Snapshots of the Past

[Banknote for $500 from the Boylston Bank, Boston, Massachusetts] / American Bank Note Co. – Historic Reproduction

[Banknote for $500 from the Boylston Bank, Boston, Massachusetts] / American Bank Note Co., c1862. — antique engraving
[Banknote for $500 from the Boylston Bank, Boston, Massachusetts] / American Bank Note Co., c1862.. Antique engraving from the Boston collection.

(Originally scanned by the Library of Congress. Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)

Description

This rare antique engraving captures [Banknote for $500 from the Boylston Bank, Boston, Massachusetts] / American Bank Note Co. in remarkable detail. An authentic image from the Library of Congress, it carries the weight of the real historical record.

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[Banknote for $500 from the Boylston Bank, Boston, Massachusetts] / American Bank Note Co.

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A $500 note is an unusual find among everyday money, and this one was issued by the Boylston Bank of Boston around 1862. During the Civil War, state-chartered banks like Boylston printed their own paper currency, and many contracted with the American Bank Note Company, which engraved and printed notes for banks across the country. Large denominations such as this one were typically used for commercial transactions between banks and businesses rather than for daily purchases. Ornate engraved vignettes and fine linework were a common defense against counterfeiting, so the design also reflects the period's serious concern about forged paper money.

Created / publishedc1862.
Medium1 print : engraving.
GenreBank notes 1860-1870.Engravings 1860-1870.
SubjectsBanking--Massachusetts--Boston--1860-1870.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Original scan1,536 × 628 px · prints to 5 × 2 in at 300 dpi
ReferenceAMZ-SOTP-HPA-165263

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