Your Guide to Collecting Confederate Money
If you are a United States history buff, then you may want to start a collection of U.S. Confederate currency. You can fame this paper money to hang on your wall or put it in a special book with other Civil War memorabilia.
Types of Confederate moneyWhen you shop for Confederate currency on eBay, you can find a wide variety. Denominations range from 10 cents to $1,000. Since there was no organized money system in the South, banks and local governments each printed their own money. Most Confederate money was hand-signed with iron gall ink. This dark brown ink oxidized over time, causing it to bleed through to the back of the note. While printers sometimes used stamps to number bills, the treasurer had to sign each note. Most printers used rice paper, except in Texas, where some printers used papaya paper. Each note was hand cut with scissors.
What are common features of Montgomery bills?Montgomery bills were first issued in 1861, and the Confederate government continued to release them until 1864. Most notes were hand-signed by Alex B. Clitherall, Register, and E.C. Elmore, Treasurer. They have the likeness of John C. Calhoun on the left and Andrew Jackson on the right. Printers used rice paper. They only printed 607 $1,000 notes and produced others in minimal quantities.
Who were some of the printers of Confederate States banknotes?Many different organizations printed banknotes, but the government officially recognized certain printers, including:
- American Bank Note Company: This company operated as National Bank Note Company and Southern Bank Note Company. They printed the first confederate money while still printing money for the U.S. government.
- Hoyer & Ludwig: Located in Richmond, Va., this company printed over 670,000 notes in five different denominations. They printed all Criswell T-46 bills, and if you look closely, the name Ludwig is in tiny letters under the image of the cotton bales on this note.
- Jules Manouvrier: A prominent New Orleans lithographer, he was licensed to print $10 notes. His quality was poor, so the government quickly canceled his contract. Since he printed very few, these bills are some of the rarest Confederate currency.
- Leggett, Keatinge & Ball: This company became known as Keatinge & Ball after Leggett was discovered to be a Union spy.
- Blanton Duncan: While he printed numerous types of notes, his $10 note is most widely known. It features a sweet potato dinner in the middle and has the likeness of Robert M.T. Hunter on its front.