I thought this was interesting and thought it cool to share. Yesterday we celebrated Pioneer Day here in Utah, the day Brigham Young entered this sage brush barren desert and made it home. The local News Channel ran this story. http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=26145379
It's wonderful to see a report that is largely accurate save the detail on the Mormon Battalion discovering gold - they left out one little detail that the LDS church and history largely overlooks on the gold discovery at Sutter's Mill in 1848...
Fore sure the battalion did not discover gold, they were paid in gold from the Gov. good catch as I did not notice this in the story. Just thought it was interesting. Yesterday I went to the coin shop in down town Salt Lake, they had several of the notes and paper that was displayed int he story very interesting to look at, too rich for my budget.
There is a cheaper way to own some Mormon money (Cheaper, not cheap). When the Mormon swere settled in Kirkland, Missouri they also issued paper currency as the Kirkland Safety Society. The notes are popular and a bit costly, but cheaper than the Deseret currency. And it is possible to find notes signed by Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. They lived in another community before they moved to Kirkland but I don't know if they issued currency from that location.
You're right, the name escapes me at the moment but they bought a bank in either Ohio or Michigan that had issued notes. The easiest way to own Mormon or LDS money is to collect the Bishop's Storehouse 5 and 10 cent notes that were issued in 1898. Others such as the Scipio scrip, the ZCMI notes are pretty pricey. The GSL notes of 1868 are very attractive, but very pricey too. Original Series Nationals were also issued and it is possible to find one with Brigham Young's original signature, but kiss about $25K goodbye for that one. The only ones I have owned are the Bishop's notes, but I would really like to get a GSL note sometime.
I bought a Bishop's note from a gun show about 20 years ago. Its cancelled in UNC like condition and I paid $25 buck for it. I see them for about $200 now days.
I bought one of the blue 5c notes from 1898 that was stamp cancelled, mainly because I like the Temple in the centre of the note.
