La Disme

La Disme, also known as The Disme, was a private bank established in 1812 in New York City by Samuel B. Ruggles. It issued its own banknotes, which functioned as currency, and provided banking services at a time when the U.S. government was still developing a standardized national currency. The bank’s notes facilitated commerce and trade locally, but like many private banknotes of the era, they relied on the bank’s reputation for backing. La Disme reflects early American banking practices before the federal government assumed a central role in issuing currency.