- Title: "Black Star Note"
- Author: Republic of Texas
- Date: 1837
- Medium: Original certificate
- Condition: Very Good - uniform age toning, previous hinging or glue on verso. Minimal paper loss, expertly repaired.
- Inches: 7 3/8 x 4 1/4 [Paper]
- Centimeters: 18.73 x 10.79 [Paper]
- Product ID: 308528
Very Rare, "Black Star Note"
This certificate gained the nickname of "Black Star Note" because of the prominent black five-pointed star printed in the center of the upper part of the note’s face. This design element was distinctive and easily recognizable, leading people at the time to refer to these Republic of Texas currency certificates as "black star notes." The star symbol not only served as an anti-counterfeiting device but also reflected the Lone Star symbolism that was central to Texas's identity and independence during the Republic era.
The payment is to be drawn from funds appropriated for military compensation, exemplifying how the Republic of Texas rewarded its soldiers during and after the Texas Revolution. The printed text specifies that the certificate is transferable by endorsement, meaning it could legally change hands as a form of negotiable security.
This historical document is a payment certificate issued by the Republic of Texas on February 6, 1837, in Columbia, then the capital of the fledgling nation. The certificate prominently features the title “THIS CERTIFICATE” above a bold central five-pointed star, and is clearly marked “REPUBLIC OF TEXAS.” Below, the certificate entitles the bearer—specifically, “Wm G. Poindexter”—to a bounty of one hundred dollars for “services in the Texian Army.”
Documents like these are rare and significant, serving as both financial instruments and historical records. They reflect the urgent fiscal needs of the Texas government and stand as tangible connections to the Republic’s efforts to support and incentivize its military during a critical era in Texas history.
This is not a typical currency note, but rather a bounty certificate, a kind of promissory note given to military servicemen for their contributions. Such artifacts are highly valued by historians and collectors, representing early Texas financial and military history.