All 10 coupons attached. See Photo for details. This document is in very fine condition with some toning. As with virtually all Texas financial documents of this era, this piece was heavily cut cancelled upon redemption. This document, issued by the “Republic of Texas”, is collected and listed as a Texas bond, though the document itself states that it is a “Certificate of Stock in the ten per cent consolidated fund”. Mercury was a Roman god generally associated with trade, profit and commerce, hence his depiction with the sailor in the vignette. Flanking this are two rectangular boxes surmounted by the denomination, while above and below are the issuing authority and the financial obligation respectively. Along the left hand edge is a second vignette, enclosed in a circle, featuring a standing female figure, again classically attired, with her arm around an eagle with outstretched wings. Though not stated, this vignette may possibly symbolize the Republic of Texas (represented by the female figure) embracing the United States (represented by the eagle). The right hand edge is dominated by a large rectangle with the denomination printed within, while each of the four corners features the denomination within a geometric design. At the lower center is a large five-pointed star (representing the “Lone Star Republic”), flanked by the signatures of “J W Simmons”as “Comptroller” and “Charles De Morse” as”Stock Commr”. James Wright Simmons was born in Charleston, South Carolina about 1790 and was educated at Harvard University. He served as comptroller of the Republic of Texas from 1839 to 1840, and then as treasurer from 1840 until November, 1841. During his lifetime he published at least three volumes of poetry, the last one in 1852. Wright died sometime in 1858. Charles DeMorse was born in Leicester, Massachusetts in 1816, moved to Texas in the 1830’s to assist in their fight for independence, and was stock commissioner under President Mirabeau B. He founded the Clarksville Northern Standard in 1842 and remained its publisher and editor until his death. During the Civil War, DeMorse organized and served as colonel of the 29th Texas Cavalry, a unit that fought in Arkansas and the Indian Territory. He was the commanding officer of the force at the battle of Poison Springs, near Camden, Arkansas, where an attempted Union advance was repulsed. Following the war, DeMorse was active in state politics, helped organize the Texas Veterans Association, and was named one of the directors of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now Texas A & M University). Charles DeMorse died on October 25, 1887. Immediately above DeMorse’s signature is the hand written date of issue (“June 15th 1840″), as well as the pre-printed city of issue (“Austin”). A thin rectangular border encloses the principal instrument, neatly separating it from the ten attached interest coupons. Each of these coupons is hand numbered, hand dated, and bears the signature of Charles DeMorse. The item “1840 Republic of Texas, Austin $500 Consolidated Fund Stock Certificate” is in sale since Monday, August 29, 2016. This item is in the category “Coins & Paper Money\Stocks & Bonds, Scripophily\Financial Institutions”. The seller is “wkemersh” and is located in Santee, California. This item can be shipped to United States, to Canada, to United Kingdom, DK, RO, SK, BG, CZ, FI, HU, LV, LT, MT, EE, to Australia, GR, PT, CY, SI, SE, ID, TH, to Belgium, to France, to Hong Kong, to Ireland, to Netherlands, PL, to Spain, to Italy, to Germany, to Austria, to New Zealand, SG, NO, SA, UA, AE, QA, BH, HR, MY, CO, CR, PA, TT, GT, HN.
- Circulated/Uncirculated: Circulated
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States