Faking It

Ohio River Bank. Counterfeit note, 1838. Bequest of Helen Beitler.

Counterfeiters used several approaches when producing spurious banknotes. Sometimes they altered legitimate notes to increase their denomination, and other times they issued wholly fake notes drawn on real banks. In the example here, counterfeiters with a sense of humor have created a bogus note issued on the non-existent Ohio River Bank.