Bank Note Design
Classification
numismatics
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Walter Shirlaw
Accession Number
1912-16-86
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Walter Shirlaw's *Bank Note Design* (. 1895) offers a fascinating glimpse into the intricate world of late 19th-century American currency artistry. Born in Scotland and later becoming a prominent American illustrator, Shirlaw was renowned for his meticulous wood engravings and contributions to magazines like *Harper's Weekly*. This piece, classified under numism at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, likely represents a conceptual study for paper money—a critical endeavor during an era of economic expansion and concerns over counterfeiting following the Civil War. Banknote designs of this pe...