Original Item: Only One Available. During World War I, US government bonds came in three major varieties: discount, registered and bearer coupon. A discount bond made a single payment of its face value to the bearer on its maturity date. Such bonds initially sold for something less than their face value, hence their name. The interest earned was the difference between the purchase price and the face value. Most discount bonds were short-term.

A registered bond, by contrast, credited periodic interest payments to the account of the registered owner and repaid its face value upon its maturity, years or decades after its issuance. Registration of ownership reduced the chance of loss from theft or loss but made the bonds less easily saleable (liquid).

A bearer coupon bond, by contrast, could be easily and cheaply transferred to a new owner. Interest payments were collected by the holder by clipping and remitting a coupon, like those pictured, when the interest fell due. In June 1930, for example, the bondholder could exchange the bottom right coupon for 88 cents. Like a registered bond, a coupon bond repaid its face value on its maturity date, but due to their bearer nature were more at risk of physical loss.

High levels of inflation during and after the war ate away much of the purchasing power of the bonds. In addition, the US government technically defaulted on many Liberty Bonds, which promised payment of interest and principal in gold, after Franklin D. Roosevelt devalued the dollar from $20.67 to $35.00 per ounce of gold in 1933.

This design was originally used as a US Army recruitment poster titled “Columbia Calls” in 1917. Frances Adams Halsted designed the original image and Vincente Aderente painted the image that she wanted. Convinced that war with Germany was inevitable, Frances Adams Halsted wrote her poem, Columbia Calls, in 1916. After America entered the war on April 6, 1917, Halsted donated both her poem and accompanying image design to the U.S. War Department. Three months later, the New York Times announced plans to print 500,000 copies as a poster, intending to use the proceeds to establish a home for orphaned children of American soldiers and sailors. Painter Vincent Aderente, who executed Halsted's design, had emigrated from Italy at age six, studied at the Art Students League in New York City, and served as an assistant to muralist Edwin Howland Blashfield.

With an image so popular it was recycled into many uses, one of which was for advertising for investing in US Government Bonds. The poster itself features Lady Liberty holding up her torch in her left hand while holding a document in her right titled as being for Liberty Loans. She stands atop a globe which is flanked on both sides with the American flag and Bald Eagle with wings spread in the center.

The text featured at the bottom is as follows:

SHE DOES NOT ASK FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
SHE ASKS YOU TO INVEST YOUR MONEY AT 4%
IN U.S. GOVERNMENT BONDS

The overall condition is near perfect save for some minor age toning. There is no extensive damage present with minimal wear and absolutely no creases or folds. This 14”W x 21”H poster is in ideal condition and would look pristine paired with a nice mat border and frame!

Comes more than ready to be framed and displayed!