19th Century Banknotes

Columbus in His Study: The Renaissance Portrait Vignette That Graced Reconstruction-Era US Currency

June 15, 2026June 15, 2026 by

In the 1870s, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing placed a striking vignette of Christopher Columbus poring over navigational charts onto several denominations of federal currency, blending Renaissance iconography with post-Civil War national ambition. Understanding this vignette unlocks a fascinating chapter of American numismatic art history and helps collectors identify some of the most visually compelling notes of the era.

The Series 1891 $10 Silver Certificate: Thomas Hendricks, a Dying Portrait, and One of the Lowest Survival Rates in Large-Size Currency

June 15, 2026June 15, 2026 by

The Series 1891 $10 Silver Certificate features the portrait of Vice President Thomas A. Hendricks, a fleeting design that saw limited production and catastrophic attrition over 130 years. Collectors and historians alike regard this note as one of the most challenging large-size issues to acquire in any grade, making it a genuine white whale of American paper money.

The Reverse Design of the 1890 Treasury Note: The Most Ornate Back in US Currency History

June 15, 2026 by

The 1890 Treasury Note series produced some of the most elaborately engraved reverse designs ever printed on American paper money, earning these notes the nickname ‘Tombstone Notes’ among collectors. This deep dive explores the artistic achievement behind these backs, the engravers who created them, and why specific denominations command prices well into five and six figures today.