Very rare long-form $50 Second Liberty Loan Converted Bond issued May 9, 1918, with 36 coupons remaining. This 24-year long coupon bond carried a 4.25% interest rate, which was a conversion from the 4% Second Liberty Loan. The certificate features a portrait of Thomas Jefferson engraved by Charles Burt and bears the facsimile signatures of the Secretary of the Treasury and the Register of the Treasury. Though the series had an original issuance of $3.8 billion, only about twelve examples are known. In fine condition.
Liberty bonds were issued in several series by the United States Treasury between 1917 and 1919 to finance America's participation in World War I. Subscribing to the bonds became a symbol of patriotic duty in the United States and introduced the idea of financial securities to many citizens for the first time. Many iconic posters were released to encourage participation in the liberty loan campaigns, and movie stars hosted bond rallies to gather publicity for the bonds.
