Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-08-03
QUEER MONEY.
Venerable Paper Currency and Mormon
Gold Pieces In the National Museum.


Venerable Paper Currency and Mormon
Gold Pieces In the National Museum.
Among tile curiosities in the National
Museum at Washington is the collection
Of obsolete paper money. A writer de-
scribes some Of the more striking OF
these interesting specimens Of antique
currency, beginning with what is known
rs Shepherds money, which is still in
some part, Of Mexico. The .money'in
question consisted of two bits of paper
about the size Of fifty-ccnt shinplaster.
The notes are printed on white paper,
in black, without any attempt at orna-
ment or any Of the usual devices to
battle counterfeiters. The notes are
dated at Hacienda de San Miguel. Bato-
pilas, and the text upon them is in
Spanish. One note is for twenty-five
and the other for fifty cents. In the
lower corner is printed the name Alex
ander X. Shepherd, well known'in this
city. A card near the notes informs the
curious people who stop to look at them
that such notes are in general circula-
ton in the Batopilas district and arc
preferred by the people there to the pa
per money issued by the Mexican Coy
erpment, A very extensive collection
of coins and specimens Of money has
been placed on exhibition in the
museum. A curious piece Of money is
bit of pasteboard. about the size Of q
strect-car ticket, and marked with q
pencil by the man that issued il, Tho
one exhibited is for three cents, and was
issued by q. business house in Mexico.
This pastcboard money has been legal.
lied by the State Of Tamaulipas,
Among the coins is q fivO-dollar gold
piece coined by tho Mormons at Salt
Lake City in i849. This piooe was
presented TO tho museum by Mr., Joseph
Libbcy, of West Washington, 1t Is or
namented with representation OF a
mitrc and an eye, and inscribed with
the words holiness to the Lord"
There are also specimens of Mormon
paper money issued ~ late as 1865.
Many OF the small Mexican coins
shown are cut in two in the center. 1t
il the custom OF the people in some
districts in Mexico. when they want
TO make change 10 cut tile coins. A
ten-cent piece will bo cut in halves. md
each half will pass for five cents.
The collection is very r,ch in spcci-
m,ns OF colonial and continental money
shill.nrs issued under the authority Of
"the assembly Of Pennsylvania :" The
spelling did not affect the value N the
noto, Tho bills issued under the M.
thofiIy of Congress during the rcyolu-
tionary war entitled tho 6Oarcr to ro-
ceiye the amount of the bill In span.
ish milled dollars or the value thereof
in poh or silver" An old note for five
dollars issucdb bv tie hank Of Washing.
ion January - 1911 Is mong othsr
old relies shown In another cHso is n
bond or n0to which reminds ono of
the later aitemp,s nj tinoncicr;n,, on thc
mart of chomnions Of thc If g, rennhlic
u il n bond q mcd nj New York .Innu.
ary 1, 1852, for ten dollars. hy louis
Kossuth payafls ION demand ono wear.
after t,c dstabl shmcnt in fant Of Tx in.
dependent Hunonr;nn government T"
A curious thing show ns how Enolish
accounts were kent or justified for
many centuries ind down 10 re,
cent times. n tally stick dis,
plnyed in ono of tho cas,s This i n lono
stick which has becn doonly notchod
The method OF registering by 'tallies was
pract;ced by The Enolls6 Gourt of Ey.
sheouer from the limo OF IN, Norman
conquest until l7aS II is thc SAM svs.
tenn as that now prnctic,I s,mctirnos bv
milkmon who keen nccount of thoj,
credit salcs by notchipg stick In thu
Eng,isb sysicm tho sum na;d to tho ham;
was marked on the side of n willow or
hazel stick. The stick was notched by
the Gutter of Tallios, and inscribed in
Roman characters BY tho Writer of Tall