Period Correct Wallet-Revisted-Money Pics added

[Mogorilla]

Well, I believe Joss had a question about a period correct wallet a few weeks ago.  During the discussions, someone posted a website that also had period money on it.   I had some free time and a $1 piece of scrap leather (grand scheme it is probably too thin, but when packed full of $$$$, the wallet remains rigid.)   I took some time to "clean-up" the money, and altered some serial numbers just to make them individual.  (I tossed in my small word FAKE in the borders just in case).   Using a color printer and some better grade paper I made off with about $1766 in good Yankee curency.  I think it took me longer to cut out the money than it did the wallet.

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Mogrilla,
Great looking work!! I kinda like the thinner leathers for the wallets. your wallet looks just like the one(s) that are on display in the Desota Wild Life area in Kansas. These came off a River Boat that sunk in the Missouri in 1865, and for the life of me I can't remember the name of the boat. That is the one that I used when making the one that I carry.

Bill

[Forty Rod]

I copied a couple of bazillion dollars of currency off the web, but I only printed one side.

Takes forever to cut them out, especially if the originals have ragged edges.

[Forty Rod]

A lot of wives seem to lack a gene for a sense of humor, Frank.  Mine just tolerates me because I'm occassionally useful.    

[Yankee John]

That wallet looks very close to an original vintage wallet that my mother has.

She got it from a family friend (he passed away a couple years ago at the age of 92) whose grandfather brought it over from Sweden when he imigrated in the 1800's.  It has the date 1841 lightly hand-scratched on it.  I'll have to get some pics of it next time I visit.

FWIW,  She also had a coin purse with several 1800's-dated coins.  One that I remember was a old silver dollar-sized one called a "rigsdaler" (I spelled it wrong, I'm sure) dated 1798.  I don't know what ever happened to that purse & coins.

John

[Mogorilla]

I had access to a color laser printer.  It had the capability to print on both sides, check your printer, it may be able to do this as well.  Otherwise, I have practiced a little on the positioning, I used a landscape setting and put two fronts on one page.  It takes a little time to get the spacing.  Books had asked for the files, so I will begin posting the files here.  These are some I cleaned up and altered some serial numbers.  There is a trick to "cleaning" up the edges in paint,it takes patience, but what else is a guy to do on lunch hour.

Well, here is your first set, $250  in 1864 $50s.

[Mogorilla]

a $100 in 1864 20s

[Mogorilla]

Here is $50 in 1862 $10s.

[Mogorilla]

Here is $25 in 1861 $5s.

[Mogorilla]

Last but not least, $3

[Mogorilla]

I figure I will add the pattern for the wallet as well.

1.  Cut the pieces as shown in black. 
2.  Stitch Piece Z, the strap in the spot indicated in green dashes.
3.  Pieces marked x are tabs for the strap.  Sew these in the indicated blue marked area on the "outside of the wallet"
4.  Fold piece A to piece B.  the stitches will run on the outside edges as indicated by the solid blue line,  Stop when you get to the top of the folded piece. 
5.  Place Piece C in the spot indicated.  This will be ~1" above the top of the folded piece A-B.   Continue the stitches to hold the sides of C in place.
6.  Stitch the bottom of C. 
7.  Stuff with money and find a poker table (hint Don't play with a guy named Bret, Bart, or Beau.)

I used a saddle stitch on mine and ended up going all the way around, just to add some stiffness as the leather I used was fairly thin.  I also used Waxed linen thread from Tandy's, but I ended up trying to split the strands.  It seems as the thread could be separated into three strands, but still remained fairly thick.  I would probably try and buy some thinner thread and wax it myself next time around.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Wow!

Mogorilla, that's nice work.  Thanks for posting.

I printed up a number of bill fronts/backs from the US Mint site.  However, my technical expertise doesn't allow me to change (rearrange) serial numbers or print back to back.  So, I printed, pasted (with school glue), then cut out around the outside edge (to get both pieces aligned and the same shape - I LIKE the raggedy edges).  I haven't done this next idea yet, but for others who, like me, find that a double thickness bill is somewhat bulky, just take the finished bill to Kinkos, Office Despot, or similar place and have them print it on their color laser gee whiz double side printer.

[Forty Rod]

I have a question, Mo (or anyone else).  I can't print that out from the web and I had no luck cutting and pasting it.  Any suggestions?

BTW, I don't think Kinko's et al will print those for you.  I had trouble getting them to print copyrighted material from my own company.  They're really ginchy about it.

[Forty Rod]

Well, that works...one bill at a time.

Thanks.

[Mogorilla]

Glad to be of service.  An old buddy of mine is a graphic artist, a few years ago, he gave me a paint tutorial.  It takes patience. 

[Trinity]

Mogorilla, Thanks very much for posting this.  I printed some bills out, but think that they might be a tad small.  What dimensions did you use with yours?

[Mogorilla]

710 pixels by 309 pixels.  Works out to be about 7 1/8" by 3 3/8" I think.  The files should be the correct size, make sure your soft ware isn't sizing them.

[Trinity]

Your files are indeed 709 x 300 pixels.  Yes, I do believe the software is resizing them but they can be enlarged with no degradation.  Thanks, now that I know the sizes in inches, I'll go about making some money.


(Oh, I wish it were as easy as that just sounded.  )

[Mogorilla]

I am bring this back around since the Major is looking for script.

[Mogorilla]

I had read somewhere that in 1865, a full 1/3 of the money in circulation was counterfeit.   I believe banks and states were still "minting" there own during this era as well.