Joshua R Greenberg
@joshrgreenberg.bsky.social
Historian. Author: Bank Notes and Shinplasters: The Rage for Paper Money in the Early Republic. Editor: commonplace.online. joshuargreenberg.com
Happy Thanksgiving, however you celebrate. My wife is on service in her hospital today, so our plans are low-key, but I wanted to share this Civil War shinplaster with you. The simple note features a little turkey on the top. Georgia Rail Road & Banking Co., Augusta, GA, May 1, 1862.🗃️
November 27, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Happy Thanksgiving, however you celebrate. My wife is on service in her hospital today, so our plans are low-key, but I wanted to share this Civil War shinplaster with you. The simple note features a little turkey on the top. Georgia Rail Road & Banking Co., Augusta, GA, May 1, 1862.🗃️
With yesterday's pie debate and people baking for Thanksgiving, I remembered this Civil War era shinplaster from the owner of the short-lived Confederate States Bakery. It features a vignette of fruits and baked goods, including a pie with a slice missing. Louis Hubert, New Orleans, LA, $1, 186-.🗃️
November 26, 2025 at 5:38 PM
With yesterday's pie debate and people baking for Thanksgiving, I remembered this Civil War era shinplaster from the owner of the short-lived Confederate States Bakery. It features a vignette of fruits and baked goods, including a pie with a slice missing. Louis Hubert, New Orleans, LA, $1, 186-.🗃️
My daughter and I are making TikToks to contextualize the news with early American history stories. After Zohran Mamdani’s victory, our latest covers the 1834 NYC Election Riot and accusations of buying off foreign voters. Learn about Preserved Fish, the Kill-the-Damned-Irish Committee, and more.🗃️
November 25, 2025 at 5:55 PM
My daughter and I are making TikToks to contextualize the news with early American history stories. After Zohran Mamdani’s victory, our latest covers the 1834 NYC Election Riot and accusations of buying off foreign voters. Learn about Preserved Fish, the Kill-the-Damned-Irish Committee, and more.🗃️
Happy Birthday Zachary Taylor, the second Whig president who was a former general to die in office during their first term (William Henry Harrison). He appears here with a dour look in a portrait that is overshadowed by some playful cupids on the same note. Bank of Salisbury, MD, $5, March 4, 1848.🗃️
November 24, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Happy Birthday Zachary Taylor, the second Whig president who was a former general to die in office during their first term (William Henry Harrison). He appears here with a dour look in a portrait that is overshadowed by some playful cupids on the same note. Bank of Salisbury, MD, $5, March 4, 1848.🗃️
A movie that takes place where you’re from.
November 23, 2025 at 10:54 PM
A movie that takes place where you’re from.
The Mayflower Compact was signed on this day in 1620, so here we have a bank note with detailed center vignette depicted the Pilgrim landing with a small 1620 in the grass, a Native American behind a tree, and the Mayflower just off shore. The Old Colony Bank, Plymouth, MA, $10, May, 18--. 🗃️
November 21, 2025 at 7:21 PM
The Mayflower Compact was signed on this day in 1620, so here we have a bank note with detailed center vignette depicted the Pilgrim landing with a small 1620 in the grass, a Native American behind a tree, and the Mayflower just off shore. The Old Colony Bank, Plymouth, MA, $10, May, 18--. 🗃️
My home state of New Jersey became the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights on this day in 1789, so today I am posting this funky, two-toned bank note from Newark. It features a vignette of Liberty with a Phrygian cap, shield, bald eagle, and (bag of gold?). State Bank of Newark, NJ, $1, 1864.🗃️
November 20, 2025 at 5:15 PM
My home state of New Jersey became the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights on this day in 1789, so today I am posting this funky, two-toned bank note from Newark. It features a vignette of Liberty with a Phrygian cap, shield, bald eagle, and (bag of gold?). State Bank of Newark, NJ, $1, 1864.🗃️
With Charlotte on my mind, here is another bank note from the Queen City. It has lovely vignettes of men plowing, a women with flowers in her hair, and another in a classical/landscape scene, but I am particularly drawn to the hornet's nest at the bottom. Bank of Charlotte, NC, $5, August 2, 1860.
November 18, 2025 at 6:01 PM
With Charlotte on my mind, here is another bank note from the Queen City. It has lovely vignettes of men plowing, a women with flowers in her hair, and another in a classical/landscape scene, but I am particularly drawn to the hornet's nest at the bottom. Bank of Charlotte, NC, $5, August 2, 1860.
This vignette appeared on a bunch of different notes and is shaded differently in a few of them. For example, the man in front with the cotton seems much darker in this Civil War era Georgia Savings Bank note from 1863 (payable in Confederate Treasury or bank notes).
November 18, 2025 at 4:01 AM
This vignette appeared on a bunch of different notes and is shaded differently in a few of them. For example, the man in front with the cotton seems much darker in this Civil War era Georgia Savings Bank note from 1863 (payable in Confederate Treasury or bank notes).
Unfortunately, most of the Arctic vignettes have pretty stable ice. This shinplaster of a polar bear on a floating piece of ice might serve your purpose.
November 17, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Unfortunately, most of the Arctic vignettes have pretty stable ice. This shinplaster of a polar bear on a floating piece of ice might serve your purpose.
Thinking of Charlotte today and came across an odd note from a bank that existed for a few months in 1875. The Reconstruction era bill was post dated one day and had a recycled vignette of enslaved men picking cotton next to one of Liberty. Bank of Mecklenburg, Charlotte, NC, $10, March 15, 1875.🗃️
November 17, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Thinking of Charlotte today and came across an odd note from a bank that existed for a few months in 1875. The Reconstruction era bill was post dated one day and had a recycled vignette of enslaved men picking cotton next to one of Liberty. Bank of Mecklenburg, Charlotte, NC, $10, March 15, 1875.🗃️
Moby Dick was published on this day in 1851, so today's bank note comes from Nantucket and features a large vignette of whalers in a longboat about to harpoon a spouting sperm whale. Also on the right, note the Hydrostatic Oil Press. Manufacturers and Mechanics Bank, Nantucket, MA, $3, Dec 5, 1843.🗃️
November 14, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Moby Dick was published on this day in 1851, so today's bank note comes from Nantucket and features a large vignette of whalers in a longboat about to harpoon a spouting sperm whale. Also on the right, note the Hydrostatic Oil Press. Manufacturers and Mechanics Bank, Nantucket, MA, $3, Dec 5, 1843.🗃️
I am thinking a lot today about the elimination of the penny and how 19th century Americans dealt with persistent shortages of small change in creative ways. Here is a Michigan bank note in an odd denomination to help local transactions when coins were unavailable. Bank of Pontiac, MI, $1.25, 18--.🗃️
November 13, 2025 at 7:57 PM
I am thinking a lot today about the elimination of the penny and how 19th century Americans dealt with persistent shortages of small change in creative ways. Here is a Michigan bank note in an odd denomination to help local transactions when coins were unavailable. Bank of Pontiac, MI, $1.25, 18--.🗃️
I don't own many 19th century coins, but with the news that the government is ending production of the penny today, I will share my one old copper penny. It is from 1837 and served as the model for this hard times token (substitute for shinplasters) also from 1837.
November 12, 2025 at 11:45 PM
I don't own many 19th century coins, but with the news that the government is ending production of the penny today, I will share my one old copper penny. It is from 1837 and served as the model for this hard times token (substitute for shinplasters) also from 1837.
I see that Pete Hegseth is complaing again about soldiers with facial hair, so in response here is General Ambrose Burnside, shown on a bank note from Rhode Island where he served as governor from 1866-1869 and senator from 1875-1881. Blackstone Canal Bank, Providence, RI, $1, Jan 1, 1863. 🗃️
November 12, 2025 at 6:37 PM
I see that Pete Hegseth is complaing again about soldiers with facial hair, so in response here is General Ambrose Burnside, shown on a bank note from Rhode Island where he served as governor from 1866-1869 and senator from 1875-1881. Blackstone Canal Bank, Providence, RI, $1, Jan 1, 1863. 🗃️
On this Veterans Day, here is an 1850s bank note with two vignettes of Revolutionary War soldiers. The one on the left is named 1776 and the on the right is simply titled, Veterans. Zoom in for some great detail on the images. Bank of Hornellsville, NY, $10, March 15, 1854.🗃️
November 11, 2025 at 6:58 PM
On this Veterans Day, here is an 1850s bank note with two vignettes of Revolutionary War soldiers. The one on the left is named 1776 and the on the right is simply titled, Veterans. Zoom in for some great detail on the images. Bank of Hornellsville, NY, $10, March 15, 1854.🗃️
It appeared in the New Orleans Picayune on Oct 31, 1857 during the height of the Panic. Several great political cartoons appeared around then including this one in Harper’s Weekly a week later (Nov 7, 1857) showing female shoppers transforming into birds attacking a fallen goods store.
November 8, 2025 at 12:06 AM
It appeared in the New Orleans Picayune on Oct 31, 1857 during the height of the Panic. Several great political cartoons appeared around then including this one in Harper’s Weekly a week later (Nov 7, 1857) showing female shoppers transforming into birds attacking a fallen goods store.
I had the pleasure of speaking to my daughter's high school history class today on antebellum economics, money, labor, and financial panics. Lots of fun and I got to show them this great image from the Panic of 1857. 🗃️
November 7, 2025 at 11:41 PM
I had the pleasure of speaking to my daughter's high school history class today on antebellum economics, money, labor, and financial panics. Lots of fun and I got to show them this great image from the Panic of 1857. 🗃️
Abolitionst Elijah P. Lovejoy was murder OTD in 1837 by a proslavery mob as he defended the Alton, IL warehouse where his printing press was hidden. This 1850s bank note also from Alton ironically features among its images an allegorical vignette of Prosperity & Liberty. Alton Bank, IL, $3, 185-.
November 7, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Abolitionst Elijah P. Lovejoy was murder OTD in 1837 by a proslavery mob as he defended the Alton, IL warehouse where his printing press was hidden. This 1850s bank note also from Alton ironically features among its images an allegorical vignette of Prosperity & Liberty. Alton Bank, IL, $3, 185-.
In honor of the not guilty verdict in Sean Dunn’s Sandwichgate trial, here is a note from Sandwich, NH made by Waterman Ormsby in his elaborate unit system of bank note design. Carroll County Bank, Sandwich, NH, $1, Jan 1, 1855. 🗃️
November 6, 2025 at 7:56 PM
In honor of the not guilty verdict in Sean Dunn’s Sandwichgate trial, here is a note from Sandwich, NH made by Waterman Ormsby in his elaborate unit system of bank note design. Carroll County Bank, Sandwich, NH, $1, Jan 1, 1855. 🗃️
Good evening, moon.
November 6, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Good evening, moon.
Election Day bank note:
I will bet one thousand dollars that G. B. McClellan will have won a majority in the state of Maryland. Signed George F. Laney Port Deposit Post, ML, If Mr. Laney wants to get sheet of his thousand dollars he will please bring that amount one thousand dollars to E. Uhler.
I will bet one thousand dollars that G. B. McClellan will have won a majority in the state of Maryland. Signed George F. Laney Port Deposit Post, ML, If Mr. Laney wants to get sheet of his thousand dollars he will please bring that amount one thousand dollars to E. Uhler.
November 4, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Election Day bank note:
I will bet one thousand dollars that G. B. McClellan will have won a majority in the state of Maryland. Signed George F. Laney Port Deposit Post, ML, If Mr. Laney wants to get sheet of his thousand dollars he will please bring that amount one thousand dollars to E. Uhler.
I will bet one thousand dollars that G. B. McClellan will have won a majority in the state of Maryland. Signed George F. Laney Port Deposit Post, ML, If Mr. Laney wants to get sheet of his thousand dollars he will please bring that amount one thousand dollars to E. Uhler.
My daughter and I have started making a weekly early American history TikTok that uses something from the news as a jumping off point. The first one covered Pat Lyon and the Bank of PA Heist in 1798. For Halloween this week we discuss grave robbing and the 1788 Doctor’s Riot. Check it out: 🗃️
November 4, 2025 at 12:57 AM
My daughter and I have started making a weekly early American history TikTok that uses something from the news as a jumping off point. The first one covered Pat Lyon and the Bank of PA Heist in 1798. For Halloween this week we discuss grave robbing and the 1788 Doctor’s Riot. Check it out: 🗃️
Happy Birthday, Artemis! He is turning 6 today (we aren't really sure, but it is the anniversary of the day we brought him home from the Pasadena Humane Society). Birthday #Caturday. 🐈⬛🎂
November 1, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Happy Birthday, Artemis! He is turning 6 today (we aren't really sure, but it is the anniversary of the day we brought him home from the Pasadena Humane Society). Birthday #Caturday. 🐈⬛🎂
Most of my Halloween revolves around the treats, so today's obsolete paper money is an advertising note from the late 1860s-1870s. Issued by the First National Candy Bank, it championed Dr. Carter's cough candy for colds, coughs, and sore throats. It was apparently the people's friend. 🗃️
October 31, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Most of my Halloween revolves around the treats, so today's obsolete paper money is an advertising note from the late 1860s-1870s. Issued by the First National Candy Bank, it championed Dr. Carter's cough candy for colds, coughs, and sore throats. It was apparently the people's friend. 🗃️