Publisher's blurb:
In the United States, bearer bonds were first introduced in the late 1800s, to fund Reconstruction during the post-Civil War era. They were instantly popular, since they are easily transferred and millions of dollars were issued using relatively few certificates, simplifying transactions.
This system agnostic list of 100 bearer bonds (and their attached coupons) will let you add this kind of wealth to any Roaring 20’s / Gangster setting. How they work: Bonds are a debt vehicle to help a company or government raise capital. Anyone with the money was able to buy a bearer bond, and unlike other bonds, their ownership was anonymous (like cash). Coupons are included so that they can be redeemed at preset interest rates on an annual basis. The bond itself can be turned in for cash at any time, but any coupons that haven’t matured are worthless. There is no legal recourse if the bearer bond or coupons is lost, stolen or destroyed (like cash). This list assumes that these were issued by the US government, but the GM can decide another company or nation authorized any bearer bond to raise capital. If the company or nation collapses, then the bonds are worthless.