The Philadelphia Loan Company- 6 1/4 Cents
The U.S. government borrowed heavily to finance the War of 1812, which caused tremendous strain on the banks' reserves of specie (gold and silver), leading to a suspension of specie payments in 1814. The suspension of the obligation to back transactions with hard currency spurred the establishment of new banks and the expansion of bank note issues. This inflation of money encouraged unsustainable investments.
The Panic of 1837 was influenced by the economic policies of President Jackson. During his term, Jackson created the Specie Circular by executive order and refused to renew the charter of Second Bank of the United States, leading government funds to be withdrawn from the bank. Jackson was motivated by the concern that the government was selling land for state bank notes of questionable value and that the bank was issuing excessive paper money unbacked by specie reserves.
The Panic of 1837 was a financial crisis, or market correction, driven by speculative fever. Inflation became rampant after federal deposits to the Second Bank of the United States were withdrawn, based on the assumption that the government was selling land for state bank notes of questionable value. On May 10, 1837, every bank in New York City began to accept payment only in specie ("hard money" usually in the form of gold and silver coinage), forcing a dramatic, deflationary backlash. The Panic was followed by a five-year economic depression fraught with bank failure and unprecedented unemployment levels.
The Panic of 1837 was influenced by the economic policies of President Jackson. During his term, Jackson created the Specie Circular by executive order and refused to renew the charter of Second Bank of the United States, leading government funds to be withdrawn from the bank. Jackson was motivated by the concern that the government was selling land for state bank notes of questionable value and that the bank was issuing excessive paper money unbacked by specie reserves.
The Panic of 1837 was a financial crisis, or market correction, driven by speculative fever. Inflation became rampant after federal deposits to the Second Bank of the United States were withdrawn, based on the assumption that the government was selling land for state bank notes of questionable value. On May 10, 1837, every bank in New York City began to accept payment only in specie ("hard money" usually in the form of gold and silver coinage), forcing a dramatic, deflationary backlash. The Panic was followed by a five-year economic depression fraught with bank failure and unprecedented unemployment levels.
Artwork Details
- Title: The Philadelphia Loan Company- 6 1/4 Cents
- Engraver: Underwood, Bald, Spencer, & Hufty
- Date: 1837
- Medium: Engraving
- Dimensions: sheet: 2 1/2 x 6 5/16 in. (6.4 x 16 cm.)
- Classifications: Prints, Ephemera
- Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1951
- Object Number: 51.508.1(4)
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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Underwood, Bald, Spencer, & Hufty
1845
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1890–1896
Auguste Edouart
1842–44
David Lucas
John Constable
1830
Mary Cassatt
Monsieur LeRoy
1890–91
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