insurance proceeds paid in lieu of
interest on defaulted tax-exempt obligations will be exempt from Pennsylvania 
Personal Income Tax either as payment in lieu of tax-exempt interest or as 
payments of insurance proceeds which are not included in any of the classes 
of income specified as taxable under the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax 
Law.  Since Pennsylvania Corporate Net Income Tax is imposed upon the 
corporation's net income for federal income tax purposes, because such
insurance proceeds will be excluded from the federal income tax base, such
proceeds will not be subject to the Pennsylvania Corporate Net Income Tax.
Finally, since proceeds from insurance policies are expressly excluded from
the Philadelphia School District Investment Income Tax, insurance proceeds
paid to replace defaulted payments under any Bonds held by the Pennsylvania
Trust(s) will not be subject to this tax.

    Under Act 68 of 1993, a Unit Holder's share of gain upon disposition of a 
Bond issued on or after February 1, 1994 by the Pennsylvania Trust, whether 
by sale, exchange, redemption or payment at maturity, will be taxable 
under the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax.  Gains on the disposition of Bonds
issued before February 1, 1994 will continue to be exempt.  See 72 P.S. Section
7303(a)(3) and 61 Pa. Code Section. 121.9(b)(3).  While there is no published 
authority with respect to the treatment of such gains for purposes of the 
Philadelphia School District Investment Income Tax, it is our opinion that
gains upon dispositions of Bonds issued before February 1, 1994 are exempt from 
this tax under Act of August 31, 1971, P.L. 395, Act No. 94, and, if the 
question were litigated, the Pennsylvania courts should so hold.  Gains on the 
disposition of Bonds issued on or after February 1, 1994 will be taxable.  
In any event, the Philadelphia School District Investment Income Tax has no
application to any gain on the disposition of property held for more than
six months. 

    In C.C. Collings & Co., Inc. v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 514 A.2d 1373
(1986), and two related cases, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania held that 
gains or losses from the sale of obligations of the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania, its political subdivisions, instrumentalities and agencies are 
not subject to the Corporate Net Income Tax.  Profits, gains or income
derived from the sale, exchange or other disposition of those exempt 
obligations issued on or after February 1, 1994, however, will be subject
to tax pursuant to Act 68 of 1993.  

    There is no published authority under any of the Pennsylvania state and
local income taxes described above with respect to gain from the redemption
or sale of a Unit.  To the extent that such gain represents the
Unit Holder's share of any unrealized gain on the Bonds issued before 
February 1, 1994 and held by the Trust, it is our opinion that such gain is 
exempt from the above-described Pennsylvania state and local income taxes and, 
if the question were litigated, the Pennsylvania courts should so hold.  To the
extent that such gain is attributable to unrealized gain on Bonds issued on 
or after February 1, 1994, such gain will be taxable under such taxes.  In any
event, the Philadelphia School District Investment Income Tax has no 
application to any gain on the disposition of property held for more than six 
months.
 
    Interest on obligations of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, or the
Northern Mariana Islands is, under federal law, exempt from taxation by states
and municipalities.  Federal law does not expressly exclude from taxation gain
realized upon the disposition of such obligations.  Therefore, a disposition
of such obligations by a Pennsylvania Trust could be a taxable event to a
Holder under each of the Pennsylvania state and local income taxes discussed
in the preceding paragraphs.  See Willcuts v. Bunn, 282 U.S. 216 (1931); U.S.
v. Stewart, 311 U.S. 60 (1940).  Similarly, to the extent that gain on the
redemption or sale of a Unit represents unrealized gain on such obligations
held by a Pennsylvania Trust, such gain could be taxable. 

    We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement (No. 33-57123) relating to the Units referred to
above, and to the reference to our firm as special Pennsylvania tax counsel in
said Registration Statement and in the related Prospectus.

Very truly yours,


DECHERT PRICE & RHOADS

<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 4.1

(ON STANDARD & POOR'S CORPORATION LETTERHEAD)

1/24/95

John Nuveen & Company
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois  60606

Re:     NUVEEN TAX EXEMPT UNIT TRUST, SERIES 780

        This is in response to your requests regarding the above-captioned
fund which consists of separate underlying insured and traditional unit
investment trusts, SEC file # 33-57123.

        INSURED TRUSTS.

        With respect to the insured trusts we have reviewed the information
presented to us and have assigned a 'AAA' rating to the units of each insured
trust and a 'AAA' rating to the securities contained in each insured trust.
The ratings are direct reflections of the portfolio of each insured trust,
which will be composed soley of securities covered by bond insurance policies
that insure against default in the payment of principal and interest on the
securities contained in each insured trust for as long as they remain
outstanding.  We understand that the bonds described in the prospectus are the
same as those in the attatched list.  Since such policies have been issued by
MBIA which has been assigned a 'AAA' claims paying ability rating by S&P, S&P
has assigned a 'AAA' to the units of each insured trust and a 'AAA' rating to
the securities contained in each trust.

        You have permission to use the name of Standard & Poor's Corporation
and the above-assigned rating in connection with your dissemination of
information relating to the insured trusts provided that it is understood
that the ratings are not 'market' ratings nor recommendations to buy, hold or
sell the units of the insured trusts or the securities contained in the
insured trusts.  Further, it should be understood the rating on the units of
each insured trust does not take into account the extent to which the trust's
expenses or portfolio asset sales for less than the principal required to be
paid on the portfolio assets.  S&P reserves the right to advise its own
clients, subscribers, and the public of the ratings.  S&P relies on the
sponsor and its counsel, accountants, and other experts for the accuracy and
completeness of the information submitted in connection with the ratings.  S&P
does not independently verify the truth or accuracy of any such information.

        This letter evidences our consent to the use of the name of Standard &
Poor's Corporation in connection with the rating assigned to the units of each
insured trust in the registration statement or prospectus relating to the
units and the trusts.  However, this letter should not be construed as a
consent by us, within the meaning of section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933,
to the use of Standard and Poor's Corporation in connection with the ratings
assigned to the securities contained in the insured trusts.  You are hereby
authorized to file a copy of this letter with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

        Please be certain to send us three copies of your final prospectus as
soon as it becomes available.  Should we not receive them within a reasonable
time after the closing or should they not conform to certification received by
us, we reserve the right to nullify the ratings.


<PAGE>



        TRADITIONAL TRUSTS.

        With respect to the traditional unit investment trusts within the
above-captioned fund, we have reviewed the information presented to us and we
hereby confirm that the ratings indicated in the prospectus as being assigned
by Standard & Poor's Corporation to the securities contained in each
traditional trust of such fund are, according to our records, the ratings
currently assigned by Standard & Poor's Corporation to such securities.  You
understand that Standard & Poor's Corporation has not consented to, and will
not consent to, being named as "expert" under the federal securities laws,
including and without limitation, Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933,
with respect to the ratings on any securities contained in any of the
traditional trusts.

        Please note that the 'AAA' rating assigned to the units of each
insured trust does not apply to the units of any of the traditional trusts.


                                          STANDARD & POOR'S CORPORATION

                                          
                                          Vincent S. Orgo



 
<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 4.2

(On J. J. Kenny Co., Inc. Letterhead)

1/24/95

John Nuveen & Company
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606

Re:  Nuveen Tax Exempt Unit Trust, Series 780

Gentlemen:

     We have examined the registration statement File No. 33-57123
for the above-captioned trust.  We hereby acknowledge that
Kenny S&P Evaluation Services, a division of J. J. Kenny Co., Inc.
is currently acting as the evaluator for the trust. We hereby
consent to the use in the Registration Statement of the reference
to Kenny S&P Evaluation Services, a division of J. J. Kenny Co., Inc.
as evaluator.

     In addition, we hereby confirm that the ratings indicated in the
Registration Statement for the respective bonds comprising the trust
portfolio are the ratings currently indicated in our KENNYBASE database.

     You are hereby authorized to file a copy of this letter with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

Sincerely,


Donald H. Totter



<PAGE>

                                   MEMORANDUM

                 Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit Trust, Series 780
                               File No. 33-57123


    The Prospectus and the Indenture filed with Amendment No. 1 of the
Registration Statement on Form S-6 have been revised to reflect information
regarding the execution of the Indenture and the deposit of bonds on 1/24/95,
and to set forth certain statistical data based thereon.  In addition, there 
are a number of other changes from the Prospectus as originally filed to which
reference is made, including the increase in the size of the Fund, a
corresponding increase in the number of Units and a change in the individual
trusts constituting the Fund.  All references to the Units, prices and related
statistical data will apply to each trust of the Fund and the Units thereof
individually.

    Except for such updating, an effort has been made to set forth below each 
of the changes and also to reflect the same by marking the Prospectus 
transmitted with the Amendment.  Also, differences between the Final 
Prospectus relating to the previous series of the Nuveen Tax-Exempt Unit 
Trust and the subject Prospectus have been indicated.

                                    FORM S-6

    FACING SHEET.  The file number is now shown.

                                 THE PROSPECTUS

     PAGE 3.       The "Estimated Long-Term Return" and "Estimated Current
Return" to Unitholders under each Trust under each of the distribution
plans are stated.

     PAGES 4 - 5.  Essential information for each of the Trusts, including
applicable footnotes, has been completed for this Series.

     PAGES 5 - 6.  The date of the Indenture has been inserted in Section 1
along with the size and number of Units of each of the Trusts.

     PAGE 8 et seq. The following information for each Trust appears on the
pages relating to such trust:

         The estimated daily accrual of interest under the plans of
         distribution for each of the Trusts

         Data regarding the composition of the portfolio of each
         Trust

         Disclosure regarding the states' economic and legislative
         matters relevant to investors of state trusts

         Concentrations of issues by purpose in each Trust

         The approximate percentage of the bonds in the
         portfolio of each Trust acquired in distributions where
         the Sponsor was either the sole underwriter or manager
         or member of the underwriting syndicate

         The percentage of "when issued" bonds in the portfolio
         of each Trust

         The schedule of investments for each Trust, including
         the notes thereto

         Descriptions of the opinions of the special tax
         counsel for state trusts

         The Record Dates and Distribution Dates for
         interest distributions for each Trust

         The distribution table for each Trust

         Taxable Equivalent Estimated Current Return Tables for residents
         of the respective jurisdictions

         The statements of condition for each Trust
         and the accountant's report with regard thereto.

         The amount of the Trustee's Fee

                             THE INDENTURE

The Schedules to the Indenture have been completed.


CHAPMAN AND CUTLER


Chicago, Illinois

1/24/95


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission