Republic of Nicaragua

Date

1856

Location

New Orleans, Louisiana; Nicaragua

Amount

$500

Signatures

  • L.M. Ch—ton
  • Mason Pi—
  • S.F. Slatter

Description

This stock certificate (No. 128) represents $500 for the Republic of Nicaragua. William Walker, an American self-made President of Nicaragua and infamous character in American history money scandals, participated in selling such bonds to build the newly-formed country’s infrastructure in the mid-1800s.

Notable Bond Imagery

At the top center, a bald eagle perches on a sword and a bay laurel. A ship, city, and train are seen in the background. At the bottom are 20 Interest Warrants. On the bottom left is the official seal of the Republic of Nicaragua.

Certificate with black ink shows intricate borders, lettering, signatures, and vignettes of an eagle, ship, city, and train
The bottom of the certificate shows 20 interest warrant coupons which provide legal language including spacing for dates, amounts, and signatures
Transcription 
						The Republic of Nicaragua stock certificate reads:
$500 
Republic of Nicaragua
No. 128

Know all men by these Presents, that the Republic of Nicaragua is indebted to the Bearer hereof in the sum of Five Hundred Dollars, for value received, which that said Republic promises to pay at the Bank of Louisiana in the City of New Orleans in Gold or Silver Coin, or their equivalent in other currencies in twenty years from the date hereof and also to pay an Interest thereon at the rate of Six per centum per annum, payable at the Bank aforesaid, at the end of each and every year upon delivery of the Warrants in the margin hereof.

This Bond is transferable by delivery and the holder shall have the right to give it in payment at par, for one half of the amount he may owe the Government for any Customs, dues, taxes or local contributions which may be laid or levied by the Republic of Nicaragua.

In Witness Whereof, the Agents (Commissariat) of the said Republic of Nicaragua sign these Presents with their Secretary who countersigns the same and affixes hereto the Seal of the said Republic in pursuance of a Decree of said Republic, dated on the 28th day of August AD 1856 duly deposited and recorded in the Office of Wm Christy Notary Public in the City of New Orleans the 28th day of October 1856
Done at New Orleans this 1st day of November 1856
Signed by Agents (illegible) and S. F. Slattev
Signed by the Secretary (illegible)
Mey & Simon Lith. N. Orleans

The aforementioned Interest Warrants at the bottom of the certificate read:
$30. Republic of Nicaragua $30.
Government Bond No 128 for $500. Interest Warrant for Thirty Dollars payable at the Bank of Louisiana N.O. on the 1st day of November 1857 - 1876 (depending on warrant) fixed
Signed by the Secretary (illegible)

Accession No:

2017.002.081