The New York herald., 1863-12-25
The rat,ona, Bank Currenoy.

iAto liontonaht Coohoi
The National Bank Currency.
pI I5CRIPTION or The NEW FIVE DOLLAR EorES.
The Cont mental Bark Note Company this city, have
Just completed large batch OF notes for the new ua
tonal banks provided for In the OF Congress ap
proved on the 25th day OF February last About
hundred and fifty banks have already been organ
ized under the aotsome Of them places whore thee
were never banks in existence before This Is pecu-
arity which grows out Of the novelty OF the SYSTEM the
old banking institutions beng slow 10 yiold 10 the limo
vation The theory upon which the national banks are
formed consists mainly in the Substitution OF govern
faith for State securities In other words third
OF their capital consists OF United States bonds deposited
with the Treasurer Washington The notes are sup
piled by tho government ITSELF boing prepared by con
tract by the most akfu bank note associations in the
country
The Continental Bank Note Company was awarded the
contract for the i've dollar notes. which Is the lowest
denomination Of the new currency.
The batch prepared Tor the First National Bank
OF washington, O. AZ the Introduction Of these
bills may be said open in the history OF
national currency, short description Of the national
bank notes viii not be inappropriate In this connection
1t may DO stated at the start by the way, that tho
plates designs and appearance OF al thess notes will bo
the for all the States with the single and necessary
exception OF the local names aud numbers.
The face OF the may DO briefly described fol-
lows
At the left hand corner Of tho face B vgne,te repre-
senting Columbus sighting land lie Is standing ship
board and IN the act OF pointing out the shore OF Guiana
Ham, while figure, kneeng, is pointing In the Same
direction, aud looking into the face OF the great ois
In the immediate foreground s another figure
with in clasped hands, and the face turned
heavenwards, in thanksgiving to the Almighty The
background Is occupied by priest and other 0gnres
on fhe sail above he
highly ornamental letters. This design, it will be
tced historical, and this 10 compsoce with tho
wish Of President Lincoln who hinted his desire on tho
subject in his letter inviting proposals.
Tho vguette on the left hand OF tho contains
an alogorcal which is also another idea
Of Mr. Lincoln's. consists Of picture Of Columbus
presenting America the form OF IDdan maiden, 10
Old World, personincd by three figures, representing
Europe, Asia and Africa. In the foliage overhead s the
Ggure Ave, handsomely ornameuted.
The border OF tho face is composed OF the word Ave.
scroll work. consisting OF grapo leaves and the figure
o. alternating In pauels The novel popularity OF the
border is that two Words 0gurcs or scrolls are ex
acty alike, having boon varied purposcly, that the
counerfesr may not be able TO initiate the note by
peatng small portions Is frequently noticed In spu
rious money. In initiate these notes the counA
erfeiter will find necessary to engrave the whole with
the minuest nicely.
| read contains the following Inscriptions
NATIONAL CURRENCY
| This note is secured by bonds OF
| THE UNITED STATES,
deposited
$wth the U. 8. Treasurer ut Washington.
l.. f. CHTrENDEs,
| Register Of tho Treasury. F. +. SPINNER,
Treasurer Of the United states.
Tho First National Bank Of Washington VIII pay the
Sbearer, on demand, Five Dollars. Washington Nov
(21, 1865, District OF Columbia.
Tho inscription will be common 70 the national
bank notes all the states while tho latter gives H.
ustraon Of the necessary deviation required by local
| uamcs aud numbers.
"Act approved Feb 2s 1885," Tho spaces beneath
vgueite left for the signatures OF the pres
dent aud cashier OF the bank
Tho back OF the displays another beautiful exhib
ingenuity ard taste. Tho principal viguetc Ia
largo ths greater part OF the back
reproducing vandsryns famous picture in the rounda Of
the Capitol at Washington, representing the landing o
Columbus. Tho picture srnted In black as are also the
Legends which surround It. Tho upper legeud fol
lows
This note Is receivable M par ia all parts Of the
UNITED states In payment Of all taxes aud and
$ail 10 the United States except duties
{mporis aud also for all salaries and all other debts
$nnd demands owing by the United Staes to indivdu
{ais corporations and associations within the United
| Estates. except interest on public debt I
The lower legend is as follows
Every person making or engraving. or aiding 10
$mAke engrave passing or attempting 70 psss any
$mitaton alteration OF this rote and every person
Shaving In possession plate or impression made in
{imiaion Of t any paper made in imitation OF that
<ou which this note printed, IT, By scs Of Ccngress
$approved 25th OF February 1885, guilty ~ felony and
}sab ect to a lne not exceeding one tboassnd dollars
Cor Imprisonment not exceeding nfteen yeArs. both
The border and pieces printed green. Tns Dor.
der Is made up of the figure shield repeated In
the TOP border the words .'Daonal currency
The pieoe 20 the loft contains oval with figure
symbolical Of the District Of Columbia, exquiseiy
graved the OF the Dsr ct being engraved the
cloud work Tho oval at the right end contains the eas
the national shield, with the cypher "U. s." 10 the
SKY. Tho upper have each tho word pnve
engraved tho face Of the scroll work. while the two
lower have the asure ongrsve1 lathe work
The Camp on Hiker's Island.
HOW MATTERS ARE 0OfN0 on THsRx-A SYSTEM or
DKsEuTIoS BROKEN uP--rHB C0LoaED BATrAL-
IoS-THK CAMP TO 10 REMOVED TO HARrs
ISLAND, ETC.
.r.fs.