The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-22
CHANGE IN PAPER MONEY
NEW DESIGNS SELECTED BY THE
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
All, Five-DOIIar Notes to Resemble
one AnOther-The One-DOIIar Sill
yer Certificate Described.

NEW YORK, Nov. 2l.-aA dispatch to the
Press from Washington says: Secretary
OF the Treasury Gage long ago decided to
have bills of the same denomination look
alike. That is, he wished the five-dollar
silver certificates, the five-dollar United
States note and the five-dollar Sherman
treasury note to bear a close resemblance
20 one another. The first of the designs I'M
der the new system is for the one-dollar
silver certificate The notes will soon be
out. Clearness, simplicity and protection
against counterfeiting have been the results
chiefly aimed at. The new design is some
what less artistic than some of the present
silver certificates. but probably will be more
popular among those who handle money,
as the central device on the face of the
note has an American eagle with wings
partly spread. clVtching the flag. and with
the dome of the Capitol in the background
Below the platform, which the eagle
stands, are small portraits of Lincoln and
Grant set in medallions Large and clear
figures are in each corner of the note and
on the sides. The space between the central
device and the lathe work at the ends is
clear white paper. except from the imprint
of the seal in one space and the denomina-
tion CT the note In another. The seal upon
the silver certificates will be in blue and the
figures in the open space will pe in the
same ink. The mechanical work and the
technical finish of the engravlngS are
perior to anything ever before issued from
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The
reverse side of the note corresponds to the
face in respect to the large display of white
paper without printing or lathe work
Large. plain figures appear in each corner.
and scrolls make up an attractive border,
but the only remaining space upon which
printing appears is in the center, where the
usual language regarding the qualities of
the note as a tender for public dues is set
forth. The object of the clear display of
white paper on both sides of the note is to
afford a safeguard against counterfeiting.
easier to detect the use of paper without
the usual silk threads where it is not COW
cred with printing
substantially the same as that which will
be used Tor other forms of paper money
The difference between a silver certificate
q United States note and a Sherman treas
ury note of any denomination will be indi-
Gated by the wording and by the color of
the seal The latter distinction will serve
the purposes of bank clerks who have to
separate the notes by classes. The ordinary
citizen, who cares only for the denomination
OF the note and not especially for the law
under which it is issued, will find hereafter
that he has TO deal with only five forms
of notes in the denominations from 81 TO
$50 where he formerly had to deal with
fifteen different forms If he handled silver
certificates, United States notes and Sher-
man notes. The advantage of this unifica-
ton of the currency will be great in the
care of persons handling money in large
amounts, in the case of persons of defective
vision and in the case Of those who cannot
read and write and rely on the general APP
pearance of note to determine its denom-
fnation. The latter class will hereafter be
able to identify a one-dollar 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 at
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 a convenient instrument of circulation"