page_title: Francis E. Spinner
section_title: Treasurer
hierarchical_section_title: Francis E. Spinner / Life / Treasurer
caption_attribution_description: English: Fractional Currency was introduced by the United States Federal Government following the Civil War. These notes were in use between 21 August 1862 and 15 February 1876, and could be redeemed by the U.S. Postal Service for the face value in postage stamps. Fractional notes were issued in 3, 5, 10, 15, 25, and 50 cent denominations. Francis Spinner (depicted) was one of only four people to appear on United States currency during their lifetime. The note is hand-signed.
context_page_description: Francis Elias Spinner was an American politician from New York. He was Treasurer of the United States from 1861 to 1875. He was the first administrator in the federal government to employ women for clerical jobs.
context_section_description: On the recommendation of Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase, he was appointed by President Lincoln as Treasurer of the United States and served from March 16, 1861, until his resignation on July 1, 1875. Within 60 days of his assuming office, the expenditures of the federal government increased dramatically.
  He was the first to suggest the employment of women in government offices. During the Civil War, many of the clerks of the Treasury Department joined the army, and Spinner suggested to Secretary Chase the advisability of employing women. After much persuasion, his suggestion was taken up, and he carried it into effect successfully, though not without much opposition.  The women were first employed to count money, and later took up various clerical duties. He eventually hired over 100 women, paid them well, and retained them after the war was over.
  He signed the different series of paper money in a singular handwriting, which he cultivated in order to prevent counterfeiting. His signature on the "greenbacks" of the United States was the most familiar autograph in the country. The history Spinner gave of his signature was:
  I first practiced it while in the sheriff's office about 1835; I used it while commissioner for building the asylum at Utica, and as cashier and president of the Mohawk valley bank, and for franking while in congress. It was brought to its highest perfection when I was treasurer.
  He resigned his office because of a disagreement over staffing appointments. A new Secretary refused to give him final say over his staff.  Spinner thought that, as a bonded officer, he should have control over the appointment of clerks for whose acts he was responsible. When he resigned his office, the money in the treasury was counted. The result showed a very small discrepancy, and many days were spent in recounting and examining the books of accounts, until finally the mistake was discovered.
  In 1875, he ran on the Republican ticket for New York State Comptroller but was defeated by Democrat Lucius Robinson. He moved south, and for some years he lived in camp at Pablo Beach, Florida, where he lived a vigorous outdoor life, and also took up the study of Greek. He was survived by one of his three daughters.
caption: Fifty-cent Fractional Currency depicting Spinner, with autograph signature.
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