Republic of Texas $500.00 (five hundred dollars) star note

Republic of Texas $500.00 (five hundred dollars) star note

This star note was issued in Houston by the Republic of Texas. The first formal currency of the Republic was poorly printed and easily counterfeited. Only $514,510.00 was issued late in 1837 and in January 1838. All were signed by William Gordon Cooke for Sam Houston, President, and by Henry Smith, Secretary of the Treasury. Seven rows of printed emblems decorate the left and right borders of the note with two rows across the top and bottom edges. The phrase ''REPUBLIC OF TEXAS.'' is printed within the left border, and the phrase ''FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.'' is printed within the right. A five-point star appears in the upper center of the note. The abbreviation ''No.'' is printed to the left of the star; the number ''165'' is handwritten adjacent to it. The number ''500'' is printed in a fancy box-style design in the upper-left corner of the note, while the Roman numeral ''D'' is printed in a similar design in the upper-right corner. The amount ''FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS,'' is printed in the center of the note. The year ''1838'' is printed on the note. The probable issue of all varieties is 200. The note is also signed on the verso by Cooke. Houston was a famous statesman, two-time president of the Republic of Texas, United States senator from Texas, and governor of Texas (TSHA). Smith was known as the first American governor of Texas during the provisional government operating from November 15, 1835, until March 1, 1836, as well as secretary of the treasury during Sam Houston's term as president, and a member of the House of Representatives during the Republic (TSHA). Cooke was a soldier who held numerous positions in the military, including that as Houston's assistant inspector general, as well as stock commissioner during Houston's first term as president of the Republic, at which time Cooke was responsible for issuing stock certificates to fund the public debt (TSHA). From June 1837 to November 1839, Cooke was the official signer of Sam Houston's name to promissory notes issued by the Republic due to Houston's arm injury (TSHA). CR: H-12.

Republic of Texas

Jan 1st 1838

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Paper currency

English

Still Image

RCN 47