Banknote Vignettes

Young woman at centre. Decorative patterns with number 5 at upper and lower centre. Male profile portrait at top centre. Design printed in black. (19th c)



Vignette with number 5 and with female profile portrait as background at centre. Decorative patterns at upper and lower centre. Male profile portrait at top centre. Design printed in black. (19th c)



Vertical format. Female profile portrait at centre. Ornamental patterns at lower and upper centre. Design printed in black on tan paper. (19th c)




Two young boys as blacksmiths at centre. Decorative patterns with number 5 at upper and lower centre. Male profile portrait at top centre. Design printed in black. (19th c)



Standing female figure with mirror on the one hand and sunflower on the other. Design printed in black. (19th c)



Letter X at centre and two female figures surrounding it. Design printed in black on tan paper. (19th c)



Female figure seating at a V letter (Victory), holding staff with snakes. Design printed in black (19th c)



Blacksmith at centre. Second male fiugre in the background at left. Design printed in black. (19th c)



Allegorical female figure holding scales. Eagle next to her. Design printed in black. (19th c)



Female figure holding winged staff with snakes. Design printed in black. (19th c)



Neptune in a shell at centre. Sailing ships in the background. Design printed in black. (19th c)



Allegorical female figure. Design printed in black. (19th c)



Two female winged figures and two children surrounding a large number 20. Design printed in black. (19th c.)



Allegorical winged female figure at centre. Sailing ships in the background. Design printed in black. (19th c)



Two female figures with the one holding scales. Design printed in black. (19th c)



Two female figures at centre. Horse in the background. Design printed in black. (19th c)



Eagle sitting on a branch at centre. Canal scene and train in motion in the background. Design printed in black. (19th c)



Female figure at left. Cornucopia standing on a base at centre. Child at right. Design printed in black on tan paper. (19th c)



Female figure standing next to a large number 5. Design printed in black. (19th c)

Hunter accompanied by dog. Design printed in black. (19th c)

[The first half of the images above are displayed at their full size, in some cases the image was cropped; click through on the second half of the images for somewhat enlarged versions. A few of the images have been lightly background cleaned.]


The above paper money engraved vignettes were produced in the United States in the 19th century. They all come from the British Museum Prints Database and no other information beyond the captions above was supplied. (At least, I don't think there was any general overview but I collected most of these images a couple of years ago and I haven't come across any outline while revisiting the collection today: sometimes they provide curator's notes without citation in related material)
I think the search terms were "banknote" and "banknote +USA" and "Made in USA". I seem to recall there are about two hundred or so vignettes available.

"Elaborate engravings, called vignettes, and color, were originally used as measures against counterfeiting. As the 19th century progressed, the variety and intricacy of vignette subjects exploded-with the most elaborate designs created at the end of the century. The great variety of U.S. paper money designs disappeared after U.S. Government paper currency was introduced in 1861." [source]

I know very little about numismatics but I found the following links worthwhile:

• Miniature Vignettes by Roger H. Durand at Mansfield Numismatic Society, Connecticut.
• American Currency Exhibit at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (there are some related images in here)
• Symbols on American Money at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
• US Paper Money at Collectors Weekly.
• Wikipedia category page for Historical currencies of the United States.