The New Fifty-Cent Note

The plates for the new fifty cent note have been prepared at the bureau of engraving and printing of the treasury department, and the work of printing the new notes will be commenced next week, though it will probably be ten days before the note will be issued to the public.

The new note will be about a quarter of an inch shorter than that now in circulation, and a quarter of an inch wider, its dimension being three-quarters of an inch long by two inches wide. On the face of the note on the left hand side is a vignette head of Samuel Dexter, who was secretary of the treasury in 1801, and had formerly been governor of the state of Massachusetts. On the right of the note is a section of geometrical lathe work, with the words "fifty cents" in white letters engraved in the face. The lettering on the note is the same as the present issue, with the exception of the words "receivable for all United States stamps" at the bottom of the old note, which are omitted on the new one. The seal is printed in the centre of the face and is enclosed in cycloidal work, a new feature upon fractional currency. The back of the note, which will be printed in New York, will be in green; it is made up of geometrical lathe work, and crosses on the right hand corner. The word "cent" found on the old note is omitted, and the number 50 takes its place. The date of the passage of the act authorizing the issue is omitted from the back. On the left side is an [...] to show the fibre of the paper, and it will not be shown on the face such as on the old note. The new note, of course, will take the place of the one now in circulation, as the present issue has been counterfeited, although not to a great extent.