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20 Dollars American Express Travelers Cheque
| Issuer | American Express Company |
|---|---|
| Year | 19__ |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Dollar (1785-date) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | U.S. DOLLAR TRAVELERS CHEQUE AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY AT ITS PAYING AGENCIES Pay this Cheque from our Balance to the Order of BEFORE CASHING WRITE HERE CITY AND DATE WHEN COUNTERSIGNED BELOW WITH THIS SIGNATURE IN UNITED STATES TWENTY DOLLARS IN ALL OTHER COUNTRIES AT CURRENT BUYING RATE FOR BANKERS CHEQUES ON NEW YORK COUNTERSIGN HERE IN PRESENCE OF PERSON CASHING REDEEMABLE ONLY AT THE COMPANY'S OFFICES AND BANKERS IN UNITED STATES AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY TREASURER $20.00 |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | 20 TWENTY |
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| Comments |
American Express invented the travelers cheque format in 1891 — a direct response to the difficulty James Fargo experienced cashing personal letters of credit in Europe. The system required the purchaser's countersignature at point of sale and again at point of redemption, a fraud-deterrent mechanism that proved remarkably durable and was widely imitated by competitors for decades.
American Bank Note Company held the printing contract through much of the twentieth century, producing these on cotton stock engineered to survive rough handling, humidity, and the inside of a passport wallet for years at a stretch. The undated "19__" format indicates pre-filled stock held in inventory before final completion at point of sale.