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Rare partly-printed note of Mormon currency in the amount of fifty cents, 3.5 x 1.75, made out in another hand to N. K. Whitney, and signed in ink by three early Mormon leaders, "Brigham Young," "Heber C. Kimball," and "Tho. Bullock—Clerk." The note is number 867, issued at Great Salt Lake City on January 20, 1849. Handsomely double-matted and framed with a postcard portrait to an overall size of 10.5 x 14.25. In fine condition.
Following their arrival in the Salt Lake Valley in July 1847, Brigham Young and the Mormon pioneers quickly set about building the infrastructure of their new homeland. With no standardized national currency in circulation at the time, the growing settlement soon required a reliable medium of exchange. In 1848, the church established a mint in a small adobe building in Great Salt Lake City, initially producing coinage from gold dust brought from California. Due to losses associated with weighing the gold, Young authorized the printing of paper currency in early 1849.
Using a hand-press brought west by wagon—and later an improved press constructed by church architect Truman Angell—the first notes were issued on January 20, 1849, in denominations ranging from 50 cents to $9. These bills, the earliest known examples of Utah printing, were signed by Brigham Young along with prominent church leaders including Heber C. Kimball and Thomas Bullock; this particular bill is especially notable as it was issued to Newel K. Whitney, presiding bishop of the church. Redeemable in gold, most were eventually exchanged and destroyed, making surviving examples exceptionally scarce.
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