The herald., 1898-11-22
LESS ARTISTIC BILLS
MIGHT BE MORE DIFFICULT TO
COUNTERFEIT
Secretary Gage Will Make Some
Changes in the Designs of the
National Currency

In INN, NOV. IA dlspatcn 10
Secretary of the Treasury Gage long ago
decided to have bills of the same denomina-
sioh look alike. That is, he wished the
nve-dollar silver certificate, the ,fve-dolar
Ohited States note and the five-dollar Sher-
man treasury note to bear a close resem-
9iance to one another. The first of the
uesishs under the new system is Of the
onet,dollar silver certificates. The notes
VIII soon be out. Clearness, simplicity and
protection against counterfeting have been
me results chiefly aimed at. The new de-
sign is somewhat less artistic than some
OF the present silver certificates, but prob
ably will be more popular among those who
handle money.
The central device on the face of the
hote is an American eagle with wings part
Iiy spread clutching the flag and with the
dome OF the Capitol in the back ground.
Below the platform upon which the eagle
stands are small portraits of Lincoln and
Grant set in medallons. Large and clear
iigures are in each corner of the note and
ON the sides. The space between the cen
tral device and the lathe work at the ends
Is clear white paper, except for the imprint
OF the seal III one space and the denomina-
tioh OF the note in another The seal upon
the silver certificates will be in blue and
the inquire in the open space will be in the
same ink. The mechanical work and the
technical finish of the engravings are su-
per9r to anything ever before issued from
lhe bureau OF Engraving and Printing. The
reverse side OF the note corresponds to the
lace IN regard to the large display OF white
paper without printing Of lathe work. Large
piain hgures appear in each corner and
scrolls make up an attractive border, but
the oniy remaining space upon which print
ing appears is in the center. where the usual
language regarding the qualities of the note
az a tender for public duties is set forth.
Ihe object of a clear display of white pa
per on both sides of the note is to afford
safeguard against counterfeting. 1t has
been found by experts that it is easier to de-
teect the use of paper without the usual sill,
threads where it is not covered with print
ing The S. silver certificate is substantial
other forms of paper money.
The difference between a silver certifc-
ate, United States note and a Sherman
treasury note of any denomination will be
indicated by the wording and by the color
OF the seal. The latter distinction will
serve the purposes of bank clerks who have
to distinguish the notes by classes. The
ordinary citizen who cares only for the de-
nomination of the note and especially for
the law under which it is issued will find
the denominations from 81 to $40, where he
formerly had to deal with fifteen different
forms if he handled silver certificates,
United States notes and Sherman notes.
The advantage of this unifcation of the
treasury will be great in the case of persons
handling large amounts of money, for per-
sons OF defective vision, and in the case OF
those who cannot read and write and rely
on the general appearance of note to de
termne its denomination. The latter class
will hereafter be able to identity a 81 note
by the devices, whether it is issued under
the legal tender act, the Sherman law or
the Bland law
The designs for the higher denominations
of notes are in the course of preparation in
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
Secretary Gage, Assistant Secretary Van
derlip and Treasurer Roberts have exam
ined and approved all the new designs and
are much pleased with the success of Chief
johnson of the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing in adapting them to the purposes
of convenient instrument of circulation.