Sherman Silver Purchase Act

The Jewel Backs: How BEP Designers Used Guilloche and Ornate Counters to Make 1890 Treasury Notes the Most Beautiful Currency America Ever Printed

June 15, 2026June 15, 2026 by

The 1890 Treasury Notes stand apart from every other series in American currency history, their reverses packed with interlocking guilloche filigree and enormous denomination counters so elaborate they earned the nickname ‘Tombstone Notes.’ Understanding what the Bureau of Engraving and Printing achieved with these designs reveals why they remain the crown jewels of 19th-century paper money collecting.

The Obverse Border Design of the 1890 Treasury Notes: Interlocking Patterns That Defeated Every Counterfeiter of the Era

June 15, 2026June 15, 2026 by

The 1890 Treasury Notes stand as arguably the most ornate currency the United States government ever produced, with obverse border designs so geometrically complex that no counterfeiter successfully replicated them during their circulation period. This deep-dive explores the specific engraving techniques, design elements, and historical context that made these notes both a collector’s obsession and a forger’s nightmare.

The Series 1890 $1 Treasury Note: Edwin Stanton, the ‘Tombstone Note,’ and the Smallest Coin Note Denomination

June 20, 2026June 15, 2026 by

The Series 1890 $1 Treasury Note stands as one of the most visually striking and historically significant small-denomination notes ever issued by the United States Treasury, featuring Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton on its face and an ornate back design so elaborate it earned the nickname ‘Tombstone Note.’ For collectors, this Civil War-era statesman note represents a genuine crossroads of history, artistry, and numismatic rarity.

The Series 1890 $50 Treasury Note: William Seward’s Portrait and One of the Most Ornate Back Designs in US Currency History

June 15, 2026 by

The Series 1890 $50 Treasury Note stands among the most visually spectacular pieces of American paper money ever produced, combining a dignified portrait of statesman William H. Seward with an incredibly dense, engraved back design that earned these notes a lasting nickname among collectors. Whether you are new to large-size currency or a seasoned specialist, understanding what makes this note remarkable can transform how you approach 19th-century American paper money.

The Series 1890 $2 Treasury Note McPherson Back: A Forgotten Denomination Collectors Rarely Discuss

June 15, 2026 by

The Series 1890 $2 Treasury Note with its ornate ‘McPherson Back’ design stands as one of the most visually stunning yet persistently overlooked issues in large-size American currency. This guide explores its history, signature varieties, rarity grades, and what collectors at every level should know before pursuing one.

Grading Treasury Notes of 1890: Why the Ornate Jewel Back Makes Condition Assessment More Complex Than for Standard Legal Tender Notes

June 15, 2026 by

The Treasury Notes of 1890 present a unique grading challenge thanks to their elaborately engraved reverses, where fine detail loss is nearly invisible until a note drops several grade points. Understanding how the Jewel Back affects condition assessment can mean the difference between paying wholesale and retail prices for the same piece.

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.

Treasury Notes of 1890 and 1891: The Coin Notes Nobody Talks About

June 15, 2026 by

The Treasury Notes of 1890 and 1891 represent one of the most visually stunning and historically significant chapters in American paper money, yet they remain overlooked by many collectors. This deep dive covers the legislative origins, stunning back designs, signature combinations, key rarities, and practical guidance for adding these ‘Coin Notes’ to your collection.

The Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890: How It Created Treasury Notes and Nearly Crashed the Economy

June 15, 2026 by

The Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890 unleashed a short-lived but historically significant currency type that collectors prize today for its unique design and turbulent backstory. Understanding the political crisis behind these notes transforms them from mere paper into windows onto one of America’s most dramatic monetary turning points.

The Series 1891 $20 Treasury Note: John Marshall’s Portrait on One of the Most Overlooked Coin Notes in American Currency

June 15, 2026 by

The Series 1891 $20 Treasury Note features the dignified portrait of Chief Justice John Marshall on a denomination that sits in a fascinating historical and numismatic crossroads. Understanding its design history, signature varieties, and survival rates helps collectors make smarter decisions in a market where genuine knowledge is rare.