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Message:: [QUOTE="Clinker, post: 750715, member: 6229"]Since Texas became an individual republic in 1836, I wondered if and what coins and paper money they produced during those 10 years as The Republic of Texas. In the early days of Texas, a variety of currencies served as cash, including Spanish and Mexican money, bank notes from various U.S. states (The notes of state-chartered banks constituted in all the states the principal money, but, those of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee were the most commonly found in The Republic of Texas), and currency issued by private companies (called shinplasters). Although The Republic of Texas' Constutution of 1836 gave its Congress the power to "coin money [and] regulate the value thereof," no coins were ever minted.   The Republic of Texas first issued paper money in 1837. This currency of 1837 was called "star money" for the small star on the face of the bill. The star money was not face value currency, but rather interest-bearing notes (similar to a treasury bill) that circulated by being endorsed over to the next payee. In 1838, Texas issued change notes with elaborate designs on the front and blank backs.  Researching the Currency of the Republic of Texas, I came across this webpage: <a href="http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/treasures/republic/currency-01.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/treasures/republic/currency-01.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/treasures/republic/currency-01.html</a> Take another look. There is a photo of a man in the middle of the three graphics on the right side of the $5 and $50 Redbacks. Historical research reveals his name is "Deaf Smith" and the reason his photo adorns those Red Backs is his service to General Sam Houston as spy, scout, and soldier. He is one of the most remembered revolutiomary heroes who fought for Texas' independence. His birth given name is Erastus Smith. He, being a sickly man, near death, in one of those freezing industrialy polluted Eastern states, immigrated to Texas in 1821 Being one of the first to join the Texas Republican Army in Gonzalez, his contributions as a spy, scout, and soldier would influence the Battle of Concepcion, the renowned Grass Fight, and the Battle of San Jacinto. He would also be the man who Sam Houston trusted to confirm the fall of the Alamo. Smith has been acclaimed as both the "eyes and ears" of the Texas Army.  Unfortunately, for the man that proved to be two of Texas’ most vital organs, her "eyes and ears", he was both going blind and deaf. Hence, history remembers Erastus by the name of "Deaf Smith."  Although Deaf Smith is remembered as one of Texas’s greatest scouts and spies, he is most famously remembered for being a heroic soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto. After allowing him to choose a group of trustworthy men, Houston sent him to remove and burn Vince's Bridge. By doing this, he would block any further aid from reaching Santa Anna and, at the same time, remove the enemy’s only means of escape. Houston warned Smith that, if he did not do this quickly, the field would be crimson before his return, or in other words, the battle would be over. Smith and his men, however, completed their mission and returned in time to take the field with Houston and the rest of the Texas Republican Army.  In 1837 this Texas soldier, scout, and spy was buried in the Episcopal Churchyard were a grave marker reads "Deaf Smith, the Texas Spy." In American East, the name Erastus Smith was used in reference to a sick man who was likely to leave this world after accomplishing little, but in Texas, the name Deaf Smith would be used in reference to one of the most important men in the region. Deaf Smith’s story is just one of the accounts of thousands of Americans who left their home with little to gain much in Texas. Therefore it is fitting his image adorns thode two Red Backs.  Thought you might like to know...  Clinker[/QUOTE]

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