Just last week we discussed San Francisco's Emperor Norton and his rare scrip
notes. On September 25, 2014 Jennifer Meers of Stack's Bowers published a blog article on the
Emperor illustrating his rare scrip notes. -Editor
When the going gets tough, the tough declare themselves Emperor. Or so it seems for Joshua
Abraham Norton, who on September 17, 1859, published the following declaration in the San Francisco
Evening Bulletin:
“At the peremptory request and desire of a large majority of citizens of these United States, I,
Joshua Norton, formerly of Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, and now for the last nine years and ten
months past of San Francisco, California, declare and proclaim myself the Emperor of these United
States.”
Norton was born in London in 1818, but lived from babyhood through his late twenties in Cape
Town, South Africa. By 1849, when he learned of the discovery of gold in California, he was already
in business for himself and had received a comfortable inheritance from his parents. By November of
that year (in time to be a true Forty-Niner) he had arrived in San Francisco and quickly made
somewhat of a success of himself as a commission merchant. He bought real estate, operated the
first cigar factory, and opened the first rice mill in the city. An unsuccessful attempt to corner
the market on rice, as well as downturns in the local economy led him to bankruptcy (and very
possibly dementia) in 1858, less than a decade after his arrival in the city.
However, it was only a year later that Norton reappeared on the scene in his new role as
imperial leader, becoming a prime tourist attraction and generally endearing himself to residents
of and visitors to San Francisco. He issued regular pronouncements and decrees calling for, among
other things, abolishing the Congress of the United States, by force of the U.S. Army if necessary.
As Emperor, he issued paper money “bonds” in denominations from 50¢ to $100, which he used as
currency (generally accepted) in the local economy.
After 20 years, on January 8, 1880, Emperor Norton’s reign came to an end when he collapsed on a
downtown San Francisco corner. His obituary was printed on the front pages of local newspapers and
it is said that over 30,000 people attended his funeral.
While most of the “bonds” issued by Emperor Norton are long gone, it is believed that 25 to 35
remain in collectors’ hands. It is a rare occasion when we offer one for sale, however we do note
that we offered the three examples shown here in a single sale. That was the John J. Ford, Jr.
Collection, Part XX, which we sold in October 2007.
To read the complete article, see:
“The Emperor of these United States” (www.stacksbowers.com/NewsMedia/Blogs/TabId/780/ArtMID/
2678/ArticleID/64757/%E2%80%9CThe-Emperor-of-these
-United-States%E2%80%9D.aspx)
Wayne Homren, Editor
The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization
promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.
To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor
at this address: whomren@gmail.com
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