However, many of these were done by scribes and it is impossible to determine which notes carry a genuine signature. Some of these notes were signed by Joseph Smith Jr., the founder of Mormonism and the LDS movement. Only a small amount of notes were changed and it was only done to the $1, $2 and $3 banknotes, not the higher denominations. They eventually modified the notes by changing the bank title to “Kirtland Safety Society Anti-Banking Co.” as well as blocking out the titles “Cashier” and “President” and replacing them with “Secretary” and “Treasurer.” This was an attempt to differentiate the institution from a bank as it had no legal charter to operate.

This did not stop the Mormons as they came up with an interesting plan. Ohio, Kirtland, $3 1837 Kirtland Safety Society Bank, 'Anti-Banking Note' However, Ohio denied their charter due to lack of capital. After gathering the plates and printing a significant sum of banknotes the Kirtland Safety Society Bank applied for a charter from the state of Ohio. The number of banks increased with the demand for credit throughout the US. This was a time when hundreds of banks, both legitimate and not, had sprung up. In 1836 many Mormons had resettled to Kirtland, Ohio from the east coast. The issuance of Mormon currency began shortly after the founding of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1830. The following are some examples of the different types of currency printed by Mormons throughout their history. Today, some of this currency is quite rare and can fetch a decent price at auction. They reveal the oppression many of the followers faced and the innovation they showed in trying to expand throughout the United States. Currency printed by followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS), or Mormons, give a snapshot into the tumultuous years after the founding of the LDS Church. Within the banknote collecting universe, there is a group of notes that garners a relatively large amount of interest.

Utah bank note