The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-26
THE NEW SILVER CERTIFICATE.
Considered to be n Great Improve
rnent Over Old Issues.

!
The Treasury Department sent s5G0.00f
in the new S. Indian head silver certif-
Gates to the New York Sub-Treasury Sat
urday and yesterday issued another half
million to supply the demand for the new
notes made by bankers all over the coun-
! try This note promises to be the most
popular ever issued from the Bureau OF
Engraving and Printing.
| II marks a distinct change in the ap-
rearance of United States currency in the
| particular that there is more white SUI
face on both sides Of the note than upon
any ever issued. 1t comes nearer to the
main recommendation Of the committee ap-
| pointed by Secretary Foster in 1891 for
revision OF the methods of the engraving
OF United States paper money than any
other note since engraved.
This committee consisted of Watson W.
Eldridge. Chairman. who was at that time
and is still Chief of the Division Of Issue
of the Treasury Department: the Chief OF
the Secret Service, A. L. Drummond. the
Assistant Chief OF the Loan and Currency
Division. E. l. Mills. and the Chief of the
Engraving Division of the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing
AT that time the backs of notes were
almost a solid green, which came to be
called the watermelon back ~ bank
ers and experts. Other recon- liatiOrs
made by the committee resulted ia a COM
plete change in the methods OF making
paper money and preparing ii for .,se
tending to protect the Government against
counterfeiters and to bring the standard
| up to high degree Of excellence. These
recommendations were adopted in every
particular except in the main one, Of in
creasing the amount of plain space on
both sides of a note.
In this particular there was some re-
form in regard to the green backs and
little white space was left where before
there had been scarcely any. but the face
of the notes went from bad to worse until
the johnson" note OF the issue Of 1896
reached tn. limit. These notes. when first
issued, were considered highly artistic, but
the amount of figure and scroll work COW
ering the face of the notes necessitated the
use OF so much black ink that the note,
instead OF remaining clear cut, soon took
up dirt upon being handled, and became
blurred. Consequently the genuine notes
OF this description became hard OF detec-
ton at a glance and caused q great deal
of annoyance in their handling. They
have become so unpopular that they are
practically retired. These are the notes
upon the face of which in the centre is
an categorical group.
been described before. Its prominent char
acteristic is a large, clear cut head of an
indian chief on the face OF the note, stand
ing out against white background. A
large figure "5' is in each corner. and
Five" in large letters is printed under the
head United States OF America" and
other lettering. as well as the scroll work.
border and Indian head. is in black ink, and
the seal of the Treasury and a large ~"
II, SOD
The green work on the back is clear cut
and in the shape of border. not wide, and
a shield on which is white background
letter "V'' IS In the centre. The distrib-
uted fiber runs through the white space en-
either side of the shield. and large figure
"5'' is in each of the two upper corners.
Treasurer Roberts said yesterday that the
bill marked a new and advanced step In the
engraving Of paper money In the United
States. He believes that the new uote will
be very popular, and that it will stand long
service and still keep its clear cut distinc
tive appearance, showing plainly its de-
nomination at glance from even the most
inexperienced handler of money.
Chief Eidridge. of the issue division,
is delighted with the new note and glad
to see that the Government recognizes
the necessity of taking up the main
of the committee on which
he served in 81. He said:
Bankers say that happy medium be-
tween the plain English paper money |
and the intricate designed work of our pa
per money will help greatly to solve the |
problem. Besides this the work |
Of handling paper money will be very.
much facilitated by engraving notes with |
clear cut, distinctive features, especially |
figures and letters Of denomination, leav- |
ing a greater amount of white space to set |
off such distinctions. A note that is |
nearly white will remain clean long time
while one upon which there is great deal |
of ink will take up dirt every time it is
and becomes hard to distinguish
besides accommodating filth.