looks like some type of older novelty or joke money. It may hold some type of collector value, if someone were to collect these.
I love these...they are political satirical items attacking the idea of fiat money: The front features some fancy scrollwork, interspersed with images of Miss Liberty and other currency-like decorations, and states the following: “This is United States Absolute Money, Five Dollars, Perpetual Money: Power of the People to Create and Issue, Washington D.C., Legal Tender for All Debts and Dues, Confiscation of Property and Imprisonment for Life for Counterfeiting, - Copyrighted July 17, 1878.” On the back of the “note” is the title “Greenback Platform,” with subheadings surrounding the main text: “Whoever Takes This Money is Swindled” “Fiat Money” “This is Not the Bloodstained Greenback of the War” “This Bill is to Deceive Honest Voters” The main text is a satirical attack on the idea of fiat money, the Greenback Party, and the Democratic journalist/rabble-rouser Marcus Mills “Brick” Pomeroy. Text on the reverse: GREENBACK PLATFORM. Whereas, We are heavily in debt, and it is desirable to get rid of our liabilities in the cheapest manner possible; and Whereas, Money has hitherto ignorantly been regarded by all civilized nations as an equivalent of value, and gold and silver of a specified standard have been considered and held to be such equivalent in defiance of all common sense and modern enlightenment; and Whereas, The greenback that saved our country has upon its face a promise of redemption in said gold and silver, and because of such promise, solely and exclusively, it circulates and is excepted and treasured as a medium of exchange, and is now worth 99.5 cents in gold; and Whereas, It is proposed by the Government to take up and redeem its notes on the first of January 1879, and give the people real money for such notes, and there is no question of its ability to do so, to the extent that may be demanded; and Whereas, It is desirable to prevent such a consummation, which is in accord with the demands of honesty, and honesty is a relic of barbarism; and Whereas, We monopolize the brains of the country, and we deem it essential to the prosperity of this nation to have a greenback redeemable in nothing, so that everyone will be anxious to get rid of it in exchange for something of value; and Whereas, Modern political prostitutes of the Brick Pomeroy stripe have discovered that a promise to pay on a soldiers greenback destroyed its value as a circulating medium, Hence it is decreed, That the government of the United States is omnipotent, and can make money out of nothing. That this shinplaster is five dollars of Absolute Money, and shall be accepted as such, though it costs only the one-thousandth part of a cent; that it shall never be redeemed in anything. That no merchant shall dare to question its face value, or even insinuate that it is only a piece of paper, but that he shall be compelled to give in exchange therefore just as much of his goods, wares and merchandise as he would give for five dollars, worth intrinsically 500 cents. The same rule shall apply to every farmer; that is, supposing his wheat is worth one dollar per bushel, he shall be compelled to take for each bushel one Absolute Dollar, the cost and value of which is one-thousandth part of a cent. The crippled soldier, the soldier's widow and the orphan, though entitled under the law to a redeemable dollar of paper money under their pensions, or a full dollar in gold or silver, shall be compelled to accept this irredeemable shinplaster worth only one thousandth part of a cent, or in default to do so his pension shall be abolished. That the thousands of poor people who have for years been investing their saving in Government Bonds, and paid for such bonds one hundred cents coin, under the delusion that our Government would not go into a Fiat Repudiation Scheme, shall now be paid in this Absolutely cheap and worthless shinplaster money, and as it costs no more to make a thousand dollar bill than a one dollar bill, it is decreed, that each government creditior shall receive one bill of the denomination representing the sum total of indebtedness - there is nothing like economy. That gold and silver shall henceforth forever be banished from the United States, and that it shall be a criminal offense to own or possess or countenance this base metal. And the Supreme Court of the United States, having decided at their December term, 1870-71, that under the money power of the Constitution Congress has no right to make anything a legal tender, except gold and silver (and that the issue of paper money as a legal tender was only justified as a necessity to save the nation in time of war) shall be ignominiously executed, and their bodies shall be quartered, and the quarters distributed equitably, north, south, east, and west, to decide the execration due to their dead carcasses. And if it should be found that the Constitution itself cannot be construed in any other way, then it is decreed that it shall be taken from the archives at Washington, brought out west, and in the presence of an outraged populace, the obnoxious document shall be publicly burned. We must have wealth, and hence it is necessary to have plenty of printing presses and if there are not enough in the United States, it is decreed that one million more presses be imported. Anyone doubting the propositions above set forth, shall be deemed guilty of felony, and shall suffer banishment from this Glorious Republic for the term of his natural life, and shall be compelled to abide with the barbarians of Europe, who have for ages ignorantly believed that gold and silver was the recognized money of the world. Blessed be this shinplaster, and blessed be the inventor, Brick Pomeroy; and blessed be the printing presses, for by them we can all become rich without work. Not sure how much one would be worth.
Thanks for the info. Now I just need to find out what it is worth. I am trying to buy it from a local. Mark
I have an answer to value Again Thanks Everyone, I never did find the $5 but did find a $1 greenback party satirical note in rough shape that sold for $34 and postage on Heritage. I would say considering the condition an the fact I have not found another $5 it may be worth a little more. Unless it is a unique find or major rarity which I doubt. It is made out of more fragile paper than the repo Confederate notes of the 60's so I would think nice condition notes are hard to find. Anyway. I bought it for $50 bucks before I found out the worth so I now have instead of an expensive item, a scarce and neat 2 way collectible at a reasonable price. I seriously thought I could make good money buying at that price but I guess there has to be a decent demand for something to bring a price more reflective of rarity. Low demand no matter how hard to find equals low prices. It is still a neat note to own. I guess I put this back in the safe and wait for a big Greenback Party resurgence. Mark
