Lazy Deuces harken back to the time of the War Between the States. Since First Charter Lazy Deuces of the Original Series and Series of 1865 are the only notes of this denomination of large size nationals, these tilted twos are a significant type note. Also, no small size $2 nationals were issued, so these notes are a denominational type as well.
National Currency was introduced to marshall resources of the northern financial machine behind the war effort to suppress the Southern Rebellion. Prior to this time our federal government struck and regulated the value of coinage, but left the field of paper money circulation in the hands of the states. Each individual state chartered or otherwise regulated banking corporations having circulation privileges.
It is claimed by some that this system of state-regulated bank note issue was fraught with misadventure. However this view is changing due to a new revisionist economic synthesis among historians and economists who have reread the data and challenged assumptions of earlier writers. Approximately 1,600 state banks were in business on the eve of the Civil War with a circulation of about $200 million.
The Lazy Deuce horizontal numeral "2" is actually a remnant of those halcyon days of state banking. One of the major problems of that era was raising the value on bank notes. A countermeasure was to print an oversize horizontal 2, or 3, or 5, etc. across the face of a note to foil alterations of its face value.
Tim Prusmack (1962–2004) was an American artist. He specialized in pen-and-ink drawings of U.S. currency.
His art work was so unique that it earned him the title of the "Mozart of Money Art". Several bank notes that were privately commissioned by such countries as Ireland (i.e. the beautiful "Irish Note") are not available in the United States. One piece of art took him weeks and even months of intensive work in which he drove himself for perfection.
As a young child Tim Prusmack started coin collecting and his skill in art and love of history fused perfectly in his "money art". Before starting a piece of money art, Prusmack would study the portraits of the people he would draw and read about their lives extensively. He claimed this gave him "insight into their point of view" and assisted Prusmack in drawing "the look in their eyes".
Death and legacy:
Just before his death, Prusmack was wanted for the coveted and unique position as a money designer for the U.S. Bureau of Printing and Engraving. Just before the surgery that resulted in his death, he eagerly looked forward to this role. Prusmack's legacy to the art world and numismatic world is unique. In addition, Prusmack created beautiful cover art and posters for many numismatic organization. He supported youth in numismatic activities.
Clean all around with sharp corners and fascinating color. So look at the scans, check our 100% positive feedback and add this EnlighteningGlorious note to your currency portfolio.
