One (1) 1,000 dollar note
United States, 1880
Obverse Image: Portrait of DeWitt Clinton in center. Christopher Columbus seated in his study at left.
Obverse Text: THIS NOTE IS A LEGAL TENDER FOR ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS / US / 1000 / WASHINGTON, D.C. / THE UNITED STATES WILL PAY TO BEARER ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS / Z6498 / B / ENGRAVED AND PRINTED AT THE BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING. / REGISTER OF THE TREASURY / TREASURER OF THE UNITED STATES / UNITED STATES NOTE / THESAUR / AMER / SEPTENT / SIGIL / DEWITT CLINTON / ACT OF MARCH 3D. 1863 / SERIES OF 1880.
Reverse Image: Floral designs.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. / $1000. / M / SERIES OF 1880. / ENGRAVED & PRINTED AT THE BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING / THIS NOTE IS A LEGAL TENDER AT ITS FACE VALUE FOR ALL DEBTS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EXCEPT DUTIES ON IMPORTS AND INTEREST ON THE PUBLIC DEBT. / COUNTERFEITING OR ALTERING THIS NOTE OR PASSING ANY COUNTERFEIT OR ALTERATION OF IT, OR HAVING IN POSSESSION ANY FALSE OR COUNTERFEIT PLATE OR IMPRESSION OF IT, OR ANY PAPER MADE IN IMITATION OF THE PAPER ON WHICH IT IS PRINTED IS FELONY AND IS PUNISHABLE BY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR FINE OR FIFTEEN YEARS IMPRISONMENT AT HARD LABOR OR BOTH.
The U.S. Treasury issued this 1,000 dollar note around 1880. The center of the note features an inset portrait of DeWitt Clinton (1769–1828), who during his career served as mayor of New York City, governor of New York, and New York state senator. The note depicts explorer Christopher Columbus in his study at the left. The back shows the obligation and the Roman numeral M, for 1,000, with the text printed vertically on the left. DeWitt Clinton spent much of his tenure as governor urging development of a canal that would bridge the commercial markets between western Lake Erie and the eastern Hudson River. While critics called it “DeWitt’s Ditch,” the Erie Canal turned out to be a stroke of economic genius. It reduced the cost and risk of shipping goods and brought welcome revenue to New York City from canal toll fees. The New York politician’s prestige was so great that his likeness appeared on the 1,000 dollar note.
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