Money Museum

1881 National Bank Note, 1st Charter Riker National Bank of Quincy, IL Object # 106 ANA 2024.11.18

Like many late 19th century banknotes, this note did more than facilitate commerce. It told an American story. Though issued by the Riker National Bank of Quincy, Illinois, its imagery was standardized nationally to prevent counterfeiting and create a shared vision of American history to unite the country in the decades following the Civil War.

The front features allegorical “Fides” (Loyalty) alongside a dramatic scene from the Battles of Lexington and Concord, casting the Revolution as a foundational struggle for liberty. The back depicts the Baptism of Pocahontas, an image long-used to promote narratives of colonization, assimilation, and westward expansion. Together, these scenes reveal how paper money helped construct a national identity, celebrating some stories while simplifying or excluding others.

In the postwar era, the United States was increasingly understood as a singular nation rather than a collection of states, and currency helped reinforce that shared civic mythology.

💬 How does the imagery on money shape the way later generations understand history?

Follow along each week day as we spotlight one American coin, token, or note for every year of our nation’s independence.🪙 🇺🇸

Explore the collection so far:
https://www.money.org/money-museum/america250/