- Educational Series
Infobox_RareCurrencies
common_name = "Educational Series," Series of 1896 Educational Notes
Closeup of the motif on the $2 note Science presents Steam and Electricity to Commerce and Manufacture.
country_of_production =United States
location_of_production = Bureau of Engraving and Printing
date_of_production =1896
nature_of_rarity = Collector
number_in_existence = Unknown
face_value = $1, $2, $5
estimated_value = US$300 - $8,000The Educational Series series of notes is the informal nickname given by
numismatists to a series ofUnited States Silver Certificate s produced by theUnited States Treasury in1896 . The notes depict variousallegorical motifs and are considered by some numismatists to be the most beautiful monetary designs ever produced by the United States. ["A Guide Book Of United States Paper Money: Complete Source for History, Grading, and Prices" pg. 27 "It is delightful to that the most beautiful designs, in the opinion of many, are those that were used on the smaller denominations..."]Design
The obverse of the notes depict a neoclassical allegorical motif, which dominates the front of the note. The motifs are meant as representations of the theme written on the note. The back contained the profiles of two American figures (usually famous Americans) set against an ornate background.
Denominations of $1, $2, and $5 were produced.
Controversy
The naked breasts of the female figures on the $5 Silver Certificate reportedly caused some minor controversy when several
Boston society ladies took offense to the design. Some bankers reportedly refused to accept the notes in transactions, and the term "banned in Boston " allegedly originates from the $5 Silver Certificate. The notes were quickly replaced for the Series of 1899 notes. ["A Guide Book Of United States Paper Money: Complete Source for History, Grading, and Prices" pg. 106 "The uncovered bosoms of certain of the figures in the scence caused several Boston society ladies to rally against the design, and some banks to resist taking them - the origin of the term "banned in Boston."] [cite web | author=Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco | date=2006-04-05 | url=http://www.frbsf.org/currency/metal/show.html | title=American Currency Exhibit: Metal Standards - Showcase of Bills | accessdate=2006-10-31]Notes
References
External References
* "A Guide Book Of United States Paper Money: Complete Source for History, Grading, and Prices" by Arthur L. Friedberg (Compiler), Ira S. Friedberg (Compiler), and Q. David Bowers. ISBN 0-7948-1786-6
* [http://www.frbsf.org/currency/ FRBSF Currency Exhibit]"Portions of this article used material from the
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco website, which is in the public domain."
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