Citizens' Bank of Louisiana
$5.00 · Shreveport, Louisiana
Color Scheme
Obverse:black ink on cream/buff security paper, with denomination markings and a large central number “5” printed in anti-offset green ink.
Reverse:full security print in deep red/orange ink, an iconic design that directly influenced Louisiana monetary culture.
Vignettes and Images of the Obverse
- Center:two allegorical female figures seated on agricultural products (bundles and baskets), representing commerce and abundance; In the background, to the left, you can see the chimney of a textile factory.
- Left side:an oval medallion with the portrait of a period gentleman in a suit and bow tie (typically a dignitary or director of the institution).
- Right side:an oval medallion with the portrait of a young woman, with delicate flowers adorning her hair.
- Upper corners:two identical green rosettes with the word “FIVE” crossing a stylized number “5”.
Reverse Images
It features a large red ornamental guilloché design centered on the openwork denomination “FIVE”, flanked by three circular counters bearing the number “5”.
Bilingualism and Texts
The bill stands out for reflecting the cultural and linguistic heritage of Louisiana:
- Obverse (in English): “Citizens' Bank of Louisiana at Shreveport… Will pay FIVE DOLLARS to bearer on demand.”Includes printing patent “Patented 30 June 1857”.
- Reverse (in French):occupying the entire design it reads “BANQUE DES CITOYENS DE LA LOUISIANE — SHREVEPORT”.
Signatures and Security
- Signatures:being a style ticketremainderhigh quality preserved on file, the lines for the Cashier's handwritten signatures (Cashier) and the President (President) are blank.
- Printer:American Bank Note Company, engraved in the lower left corner of the obverse — evidence of the use of the most advanced steel engraving technologies of the time.
The Citizens' Bank of Louisiana (originally founded in New Orleans in 1833) went on to become one of the most powerful and influential financial institutions in the southern United States. Its bilingual bills—with the characteristic French reverse printed in red ink—are historically famous: the French pronunciation of the word “Dix” (ten) on its $10 bills issued in New Orleans gave rise to the famous term “Dixieland” to refer to the states of the south. This variant, issued at the Shreveport branch in 1860, is a testament to the cotton trade boom just before the start of the Secession.
— Historical Context Note
Sources
- Haxby, James A.Standard Catalog of United States Obsolete Bank Notes, 1782–1866.
- Heritage Auctions —ha.com(opens in a new tab)
- Numista —numista.com(opens in a new tab)