Images of Columbia on Fractional Lookalikes, Private Scrip,and College Currency

In this article we will explore images of Columbia on the 4th issue 15¢ fractional (Fr. 1267–1271) that was repurposed on private scrip and college currency. The bust of Columbia on these notes was designed by C. Romerson and was engraved by Charles Burt. Because of its odd denomination (15¢), it is one of the more popular notes in the Fractional currency series.

The allegorical image of Columbia is the female personification of the United States. It was also an historical name applied to the Americas and the New World. Columbia was a precursor to Liberty, and the two are almost interchangeable. She is often portrayed with a stern image to illustrate American pride, often wearing a patriotic tiara with U.S. stars. Note that the Fractional image has a staff with “E PLUIBUS UNUM” draped around.

Columbia is often used for American names such as the District of Columbia, Columbia, South Carolina, Columbia University, Columbia Records, "Hail, Columbia", Columbia Pictures, and more. After the Statue of Liberty was erected in 1886, it largely displaced Columbia as the female symbol of the United States. By the early 20th century, Columbia’s image was not seen on any government-issued stamps, coins, or currency.

While we will focus on the fractional currency image of Columbia, shown below are different artistic interpretations on federally issued currency and, in one case, obsoletes.

Thanks to Heritage Auctions and Benny Bolin for the photographs contained in this article.

The Fractional image of Columbia appears on quite a few fractional lookalikes. Borrowing from Benny Bolin’s reference, A Catalog of Fractional Currency Look-A-Likes, Mimics, and Payables, we are able to showcase near identical images of Columbia. Notice how the layouts are similar; the main differences are the names of the commercial companies.

Hines Strobridge originally worked for the printing firm of Middleton, Wallace & Co. in Norwood, Ohio, beginning in 1854. The firm printed scrip notes during the Civil War. In 1867, the original partners left, and he changed their name to Strobridge & Co. On the left is an angel with a harp gazing up to the heavens, holding a book. On the right is the bust of Columbia. This note, and the fractional, have laurel leaves on the top. The Quaker Bitters note does not have the laurel leaves.

In the 19th century, there were teaching colleges to prepare students for a career in business. As a learning tool, colleges and universities throughout the United States printed their own “play” money for students to use. While these notes had no real value, they are not common and have a strong collector base. Quite a few colleges used the image of Columbia for their privately issued currency. There is an excellent out-of-print reference published in 1993 that is still easily found (College Currency by Herb and Martha Schingoethe).