Republic of Texas 12 1/2 cents (twelve and one-half cents) exchequer bill

Republic of Texas 12 1/2 cents (twelve and one-half cents) exchequer bill

This note was issued in Austin by the Republic of Texas. The Exchequer Notes were the last currency of the Republic. Issued from 1842 through 1845, they were closely controlled and destroyed when redeemed. Only $13,208.29 remained outstanding by 1852. Seven thousand six hundred of the 12-1/2 cent notes were issued. A vignette of a steam locomotive with bales in the foreground decorates the center of the left border of the note; a vignette of a woman leaning against a pedestal holding wheat stalks in her hand decorates the center of the right border. In the upper-center vignette of the note a farmer is sowing grain with a horse-drawn cultivator and watermill in the background. The number ''12 1/2'' is printed in the two upper corners of the note and in roundels on both sides of the center vignette. The word ''Cents'' is printed in the lower two corners of the note. The abbreviation ''No.'' appears to the left of the center vignette, and the number ''143'' is handwritten to the right of the center vignette. The plate designation ''B'' appears to the right of the handwritten number. The month, day, and last two digits of the years are handwritten; the first two digits of the year, 18, are printed. The note is signed on the recto by James B. Shaw, Secretary of the Treasury, and by Samuel Houston, President. Shaw was comptroller from 1839-1859, was often acting secretary of the treasury during Sam Houston's second administration, and represented Texas in Washington D.C. in 1850 to collect $5,000,000.00 from the government as payment from the Compromise of 1850 and the sale by Texas of parts of News Mexico and Colorado (TSHA). Houston was a famous political figure serving as the first regularly elected president of the Republic, governor of Texas, congressman in the Texas House of Representatives, and a state senator. He was also a soldier and was appointed major general of the Texas Army in 1835, leading his men to victory over Santa Anna in the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836 (TSHA). CR: A-10.

Republic of Texas

Rowe-Barr Collection of Texas Currency

Mar 28 1843

Please cite DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University as the source of this file. A high-resolution version of this file may be obtained for a fee. For details, see the https://www.smu.edu/libraries/degolyer/research/permissions web page. For more information, contact degolyer@smu.edu.

Paper Currency

English

Still Image

RCN 30