counterfeiter's slang again

[Dave Hause]

With a claim of ignorance of 19th century parlance, it strikes me that "300
queers" seems more likely to mean "300 countefeit bills" than "300
counterfeit dollars" as $1 bills, at least currently, are a curiosity rather
than a practical denomination to pass.
Dave Hause, dwhause at jobe.net
Ft. Leonard Wood, MO
----- Original Message -----
From: "George Thompson" <george.thompson at NYU.EDU>


        "N. York, Aug.
                "Rec'd of the Old Man, 300 queers.
                "6th Shoved -- -- 5
                "8th Shoved -- -- 10"
        Hays, who was called on to assist in explaining the novel lingo,
said, that by queer, among the fraternity, was meant counterfeit money, and
the same as cogniac.  300 queers, or cogniac, would therefore read, in
English, 300 dollars.