SET OF THREE BILLS- MATCHING SERIAL NUMBERS

5 CENT, 25 CENT, 1 DOLLAR MANHASSET EMERGENCY EXCHANGE BILL SET WITH MATCHING SERIAL NUMBERS OF 109 - VERY RARE.

The Front of the Bills read:

Manhasset Emergency Exchange

Organized by Rev. Oscar Maddaus and Committee

"Hard are the times - but we fight on!"

Manhasset, Long Island, A.D. 1933

Equivalent of Five Cents, Twenty Five Cents, or One Dollar in Trade or Services Rendered

The back of the bills read:

Design by

PETER RODYENKO

Interior - Architect

Printed by

"Manhasset Mail"

Manhasset, L.I.

What is very interesting about this depression era exchange was that in the local area it was as good as the U.S. dollar.  It came in denominations of $1.00, $.25, and $.05.  The Manhasset Mail was the weekly newspaper of Manhasset which was in circulation from July 1927 through December 1986 and printed the exchange notes.  Peter Rodyenko was a Russian Military Officer who had settled in Suffolk County L.I.  He would later use his interior decorating talents as a leading camouflage expert for the U.S. Army in WWII, author of Field Artillery Journals for the Army, inventor, author, and show stage director.  Rev. Maddaus was my grandfather and I can say that I have read some very comical notes on how these exchange notes were used within families:)

THESE NOTES ARE LIVING TESTAMENT TO THE INGENUITY OF THE AMERICAN SPIRIT TO OVERCOME WHATEVER OBSTACLES ARE PLACED IN FRONT.  WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULDN'T HELP, THE AVERAGE CITIZEN COULD!!!

Thanks for Looking and Happy Bidding!!