Banknote motif: a circular lathe work design composed out of the repetition of the words "Five thousand dollars" 1819 - 1847

This octagonal paper sheet featuring a lathe work design was created by Cyrus Durand in 19th-century America. It's a banknote motif intended to prevent forgery through intricate, repetitive patterns. The design speaks to the economic anxieties of a rapidly industrializing nation. The endless repetition of "Five Thousand Dollars" creates a visual mantra, almost desperately invoking wealth and stability. The very act of meticulously crafting such a design highlights the contemporary obsession with authenticating value in an age of increasing financial complexity. Institutional records from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing can tell us more about the specific methods used to create this image and the cultural values it represents. This motif encapsulates America's hopes and anxieties tied to its burgeoning financial systems.