"Art. 14th. All notes given by said society, shall be signed by the Treasurer and Secretary thereof, and we the individual members of said firm, hereby hold ourselves bound for the redemption of all such notes." — Joseph Smith1
The Kirtland Safety Society began operations in early January 1837, issuing its own currency or form of paper money to facilitate business in northern Ohio and neighboring regions. The notes were printed by Underwood, Bald, Spencer & Hufty, with Oliver Cowdery orchestrating the production. The society briefly altered its issued notes by hand-stamping "ANTI" and "ING CO" into the name to reflect a name change to the Kirtland Safety Society Anti-Banking Company. This practice, however, was quickly abandoned due to critical public perception, notably from a Cleveland newspaper that said the changes were deceptive. The Safety Society ceased operations by August 1837.2
