Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-12

used. Nothing like the care given
circulation in these days was given to
the early money, and yet some of the
better preserved give evidences of con-
siderable effort of both engraver and
printer. Usually farm groups. farm
crops, landscapes, groups of women,
eagles, seals, etc. appear on the front
of the notes. The reverse is entirely
blank or with the simple Endorsement
of officials
One of the oldest notes in the Howe
collection is one issued by the State of
Rhode Island, a very young State at
the time, 1867. for pounds 8 Shillings,
and another by the register of Pennsyl-
vania for cents.
In the same envelopes with bills,
notes, ETC., was a full-sized double-page
letter sheet, containing the oaths of
Office of the president, the teller, the
cashier, the bookkeeper and the runner
of the Discount and Deposit Bank Of
in which these officials and the runner
as we'll agreed to the best of their
ability to serve the bank-a bond of
that day.
every Thin Models"
All the paper upon which the bills,
notes, etc, were printed is very thin,
and in many instances hard to decipher.
Some excellent specimens Of engraving
were shown; landscapes, farm scents
and occasionally portraits of important
men of the day. Many notes were not
printed on the reverse. but bore an in
dorsement thereon. There was moth
ing ornate about notes or "shinplas-
tiers" except those issued by the United
States in Civil War days.
Naturally where there was so much
bogus circulation the counterfeit detec-
tor. which made its appearance in about
1885. was an essential to banks and
mercantile establishments as well. The
detector was in use up to near the close
of the Civil War. when Government
ereenbacks and later the bond secured
currency drove all other paper money
into permanent retirement.
Bond secured currency. issued by ma
tional banks, secured by deposit OF
Government bonds helped to finance
the Civil War and gave to this Nation
a stabilized circulate that has served
t. with gold and silver and Federal
Reserve notes, all backed by gold today,
right down to date.
In addition to the early American
and Continental bills there was in cir
culstion at the same time Spanish
doubloons. English pounds, shillings
and pence ana fTenCl IEdIlCS'
Quoting Values.
Miff1in Intelligencer, dated Decenl-
Der |. 1924, contains list Of discount
rates applicable to circulation of that
date, indicating fractional clipping OF
Baltimore and Annapolis currency, 20
per cent off Port Deposit bills, 80 per
cent of Allegany. Md, notes and
rs per cent from Princess Anne
currency.
Richmond, Va, circulation was sub
iect to = per cent discount, Lees
burg to per cent, some other currency
of State institutions as high as 6 per
cent.
The Bank of Washington, now in
existence in this city, found its cur
rency at per cent discount, the Bank
of Columbia, IS per cent. Currency of
some of the Western banks deprecated
as high as so per cent.
In this connection 1t is interesting
to note in the days news that Chase
National Bank of New York has just
acquired a. great collection OF 10000
specimens of ali varieties of currency.
including many Of the enormous notes
running into trillions Of marks and
rubles issued by Germany mad Russia
during the Great War.