Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-08-01
ALL KINDS OF MONEY.
UNITED STATES TREASURY ExHIBlT
AT THE ATLANTA EXPOSITION.


Cursoas Old Bonds and Soses-Enxixnd's
Check For Damages Done by the Ala
han&-R&re Old colonial Soses-An In.
teressfng Array.
Register j. Pount Tillman Of tbe
United States treasury viii send from
his bureau 10 the Atlanta exposition
one Of the most interesting and attract
i've exhibits o be furnished for that oc-
casion by the United States government.
The eKhGbit-then rather incomplete in
some Of It's detailS-attracted widespread
attention at the Columbian exposition
IN Chicago.
Since then many new features have
been added until now il forms the most
complete collection II all issues If
money Of this government in existence
II is not only valuable 70 those interest
ed in the financial history 0f this coun-
try, but il serves as well 20 illustrate
the great and rapid advance made in
shs art of engraving. The first attempts
to engrave notes were Grade and rough,
while the later efforts are the beautiful
works of art with which every one is
familiar.
The exhibit contains specimens Of
treasury issues Of every form, made on
account of the various loans, since the
foundation Of the government, grouped
and arranged in chronological order.
Added TO this is a full and well pre-
served collection Of colonial money,
which is valuable as well as interesting.
The government was compelled 10 pur-
chase this collection by piecemeal from
various persons who were holding the
Iaoney as souvenirs, and a good price
was paid for the necessary pieces TO
complete the collection. One Of the fea-
lures Of the exhibit il the continental
money. AL the issues Of the 10 original
states are represented, embracing all
dates, denominations and conditions Of
payment The exhibit includes CONT
mental money, colonial money, specimens
OF the issues Of the late Confederate
States, both currency and bonds United
States bonds, United States currency,
national bank notes, bills of broken
wildcat banks in active operation before
the civil war, and the check which Eng
Land made ont in favor Of this country
for depredations committed by the
steamer Alabama ON the commerce of
the United States.
The earliest issue Of bonds, then
known as "loan Office certificates, " as
shown In the exhibit, was made in I776
on account Of the first loan this govern
ment negotiated with France. Then fol-
low in order Of date specimens Of bonds
issued 10 replenish the treasury from
time to time during the progress Of the
Revolutionary and civil wars down to
the present time, the last loan being
that Of 1895, redeemable in 1925. As
shown by the specimens, the earliest
coupon bonds were issued in 1912. It
was then that tits government adopted
the two forms Of bonds, now so popular,
the coupon and registered The speci-
mems Of the bonds, notes, fractional cur
rency and other eviGances of debt under
all acts of congress issued ON account of
the heavy loans entailed by the civil wal
form a fine and historic collection of the
reminders of those stirring times.
The ''ioan Office certificates r
probably al interesting as any other fea-
ture Of this collection. Many have the
interest figured out ON the edge Of the
note, showing that the holders had puz-
zled their heads 10 find out what Uncle
Sam owed them. On one of the colonial
notes. issued in 1874, are inscribed the
words, "To counterfeit is death. Some
severe penalty was necessary, for any
ordinary schoolboy with a quill pen
could have reproduced the note exactly,
so crnde and rough wa its execution.
Among the bonds r found a great
number Of District of Columbia notes of
indebtedness, issued for all sorts of par
poses. The bonds of the large 4 per cent
loan Of the late war times have a place
in the exhibit, and they take up quite a
good deal Of space. They are both cou-
pom and registered bonds. the highest
denomination of the former being ST.
600, and that Of the latter being $780,.
900. The $50, 900 registered bond is the
largest ever issued by this government.
No coupon bond is issued with a higher
denomination than 9 1000. The last
loan, hat of ls95-1e25, is a 4 per cent
one, and the bonds ere beautiful works
Of art They are made in the shape of a
United States flag, with the coupons
taking the place Of the stripes. and one
Of these bonds takes up tbs entire space
on a single leaf Of the exhibit.
The check which England paid to this
0uBfs account OF M Alabama
claims is q gold certificate and ia made
ont in the SUM of $I5, 500, 600. On the
back IL is Endorsed by many names, the
most prominent Of which are those Of
Edward Thornton. then the English
minister 30 this country; Hamilton
Fish. secretary Of state. and William A
Richardson, secretary Of the treasury.
The collection is mounted on two sep
arate columns. each Z feet high Thirty
two frames T eswung en- hinges to these
columns. and in these frames the notes
are mounted. They are well arranged
and are lettered and grouped in an arts
- NT-AIs.-. Co.