Die Proof Vignette, “America, Trade”, by The American Bank Note Co.

This intaglio die proof, printed by the American Bank Note Company on thin India paper die sunk on card, features a classically rendered allegorical female figure, often identifying as Columbia or a representation of America. The figure is shown in a statuesque pose, holding a bundle of wheat to symbolize agricultural abundance, while leaning against a shield with stars and stripes. She is surrounded by a rich array of nationalistic and industrial iconography: a fasces topped with a Phrygian cap signifying authority and liberty, a plow and a cornucopia representing fertility and labor, and a military helmet and sword resting at her feet. In the background, a sailing ship on the water alludes to maritime trade and exploration, a common motif in mid-19th-century banknote vignettes designed to highlight the country’s growing prosperity.