Michigan 1838 $5

Bank of the River Raisen, Monroe

 

The following example is a Five Dollar banknote issued in 1838 by the Bank of The River Raisen in Monroe, Michigan. The vignettes feature two Native Americans: Top left drawing an arrow on his bow, and another at the bottom-center, in a canoe. Also, an eagle at top right, and the far left shows, rather surprisingly, William Penn. This five dollar bill is uniface, and one can see the ink used to pen the signatures, dates and serial number is fading in it’s smaller print, while it’s larger print is showing some signs of oxidation due to the iron used in inks at the time. The name of the bank, and the river, later changed it’s spelling to The River Raisin. This note is also on thin paper, much like onion skin.

5 Dollars 1838 Obsolete Currency "Bank of the River Raisen, Monroe, Michigan (uniface)"
5 Dollars 1838 Obsolete Currency "Bank of the River Raisen, Monroe, Michigan (uniface)"
Comparison of the Banknote portrait of William Penn and another well known portrait of him.