Republic of Texas 50 cents (fifty cents) exchequer bill

Republic of Texas 50 cents (fifty 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. Three thousand eight hundred of the 50 cent notes were issued. The upper-right corner of the note is missing. A vignette of a steamship decorates the center of the left border of the note; the phrase ''Fifty Cents'' is printed along the right border. A vignette of a farmer plowing a field with a two-horse team appears in the upper-center of the note. The number ''50'' is printed in the upper-left corner of the note and in roundels on both sides of the center vignette. The word ''Cents'' is printed in the lower-left corner of the note. The abbreviation ''No.'' appears to the left of the center vignette, and an illegible number is handwritten to the right of the vignette. The plate designation ''A'' appears towards the upper-left corner of the note. 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-12.

Republic of Texas

Rowe-Barr Collection of Texas Currency

Apl 1 1843

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Paper Currency

English

Still Image

RCN 32