Republic of Texas $5.00 (five dollars) exchequer bill

Title

Republic of Texas $5.00 (five dollars) exchequer bill

Description

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 one hundred ninety-six five-dollar notes were issued. This particular note is of an entirely different design than other exchequer notes and is of inferior quality. A vignette of a sailing ship appears in the center of the left border of the note. The number ''5'' is printed above it, and the word ''Five'' is printed below it. A vignette of a seaman aboard a boat or ship decorates the upper-center of the note. The abbreviation ''No.'' appears in the upper-right corner; the number ''683'' is handwritten adjacent to it. The month and day are handwritten; the year, 1842, is printed. The note is payable to James W. Scott. It is signed on the recto by the acting Secretary of the Treasury, whose signature is illegible, and by Samuel Houston, President. The following is handwritten on the recto of the note: John Ramsdale By [illegible], J W Scott. Houston was a famous political figure serving as the first regularly elected president of the Republic, governor of Texas, a 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). Scott, a Virginia native, was a lieutenant in the Army of the Republic of Texas, was named paymaster of the army in 1837, worked with Francis Richard Lubbock in the auction and commission business in 1840, and was elected Harris County representative in the Third and Fourth state legislatures (TSHA). CR: A-17.

Creator

Republic of Texas

Source

Rowe-Barr Collection of Texas Currency

Date

January 20th 1842

Rights

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.

Format

Paper Currency

Language

English

Type

Still Image

Identifier

RCN 37

Files

tbn_1103_large.jpg

Citation

Republic of Texas, “Republic of Texas $5.00 (five dollars) exchequer bill,” DeGolyer Library Exhibits, accessed March 29, 2024, https://degolyer.omeka.net/items/show/480.