Advertising Notes that Closely Mimic Large-Sized U.S. Currency
When advertising masqueraded as money—a look at currency mimics.
In this article, we will look at advertising notes that closely mimic U.S. Treasury-issued currency. When the Treasury started issuing currency in and around the 1860s, it was to replace privately issued notes. These notes had no value because of insolvency due to widespread bank and commercial failures.
Before 1862, the only Treasury-issued money was coins with intrinsic value (gold, silver, and copper). In 1864, Congress prohibited private money "intended for use as current money." However, the courts have frequently upheld the private issuance of coins or paper money if it circulated locally or was redeemable in goods or services and not in dollars. So, kind of a tightrope.
There was a short period when federally and privately issued currency coexisted. Private concerns often produced notes that mimicked federally issued currency, which attempted to give an air of legitimacy. There were enough differences, so they could not be called counterfeits (which were rampant at that time). These "lookalikes" or "mimics" could be confused with genuine U.S. currency if one did not pay attention. But if one spent a few moments observing, they could easily be discerned for what they were. Keep in mind that the public was very new to U.S. Treasury-issued currency. So, mistakes in detection did occur.
Observing these mimic notes gives us some insight into how private companies approached their advertising. With the U.S. economy stressed by widespread bank failures, the citizens were rightfully concerned about the money supply. For those private companies that issued the notes, association with Treasury-issued money was their attempt to portray legitimacy.
Top: Genuine $5 original National Gold Bank note — The First National Gold Bank Ch. 1741 Fr. 1136. A very scarce note issued by California banks. Thanks to the Stack’s Bowers Galleries and Heritage Auctions for the images contained in this article. Bottom: San Francisco, CA, Bradley & Rulofson $1 advertising note. This 1874 "One Dollar Gold Note" was issued by the San Francisco photography firm of Bradley & Rulofson. It coincided with the circulation of National Gold Bank Notes in the West. It mimics the gold note, though the vignettes are different. Note how the paper is similarly tinted.
Top: Genuine $5 1862 legal tender note (Fr. 61a). This note was one of the very first legal tender notes made. To the left is the allegorical image of Freedom. Alexander Hamilton's bust is on the right. Bottom: Indianapolis, IN, A.F. Noble "5" advertising note (ca. 1864–1868). There is no "dollar" amount, just a "5." A.F. Noble was a war claims and benefits agent. The face and back of the note resemble the $5 legal tender note that was in circulation at the time. The images on the face are different. Minerva is holding the Stars and Stripes on the left, and a portrait of Washington is at the right with a drab green 5 overprint. Both backs of the legal tender and advertising notes are very similar, almost, but not quite a counterfeit note.
Top: Genuine $10 1862 legal tender note (Fr. 93). Bottom: Uniface Toledo, Ohio, Chase, Isherwood & Co. Ad Note for Green Back Smoking Tobacco. Green Back Smoking Tobacco was a popular brand in the 19th century. This note is somewhat similar to the legal tender note. Both notes contain similar eagles and green filigree. Note the fake red Treasury seal.
Top: $5 1869 legal tender note. Famous rainbow "Woodchopper" note (Fr. 64). This vivid multicolored note has the portrait of Alexander Hamilton in the bottom left. Middle: United States Autographic Institution-Maurice's Cylinder for Office $5 advertising note from New York, NY (c.1872). The face layout closely mimics the legal tender note. Note the fake red seal, similar placement of the serial numbers, and green filigree on the top. The wavy "UNITED STATES" at the top is an exact match. The bottom falsely states, "Legal Tender for Five Dollars." Washington is now at the bottom left, and a patriotic allegorical woman replaces the Woodchopper. The back is an even closer match. Bottom: Manville Company $5 advertising note (c. 1869–1870s). Manville, RI, was the location for the Manville Cotton Mill. This note is strikingly similar to the 1869 "Rainbow" $5 legal tender note. The “Woodchopper” vignette has been replaced with a similar pioneer scene. The bottom left has an unknown man (presumably the mill owner) in place of Jackson. The wavy "UNITED STATES" is replaced with "GREEN BACKS.” The back of this advertising note is blank.
Top: Rare 1869 $500 legal tender note (Fr. 184). One recently sold privately for $1.44 million. The allegorical image of Justice is on the left; John Quincy Adams is to the right. Bottom: Crude uniface green advertising note that is a similar layout to the $500 legal tender note. However, there is no commercial association. Adams' portrait is replaced with an unknown bearded man. The crude mimic note brazenly uses Frances Spinner's (Treasurer) and John Allison's (Register of the Treasury) signatures. No one would confuse this with real, but there are enough similarities to include in this article.
One of the most copied designs from U.S.-issued currency to advertising notes is the $5 1862 legal tender note. There are scores of different examples using the legal tender note design; here, we showcase some of them:
Top left: Genuine Treasury issued example (Fr. 61a). On the left is the Statue of Freedom, and to the right is the bust of Alexander Hamilton. Top right: S.T. Blessing Photographic and Art Studio of New Orleans. Bottom left: Gray & Pearse Dispensing Chemists from Cheyenne, Wyoming. Bottom right: New York Clothing House. Almost all the advertising notes are in denominations of $3.
Top: Genuine $100 1882 Gold certificate (Fr. 1214). Thomas Hart Benton, an influential Missouri senator, is on the far left. Bottom: December 1, 1914, Bankers Club of Chicago gold certificate advertising note. The portrait on the left is of William G. McAdoo, Secretary of the Treasury, who was the guest speaker for the event at the Hotel LaSalle. A well-executed mimic that is careful not to assign a value. Check out in the middle: "Ice Cream Surprise and Mignardises (sweets).
Top left: Genuine $2 1880 legal tender note (Fr. 53). Thomas Jefferson is on the left; the Capitol is in the center. Bottom: $2 1884 Hot Springs Railroad Bank, Arkansas. On the face, it is a regular, obsolete note; however, the back closely mimics the $2 legal tender reverse. This piece is signed by "Diamond Joe" Reynolds, who built and owned this railroad and publicized the cures offered by the natural hot springs that gave this town its name.
Top left: Genuine 1899 $1 silver certificate (Fr. 236). Common large-sized note with a majestic bald eagle and the busts of Lincoln and Grant. Top right: Offensive and racist three silver dollars silver certificate note. In place of the wavy "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" on top is "COLORED AMERICANS." Sorry if this is cringeworthy, but we include it to show how things were in 1899. There is no commercial association. On the bottom are the busts of two African Americans. Bottom left-right: Using reproductions of $1 Silver Black Eagle notes as advertising notes was common in Germany after World War I. Bottom left: Unit Ernst Machnow of Berlin Arcona-Fahrrader. German note selling bicycles. On the bottom right of the note are 1,000 units: “Hast du Hunger, Geh' zu Schummer!” (written on the back). Translates to, “If you are hungry, go to Schummer!”
Top: Genuine $1 1862 legal tender note (Fr. 16a). Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury under Lincoln and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, is in the top left. Bottom: "1" legal tender mimic note stating: "The United States Promised to Pay the Bondholders." Note that "Promised" is in the past tense. Also, it slickly states that it is payable in greenbacks (not dollars). A political note was clipped off a large circular. The back is almost an identical copy of the legal tender note, and the face is very close as well; though, there is no Treasury seal or serial numbers, and Chase has been replaced with another image.
Top: Genuine $1 1869 legal tender note (Fr. 18). Bottom: 1869 Egyptian Hair Coloring Advertising Note. A mimic note of the 1869 legal tender. The non-dollar value is 100. A portrait of George Washington appears in the center, with the Great Sphinx vignette on the left.
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