2018-11-17 Sat

Duplicity and propaganda had been around since ancient times. One can use many things for the propaganda, but the most brilliant way to convey one message it to use a medium that used by people on a daily bases. That can be transferred without any kind of problem and this can only be executed by using paper money, it is a most favoured way to communication and a vehicle of propaganda also called Propaganda Banknotes. It’s a less obvious mode to propagate thoughts using direct, sarcastic and funny ways to communicate, convey the message, spread rumour or initiate notion.

In the above-shown image, the banknote created in 1775 was issued by the United Colonies, its design illustrated a bloody hand impaled upon a thorn bush on the 5 dollar bill. The hand represented Britain and the bush the American colonies and Latin motto, reads, “Put up with me or leave me alone”. It was designed by Benjamin Franklin.

The anti-British segment of this note expressed as the revolutionary propaganda. It was just the start, this note express the notion of liberty in quite a mild way and message is written in Latin. As the fever of the revolution increase, the message became more direct.

Image Courtesy: THE USE OF BANK NOTES AS AN INSTRUMENT OF PROPAGANDA by John E. Sandrock