Macerated Currency
United States Capitol Building Macerated Currency
Macerated United States Currency Bank Notes, Circular High-Relief Image of the U.S. Capitol Building and Banners, Extremely Fine.
This original example of Macerated Currency measures 3.75" in circumference and was produced by National Currency Souvenir Co., Washington, DC. It is made of actual US paper money that was redeemed to be destroyed by the United States Treasury, of an amount estimated at $3,000, which is so stated in the reverse side embossed text. The front image is a landscape relief portrait of the U.S. Capitol Building beneath an American Flag, with waving banners. The last example we sold was in our EAHA Auction of February 2004, Lot 900, in the same EF quality, for $210. The reverse side is decorated and features a deep Relief of a leaf with descriptive text about this item.
Between the mid 1870s to 1928, worn and mutilated United States Currency Banknotes were returned to the Treasury Department where they were reduced to paper pulp and made into Souvenirs for sale to the public. By the 1890s, the pulp was sold to various contractors such as the National Currency Souvenir Co., where it was used to create souvenir busts of prominent Americans, historical images and replicas of various national monuments.