Two Dollar Change Note: Republic of Texas, 1841
- Title: Two Dollar Change Note
- Author: Republic of Texas
- Date: 1841
- Medium: Original currency
- Condition: Very Good Plus - cut-cancelled, paper loss around margins, uniform age toning
- Inches: 6 7/8 x 3 [Paper]
- Centimeters: 17.46 x 7.94 [Paper]
- Product ID: 308524
Cut-cancelled two-dollar bill issued by the Republic of Texas in 1841 signed by acting treasurer James H. Raymond.
These notes were the smallest monetary issue of paper money by the Republic of Texas up to that time. Depending on the quantities of each denomination, only an estimated 5,000 notes circulated at any one time. The Treasurer was required to place an equal portion of the $150,000 previous issue in reserve in order to make them freely exchangeable for the larger denomination star notes. Similar to the jolas of a generation before, these small bills were produced for the sole purpose of making change from larger denominations.
Background on Republic of Texas Currency
Republic of Texas currency consisted exclusively of paper notes, as the Republic never minted its own coins. First issued in 1837, this currency included several types: "star money" (interest-bearing notes featuring a prominent star), "redbacks" (bills with red printing on the reverse introduced in 1839 to fund government debt), and low-denomination "change notes." Promissory in nature, these notes could be used primarily to pay taxes and government debts, but were difficult to use for everyday purchases. The Republic’s financial instability and tendency to overissue notes led to rapid depreciation, with some bills becoming nearly worthless within a few years. Notes were typically hand-signed by treasury officials, often featured symbolic images of Texas, and were sometimes cancelled with cut marks when redeemed. Ultimately, the currency’s decline hastened the adoption of U.S. money after annexation.
- Title: Two Dollar Change Note
- Author: Republic of Texas
- Date: 1841
- Medium: Original currency
- Condition: Very Good Plus - cut-cancelled, paper loss around margins, uniform age toning
- Inches: 6 7/8 x 3 [Paper]
- Centimeters: 17.46 x 7.94 [Paper]
- Product ID: 308524
Cut-cancelled two-dollar bill issued by the Republic of Texas in 1841 signed by acting treasurer James H. Raymond.
These notes were the smallest monetary issue of paper money by the Republic of Texas up to that time. Depending on the quantities of each denomination, only an estimated 5,000 notes circulated at any one time. The Treasurer was required to place an equal portion of the $150,000 previous issue in reserve in order to make them freely exchangeable for the larger denomination star notes. Similar to the jolas of a generation before, these small bills were produced for the sole purpose of making change from larger denominations.
Background on Republic of Texas Currency
Republic of Texas currency consisted exclusively of paper notes, as the Republic never minted its own coins. First issued in 1837, this currency included several types: "star money" (interest-bearing notes featuring a prominent star), "redbacks" (bills with red printing on the reverse introduced in 1839 to fund government debt), and low-denomination "change notes." Promissory in nature, these notes could be used primarily to pay taxes and government debts, but were difficult to use for everyday purchases. The Republic’s financial instability and tendency to overissue notes led to rapid depreciation, with some bills becoming nearly worthless within a few years. Notes were typically hand-signed by treasury officials, often featured symbolic images of Texas, and were sometimes cancelled with cut marks when redeemed. Ultimately, the currency’s decline hastened the adoption of U.S. money after annexation.
Description
- Title: Two Dollar Change Note
- Author: Republic of Texas
- Date: 1841
- Medium: Original currency
- Condition: Very Good Plus - cut-cancelled, paper loss around margins, uniform age toning
- Inches: 6 7/8 x 3 [Paper]
- Centimeters: 17.46 x 7.94 [Paper]
- Product ID: 308524
Cut-cancelled two-dollar bill issued by the Republic of Texas in 1841 signed by acting treasurer James H. Raymond.
These notes were the smallest monetary issue of paper money by the Republic of Texas up to that time. Depending on the quantities of each denomination, only an estimated 5,000 notes circulated at any one time. The Treasurer was required to place an equal portion of the $150,000 previous issue in reserve in order to make them freely exchangeable for the larger denomination star notes. Similar to the jolas of a generation before, these small bills were produced for the sole purpose of making change from larger denominations.
Background on Republic of Texas Currency
Republic of Texas currency consisted exclusively of paper notes, as the Republic never minted its own coins. First issued in 1837, this currency included several types: "star money" (interest-bearing notes featuring a prominent star), "redbacks" (bills with red printing on the reverse introduced in 1839 to fund government debt), and low-denomination "change notes." Promissory in nature, these notes could be used primarily to pay taxes and government debts, but were difficult to use for everyday purchases. The Republic’s financial instability and tendency to overissue notes led to rapid depreciation, with some bills becoming nearly worthless within a few years. Notes were typically hand-signed by treasury officials, often featured symbolic images of Texas, and were sometimes cancelled with cut marks when redeemed. Ultimately, the currency’s decline hastened the adoption of U.S. money after annexation.
