Counterfeit currency was a major problem in the US in the 19th Century. With hundreds of banks and the US Government issuing hundreds and hundreds of different bank notes it was difficult for the average person to be able to detect counterfeit currency. Enter Laban Heath. Laban Heath & Co. published Heath's Infallible Government Counterfeit Detector, At Sight - a book chock full of information for shopkeepers and bank clerks to use to identify known counterfeit currency. Heath claimed his book to be "the only infallible method of detecting counterfeit, spurious, and altered bank notes, and applicable to all banks in the United States and Canadas, as now in circulation, or that may be issued." Detailed engravings of notes and portions of notes made it simple to spot counterfeit notes. Heath's Counterfeit Detector books are highly collectible today. So what about P.B. Emory? I was getting to that. In 1870 P.B. Emory was arrested in New York City for trying to pass a counterfeit $10 bank note at a drug store. (Some reports say it was a $100 bank note, a huge sum for that time.) When he was searched police found an additional $100 in counterfeit currency on him as well as a letter of recommendation from the Sergeant-At-Arms for the US House of Representatives in the name W.A. Rocks. What did Mr. P.B. Emory have to say for himself? Emory claimed to be a salesman for Heath & Co. selling Heath's Infallible Government Counterfeit Detector. He said he sold the book for $5 and charged an additional $5 for "extra advice". Emory claimed the counterfeit currency found on him was specimens he used to help explain to customers how to use the book. The Press had a field day. Sergeant-At-Arms Ordway (probably not wanting to be drawn into a scandal) at first denied writing the letter of recommendation but later admitted to writing it. (The Press had misspelled the name of the recipient as Rocks instead of Rook. Ordway said he did not know anyone named Rocks.) It turns out P.B. Emory was in fact a salesman for Heath & Co. and the counterfeit currency found on him was to be used as stated - to help show potential customers how to use the Counterfeit Detector book. Emory was a known drunk and when he was hired he was told explicitly to stay sober and to be very careful with his counterfeit specimens and if he was ever found to try to pass one of his counterfeit specimens as a genuine note his employer would have him arrested. On the day of his arrest P.B. Emory stopped by a saloon and proceeded to get drunk. On his way home he stopped at a drug store to purchase some "seidlitz powders" (a contemporary hangover medication). The druggist was not fooled by the counterfeit note but Emory insisted it was genuine. The druggist called for a policeman who arrested Emory. The records do not indicate whether P.B. Emory was convicted or not. One thing is certain - P.B. Emory never sold another copy of Heath's Infallible Government Counterfeit Detector, At Sight.
The first post of any thread cannot be nominated for the clinker award. But as you and I have already done, is nominate it for TOTW.
The Story of Tom Ballard a former Treasury employee that was found with 150 lbs of paper, mash and pulp along with the complete apparatus to produce the notes. Not only was he preparing to print $1000 notes, but 50 cent fractionals as well. He was an engraver with intimate knowledge of the Treasurys process. The SS discoverd him with a fake $1000 plate as well back in 1871. Tom Ballard...you almost got away with it!! RickieB (for now)
Lou... not to crash HoBo's thread...this is but just a brief synopsis of the story.. One day I will post it.. Regards, Rick
Too late, Rick. :kewl: Actually, there are tons and tons of interesting stories about numismatics (or any subject) just waiting to be discovered - or rediscovered. I think it is nice to share these stories with each other. And it can also be educational.
