Banknote vignette proofs

That's just gorgeous!! Why do we insist on keeping real people on today's currency and coins and not go back to symbols of our freedom? Nothing can beat the beauty of a truly handcrafted piece of art verses the computer aided stuff of today. Just because we can, does not mean we should.

I shudder when I think about how the 1916 Centennial coinage of the Mercury, Standing Liberty and Walking Liberty coins will look once modern low relief, computer aided design and laser enhanced frosting will likely ruin a classic design.

 

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I am a total newbie to collecting and only have a few coins.
I have been reading this area of the board and find it vexing, but yielding very beautiful images on paper money.
How do you learn about these things and how do you determine what to start getting?
Thanks
BTM

 

From the standpoint of banknote engraving itself, you could learn a lot by reading "The Engraver's Line" by Gene Hessler. It's kind of an encyclopedia of the companies and people who produced paper money in America. Lots of illustrations, too.

How to get started? Do a search for "bank note" on this forum and read a lot of the older threads. Attend a major coin show in your area; these usually have at least a few paper money dealers. And don't be afraid to ask questions. I can't tell you what to collect, but pick something that really connects with you personally. I think a lot of new collectors think of the hobby like gold prospecting, with dreams of making big money by finding some major error or rarity. I enjoy it for what I learn and for the beauty of the items I collect.

 

Thank you.
I do not think I would be ready for any books just yet as I am pure beginner and not even sure if I want to do this. I find it pretty cool what you guys post but have a hard time trying to follow it. I do not know enough to even think about making money, there is simply way to much to know. Thanks for all the posts you guys make it is interesting to say the least.
BTM

 

Some of my recent posts have gotten pretty esoteric -- combining U.S. history with historical background on banknote engraving. Probably not too many collectors are interested but it's good there are a few around like you, trying to figure things out. Like I said, never be afraid to ask questions.

 

gsalexan
Thank you.
Esoteric is the correct word in this case
I will continue to read and learn about what is posted.
One can only assume the time it must have taken to accumulate specific detailed knowledge on these subjects. Question is what was the deciding factor for you on the collection of the engravings and where the heck do you find such items?
BTM

 

Back in the 1980s, when I was just getting interested in bank note engraving, a dealer friend of mine sold me an album containing about 50 of these vignette proofs. (If you do a search for "vignette" on this forum you'll find some other scans.) At the time it was a lot of money for me, but in reality it was only about $5-6 per vignette. I didn't know much about them, but I was fascinated by the artwork. This was one of the big deciding events in terms of what I now collect. Over the years, little by little, I started finding these same vignettes on obsolete currency, stocks, bonds, and other paper money. And that made me curious about the engravers and the bank note companies that produced them. I read a lot and did a lot of online research, which has always been fun for me -- kind of like an Easter egg hunt.

About five years ago I stumbled onto this forum and started sharing images from my collection and bits of knowledge I've come across. That's led to some good friendships and expanded my knowledge when other collectors share what they've learned. A curious mind is always making connections and following their intuition down whatever rabbit hole they discover.

Ebay, of course, if the easiest place to find this sort of material. A surprising number of these proofs have come up for sale just in the last year. Go to the paper money category, do a search for "vignette" in the title field in and see what you find. They aren't as cheap any more -- I'd say a reasonable price is $15 to $30 apiece, sometimes more for a well-know image that appears on federal currency. You'll also find these in auctions, particularly Heritage. I would recommend signing up with them (it's free) so you can look through images from past and present auctions. It's a treasure trove and there is plenty to learn from reading lot descriptions. Have fun!

 

You can always try to find the book in your local library, coin club library (if available), or join the ANA and borrow from their library (for a fee I believe). Either way, these are some available avenues if you don't want to spend the money actually purchasing the book.

I'm not sure about the specific book recommended here and how much it normally sells for, but these may be some options to explore if it's pricey and you want to look at it before you try to buy one.

 

So where can a novice find bills that have pictures of trains on them?
I always played with trains as a kid and thought this might be an area I might like to explore.
Any books on that?
BTM

 

After several weeks of contemplation I have decided to focus on a bill collection.
I have been buying silver bullion and some gold coins 1/10 oz ones.
I really have "0" experience at this and do not want to be taken to the cleaners. So what area of bills do you recommend and at what price range can I expect to be thrown at me?
As mentioned above I do like trains and it was suggested to me to look at some Obsolete Bills. Here is a foreign territory if I ever saw one, obsoletes I can only think of the scams this may present. Anyone with experience I would appreciate your insight in this area. I suppose I can start very small with common bills we use every day. I keep seeing examples with neat numbers, mistakes, and bills with stars on them. Whew with all of these my head hurts already. Help please.
BTM

 

Glad to hear you're joining the bank note collecting community! Rather than just posting on this thread, which is pretty topic-specific, I'd suggest posting a new thread on the paper money forum with your questions. You'll get more comments from other members than me (although I'm happy to help).

 

I am sorry about that. I thought I would put it where I have seen all the nice examples.
Please excuse me.
BTM

 

I would love to think every member reads this thread, but I suspect that's not the case. I just want to be sure you get the most visibility when you make a post. More people are likely to read a new thread with a specific question in the title.

 

I haven't given this thread a bump for some time, but I picked up an interesting proof that arrived today, so I'll share it here.

I generally run screaming from bond coupons, which pop up regularly on eBay, but are really worthless unless they are still attached to a bond. But this was a proof of a bond coupon and quite inexpensive, so I thought I'd add it to my collection as a representative. It was printed by the Franklin-Lee Bank Note Co., probably around 1897-1904, for a United States Coal and Oil Co. coupon bond. Most interesting was the micro-vignette of a mining scene. The coupon itself is only 3" wide and the mining vignette is barely 3/8 x 7/8 of an inch, but still has a lot of detail. Fun stuff!

 

Won this portrait card almost a year ago.



Heritage description;
S. P. Chase Portrait Card.
The National Bank Note Co. engraved this portrait card of Lincoln's first Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase. It measures approximately three-and-three-fourths inches by five inches and is printed on India paper mounted on card stock. A pencil notation on the back relates this vignette to the $1 Legal Tender notes, Fr. 16 & 17.

 

Great additions guys!

 

Really like the Chase portrait, Steve! Even the oval frame is cool.

 

Been a while since I added to this thread, but a cool portrait arrived today that I want to share. I wasn't aware until recently that American Bank Note engraved a series of what is known as cabinet cards for famous actresses of the 1880s. The one card I picked up was of Fanny Davenport, a Boston-based actress who performed from about 1860 until her death in 1898. In her day she was as well known as Julia Roberts is today.

This portrait is exquisitely executed, though I don't know the engraver at this time. I'm also working on obtaining a copy of the actual photo the engraving was based on -- I'll attach a link.

 

That engraving is incredibly life like!!

 

I picked up a bunch of new vignettes recently and thought I'd share a couple "water scenes." Lots going on in both of these. I really like the river raft in "Western River" -- with it's own log cabin!