Banknote motif: the word ONE with each letter set against a circle of lathe work

Art Historical Context

This delicate engraving, created around 1824–42 by Cyrus Durand and his associated firms, offers a fascinating glimpse into the early development of secure American currency. The small proof print features the word “ONE” set within intricate circles of lathe work, a technique Durand helped pioneer. These precise, machine-generated patterns were designed to foil counterfeiters, as the complex geometric designs were nearly impossible to replicate by hand. Durand’s innovations in engraving technology transformed banknote production during a period when the United States relied on numerous private banks issuing their own paper money. By combining artistic skill with mechanical precision, such motifs became essential security features. Though modest in size—measuring just over three inches wide—this proof highlights the meticulous craftsmanship behind everyday objects we often take for granted. Today housed in the Metropolitan Museum’s Department of Drawings and Prints, the work serves as a reminder of how art and industry intersected to build public trust in currency.

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