Proofs of Bank of New York One Dollar Bill and Two Dollar Bill

Art Historical Context

These delicate engraving proofs, created between 1824 and 1837 by A. B. & C. Durand & Company, represent the intricate work of Asher Brown Durand and his brother Cyrus in producing currency for the Bank of New York. Measuring just a few inches across, the one- and two-dollar bill designs showcase the fine-line engraving techniques essential for early American paper money. Such proofs allowed printers to inspect the quality and security features before the notes entered circulation. In the decades before a unified U.S. currency, individual banks issued their own notes, making skilled engravers vital to the economy. The Durands’ firm specialized in anti-counterfeiting details—elaborate borders, portraits, and vignettes—that required exceptional precision. Asher Durand, who later became a leading Hudson River School painter, began his career in this demanding field, bridging commercial printmaking and fine art. Today these small prints offer a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of art, technology, and finance in the early republic. Their presence in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection highlights how even utilitarian objects like banknotes can embody remarkable craftsmanship and historical insight.

About the Artist

A. B. & C. Durand & Company|Asher Brown Durand|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