The Washington herald., 1909-04-05
NEW DESIGNS FOR CURRENCY.
Plan for Uniformity and Color VIII
Simplify Notes.

Assistant Secretary Coolidge has ap-
proved a plan for systematizing designs
for United States notes and coin certia-
Gates. thus carrying into effect the
scheme OF uniformity In portrait and gen
eral design for notes OF the same de-
nomination OF each class, which he has
had under consideration for some time
The plan adopted Will embodv the ideas
OF officials OF the Treasury Department.
bankers, business men. and currency ex-
perts with whom he has conferred
It IS believed the new notes will be
welcomed by the public on account OF
their simplicity and the readiness with
which different denominations may be
fixed in mind. At present there are nine
teen different designs for United States
notes and coin certificates Of various de-
nominations. leading to confusion and
uncertainty Under the new plan there
Will be but nine. There are now two de-
signs for five-dollar notes. The silver
certificate bears the head OF an Indian
chief. while the United States note beags
a portrait Of Andrew Jackson. accom-
panied by a symbolical group OF q from
tiersman and family. The ten-dollar gold
certificate carries a portrait Of Michael
Hillegas. the first Treasurer OF the
United States. The silver certificate of
the same denomination carries the por-
trait OF Thomas A. Hendricks. and the
ten-dOllar greenback a buffalo
There is equal variety in the other de-
nominations. so that even bank officials
whose business II is to carry all distinc-
tive designs in mind. frequently find
themselves confused BY the new plan
the possibility or confusion Will be re-
duced to a minimum, and at the same
time the artistic quality OF the notes will
be greatly enhanced. II is the first time
in the history Of the currency that a
systematic scheme embodying both of
these improvements has been seriously
considered.
Under the plan adopted. all classes of
notes OF each denomination will carrV
the same portrait. and no portrait viii
appear on the notes OF more than one
denomination. nor viii any portrait be
used which will not be Immediately rec
ogniZable by every American citizen who
handles money at all The One-doIlar
silver certificate will carry the portrait
OF Washington; the two-doIlar silver GER
tiicate the portrait Of Jefferson. The
or greenback, will carry the portrait Of
Lincoln; the ten-dollar gold and silver
certificates and United States notes, that
OF Cleveland; the twenty-dollar. that OF
Jackson; the fifty-dollar that Of Grant;
the one hundred-dollar. that OF Franklin,
the five hundred-dollar. that OF Salmon
P Chase and the one-thousand-doliar
that Of Alexander Hamilton. The por-
traits Of Hillegas. Monroe. Silas Wright.
Lewis Clark, Mansfield, and other
WORTHLESS will be eliminated The eagle.
the buffalo, and the Indian head. which
have proved to be easily counterfeited.
VIII also disappear. All Implications. OF
which there are several, viii be done
away with
When the holder Of a bill sees the por-
trait Of Washington he Will know that
Il rcpi esents one dollar; when he sees the
portrait OF Lincoln, he will know that IL
represents five dollars, and nothing else.
The classes Of notes Will be differentiated
by color and by other Distinguishing
marks to insure their easy classification
IN the redemption division OF the Treas
ury. The new system of notes, il is be-
lieved, will prove OF great advantage to
bankers. business men, and the general
public, will tend TO discourage counter
feiting and win be a distinct step in ad- /
vance. so far as the artistic quality OF
our currency is concerned.
II is not contemplated 10 change the |
national bank notes. on which appear the |
portraits Of Mckinley, Harrison, Sher- /
man, Garfield, and McCulloch.