Savannah morning news., 1886-05-08
QUEER PsPER MONEY.
Some OF the CuriosItIes of the National
Museum.

Museum.
Among the curlosIties at the National
Museum at Washington is the collection
OF obsolete paper money. A writer In the
Washington Star describes some OF the
most striking of these interesting speci-
mens of antique currency, beginning
with what is known as Shepherds money,
which is still in use in some parts OF
Mexico. The money in question con-
sisted of two bits of paper about the size
OF 5O.cent shinplaster. The notes are
printed on white paper, in black, without
any attempt at ornament or any OF the
usual devices TO battle counterleiters.
Inc notes are dated at Hacienda de San
Miguel, Batopilas, and the text upon
Inem IS IN Spanish. One note is for
25c. and the other for SOC. In the lower
corner IS printed the name Alexander r.
shepherd, well known in this city. A card
near the notes informs the curious people
VINO stop to look at them that such notes
are IN general circulation in the Batopilas
district and are preferred by the people
tnere 10 the paper money issued by the
Mexican government. A very extensive
collection of coins and specimens OF
money has been placed on exhibition in
lhe museum. A curious piece of money
is bit OF pasteboard, about the SIZE OF
street car ticket, and marked with PEN
Gil by the man that issued il. The one
exhibited is for &c., and was issued
by business house In Mexico. This
pasteboard money has been legalized by
the State of Tdmaulipas.
Among the coins is a s. gold piece
coined by the M0rmons at Salt Lake City
IN lo49. This piece was pr, sented to the
museum by Mr.. Joseph Libbey, Of West
Washington. 1t is ornamenued with
representation Of a r0itre and an eye, and
inscribed with the words: "Holiness to
the Lord" There are also specimeus of
Mormon paper money issued as late as
1865.
Many Of the small Mexican coins shown
are cut in two in the centre. 1t Is the
custom OF the people in some districts IN
Mexico, when they want to make change
TO cut the coins. A 10c. piece will be cut
in halves, and each half will pass for SC.
The collection is very rich in specimens
OF colonial and continental mOnAy or
bills. There is one bill for 40 shillings is
sued under the authority of ''the Assem-
oily OF Pennsylvania" The SPELLING did
not affect the value of the note. The bills
issued under the authority Of Congress
during the Revolutionary war entitled
the bearer to receive the amount of the
bill In Spanish milIed dollars or the value
thereofin gold or silver" An old note
lOI POs iSSuEU ny buc Dduh Ol W dehIuElOn
Jan. l., 1911, is among other old relics
shown. In another case is a bond or note
which reminds one of the laJer attempts
at financiering on the part of champions
OF the Irish republic. IT is bond Issued
at New York, Jan. 1, 1852, for $40, by
Louis KOssuth, payable on demand one
year after the establishment IN fact of the
independent Hungarian government" A
curious thing, showing how English ac-
nj ~cr,e f1
centuries and down to recent times, is
tally stick displayed In one of the cases
This is long stick which has been deeply
notched. The method of registering by
tallies was practiced by the English Court
of EXchequer from the time the Norman
Conquest until 1888. II is the same sys-
tenn as that now practiced sometimes by
milkmen who keep account of their credit
sales by notching q stick. In the English
system the sum paid to the bank was
marked on the side of q willow or hazel
stick. The stick was nOtched by the
Cutter of Tailies, and inscribed in
Roman characters by the Writer of
Tallies. small notch represented a
penny, larger one shilling, a still
larger one pound, a still larger one 100
pounds, aud so on. When the stick was
prepared it was split in two by the Deputy
Chamberlain. 1t was split in such a way
that the notohes appeared on both halves.
0ne-half Of the stick was deposited in
bank, and the other held by the person
paying the money as a receipt. OOe was
called the tally, the other the counter
tally. In 1884, after a new system of ac-
counts was introduced, the tally sticks,
which had accumulated in great mum bers,
were burned ia the stoves of the House
of Lords. The dry old sticks made an in
tense heat, and set fire to the Parliament
buildings, which were completely de-
stroyed. The tally stick at the National
Museum is a gift from Mr.. A. NJ. Franks,
OF the British Museum. 1t registers the
payment OF 100000 in part principal on
loan of f140,O00 due Sept. 30, 1889, and
paid Nov. %, 1875.