Banknote motif: the number 5 set against a scallop-edged circle of ornamental lathe work, within a rectangle with cut off corners, the top adorned with a vase and swans, the bottom with fruit and grain

Art Historical Context

This intricate engraving and etching, created around 1824–42 by Cyrus Durand and the firms A. B. & C. Durand & Company and Durand, Perkins, and Company, served as a proof for a banknote design featuring the numeral 5. Measuring just over three by two inches, the small sheet showcases the elaborate security features typical of early American currency. The central scallop-edged circle employs ornamental lathe work—a mechanically generated pattern of fine, interlocking lines that was extremely difficult to replicate by hand, thereby deterring counterfeiters. Durand, a pioneering engraver and inventor of the geometric lathe, helped elevate banknote production into both a technical and artistic achievement during the antebellum period. The design’s decorative elements—a vase flanked by swans at the top and fruit and grain at the bottom—evoke themes of abundance and stability, common motifs meant to inspire public trust in paper money. As a proof impression, this print offers a rare glimpse into the meticulous process of refining currency imagery before final plates were approved. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, the work highlights the intersection of art, industry, and economics in the 19th century. Its delicate precision and symbolic richness continue to fascinate viewers interested in the hidden artistry behind everyday objects like money.

About the Artist

A. B. & C. Durand & Company|Durand, Perkins, and Company|Cyrus Durand (American|American|American) · 1824 |1796 |1787 –1832 |1886 |1868

American, active 1824–32|American, Jefferson, New Jersey 1796–1886 Maplewood, New Jersey|American, 1787–1868