Details
50-Dollars, Act of March 2nd, 1861, Two Years, National Bank Note Company (KL P. 60; Hessler --; Loans p. 201, X126f), red and black face Proof on card, plate position C, together with a red face and blue back tint trial Proof on india paper, the first with hole cancellations and minor staining, the second with very minor faults but quite fresh, both extremely rare and possibly unique varities (2)
Further details
The vignette of Andrew Jackson is based on a portrait by John Wood Dodge. The same portrait appears on the 1861 $100 Confederate note. Frederick Girsch is the probable engraver of the Salmon P. Chase portrait. The portraits represent two opposing views on currency. As President, Andrew Jackson made certain the second charter for the Bank of the United States was not renewed; he favored state banks. Twenty-five years later Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase was instrumental in establishing the National Banking system, which made it unprofitable for state banks to issue their own paper money. Appropriately, Justice is seated between them. The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing does not possess an example of this note.