HOME | DD
zeno333 — 2003 US $2 dollar note reverse.
Published: 2012-04-01 09:13:04 +0000 UTC; Views: 420; Favourites: 4; Downloads: 42
Redirect to original
Description
US currency still has some nice detailed engraving on some of the notes, that being the 1 and 2 dollar notes, since they have not been redesigned to be "beautiful engraving vignette free", like all of the other notes seem to be. Pity beautiful engraving seems to be a lost art these days even on bank notes. Ironic since bank notes are where much beautiful engraving started. Note made October 2003. Theme is based on Trumbull's "Declaration of Independence" painting. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak loves using 2 dollar bills to buy things with.Related content
Comments: 6
It's a wonderful example of the Banknote Engravers art. It's interesting to compare that version to both Trumbull's original oil painting, and to W.L. Ormbsy's massive 23.25” x 32.25” engraving of that painting.
Apart from obvious changes, such as the amount of figures and the background, done to fit the note size, Thomas Jefferson is not standing on John Adams foot, as he is in the original painting and engraving.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Wow, that is HUGE for an engraving size wise....Can I presume Ormbsy's engraving was a copper one as opposed to steel? I can not imagine doing a steel one that large.
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
The Ormsby engraving was a steel plate, as was the initial Asher B. Durand commissioned by Trumbull.
In general, exceptions excluded, most top engravers - specifically those associated with security document engraving, commonly referred to as "Banknote" engravers - worked on steel because of the mechanical advantages of the medium over copper, or rarely end-grain wood, for engraving. One major advantage of steel was that the finished plate could be hardened to extend the print making process, both by durability or being able to make a master plate from which exact copies could be formed.
The engraving process usually included a combination of engraving and acid etching. Each engraver would typically have their own formula and methodology for achieving the desired result.
Ormsby was also an inventor of various mechanical devices to aid engraving. These include a line ruling device and a transfer press, amongst others.
He also founded the Continental Bank Note Company of New York and is known for developing ideas for confounding counterfeiters.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Speaking of bank note companies, there is a great site about the history of the American bank Note Company.....I use it though to be able to determine within a few years, when a particular "obsolete bank note" was made if it is not dated....i find and get the name of he bank note maker from the note, then go to this linked web site and the short history of the many different bank note companies mentioned on that web site. A great way of dating "source documents" so to speak. The link is at...
[link]
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Most of the bak notes that I look up the date for at that web site are un-dated obsolete "proofs".
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
According to this web site, it was indeed a steel engraving.....Stunned, can not imagine the amount of time and work needed to do that.
[link]
👍: 0 ⏩: 0