The E-Sylum:  Volume 5, Number 2, January 13, 2002, Article 14

FEATURED WEB SITE

  This week's featured web site is devoted to Emperor Norton
  (1819-1880), the famous San Francisco resident who issued
  the first of his proclamations on September 17, 1859,
  declaring himself the Emperor of the United States.  Joshua
  Norton, a failed businessman, having lost his fortune, appeared
  to have lost his mind as well.  Living in a cheap rooming house
  and scrounging meals, he donned an old uniform and walked
  around like, well, an Emperor.  The townsfolk humored him,
  and after the local papers published his proclamation as a
  humorous filler, he gained a local following.  Joining in the fun,
  shopkeepers treated him royally, and theater companies
  reserved a seat for him on opening night.

  "He continued to make proclamations throughout his reign.
  These included commanding that the Golden Gate bridge be
  built and one about the name of the city,  "Whoever after due
  and proper warning shall be heard to utter the abdominal
  word 'Frisco,' which has no linguistic or other warrant, shall
  be deemed guilty of a High Misdemeanor." Penalty for
  noncompliance was $25.  Newspapers of the day printed
  his proclamations (and even made some up which were not
  from Norton!)"

  It being only fitting that an Emperor should have his
  face on money, Norton had a printer produce certificates
  for bonds of  "The Imperial Government of Norton I"
  Most are in the denomination of fifty cents.  Upon
  accepting said sum from passers by or tourists, Norton
  wound sign the bonds with great ceremony and hand them
  over.  While payable at some date on the future, it is not
  known if any were ever actually redeemed.   The notes today
  are rare.  The web site has a page illustrating Norton notes
  from the Wells Fargo History Museum collection.

  http://www.zpub.com/sf/history/nort.html


 Wayne Homren
 Numismatic Bibliomania Society

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  Wayne Homren, Editor

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