The Confederate States of America issued
a total of seven issues of currency during its existance beginning
with the Act of March 9th, 1861 and ending with the Act of February
17th, 1864. The first notes were issued through the Confederacy's
original capital of Montgomery, Alabama and these notes are
considered extremely rare. Once the state of Virginia seceded and
joined the Confederacy, the capital was moved to Richmond in May
1861. All 2nd thru 7th Issue notes were issued through
Richmond.
1861 Confederate $20 note featuring a sailing ship. Although the signatures appear to be in black ink, when examined under good light they are the correct brown ink color.
1861 Confederate $50 note featuring the
allegorical figure of Tellus on the left hand side of the note and
the central vignette of George Washington.
Third Issue Notes - September 2,
1861
1861 Confederate $5 note featuring the
allegorical figure of Ceres seated on a bale of
cotton
1861 Confederate $10 note featuring the
allegorical figure of Ceres holding an urn with Commerce seated
next to her.
1861 Confederate $10 note featuring a slave
picking cotton.
Confederate $10 note featuring the
allegorical figure of Ceres reclining on cotton bales with the
portrait of Confederate lawmaker R.M.T. Hunter in the lower right
corner. This note is a September 2, 1861 issue although it is
mis-dated September 2, 1862.
1861 Confederate $10 note featuring the
picture of a child along with the portrait of Confederate
congressman R.M.T. Hunter. Ironically, the child was no other than
Alfred L. Elywyn, who later grew up and became an abolitionist
minister in Philadelphia.
1861 Confederate $10 note featuring the
allegorical figure of Hope with an anchor, along with the portraits
of Confederates R.M.T. Hunter and C.G. Memminger
1861 Confederate $10 note featuring the
allegorical figure of Hope with an anchor, along with the portraits
of Confederates R.M.T. Hunter and C.G. Memminger. Same as the
previous note except for the X--X red overprint.
1861 Confederate $10 note featuring the
American Revolutionary War General Marion's "Sweet Potato Dinner"
along with the portrait of Confederate lawmaker R.M.T.
Hunter
1861 Confederate $20 note featuring the
allegorical figure of Industry between Cupid and a beehive, along
with the portrait of Confederate Vice-President Alexander
Stephens
1861 Confederate $20 note featuring a
sailing ship and sailor at the capstan
1861 Confederate $50 note featuring the
picture of Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederate States
of America. This note was produced on paper imported from England
and bears the C.S.A. watermark when held up to a light
source.
Fourth Issue Notes - Authorized by the
Act of April 17, 1862
1862 Confederate $1 note featuring Miss
Liberty on the left, a sailing steamship, and a picture of Lucy
Pickens, wife of South Carolina's governor on the right
side.
1862 Confederate $2 note featuring an
allegorical representation of the South striking down the Union.
Upper left picture is that of Judah P. Benjamin, Confederate
cabinet member.
1862 Confederate $100 note featuring a train
and maid carrying a bucket of milk
Fifth Issue Notes - December 2,
1862
1862 $1 Confederate note featuring the
portrait of Clement C. Clay, Confederate congressman from
Alabama.
1862 $2 Confederate note featuring the
portrait of Judah Benjamin, Confederate cabinet member.
1862 Confederate $10 Note featuring the
State Capitol at Columbia, South Carolina and a picture of R. M. T.
Hunter, member of the Confederate cabinet.
1862 Confederate $20 Note featuring the
State Capitol at Nashville, Tennessee and a picture of Alexander
Stephens, Confederate Vice-President.
Sixth Issue Notes - April 6,
1863
All 1863 issued Confederate notes except the 50 cent, the $1 and the $2 note carry a red date stamp. This was the Confederacy's attempt to encourage its citizens to convert these notes into 6 percent interest bearing bonds within 12 months of the date stamp. Upon conversion the note was cancelled by cutting through it with a sharp instrument or by cutting out triangular or semi-circular pieces. Failure to redeem these notes within 12 months meant that they would only be payable with no interest 2 years after a treaty of peace was ratified between the Confederate States and the United States. For this reason, many 1863 issued notes are found with cancellation cuts.
1863 50 Cent Confederate Fractional Currency
with the bust of CSA President Jefferson Davis. The 1863 and 1864
50 Cent fractionals were the only notes issued by the Confederate
States of America that had stamped signatures.
$1 Confederate note featuring the portrait
of Clement C. Clay, Confederate congressman from
Alabama.
$2 Confederate note featuring the portrait
of Judah Benjamin, Confederate cabinet member.
$5 Confederate note issued in July 1863
featuring the Richmond, Virginia State Capitol building along with
the portrait of C. G. Memminger, Confederate Treasury
Secretary
$10 Confederate note from 1863 featuring the
South Carolina State Capitol building along with portrait R. M. T.
Hunter, Confederate cabinet member
$20 Confederate note issued in April 1863
featuring the State Capitol at Nashville, Tennessee and a picture of Alexander Stephens, Confederate Vice-President.
$50 Confederate note from 1863 featuring the
picture of Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederate States
of America
$100 Confederate note from 1863 featuring
the picture of Lucy Pickens, the wife of the South Carolina
governor, along with pictures of George W. Randolph and two
soldiers
Seventh Issue Notes - February 17,
1864
1864 50 Cent Confederate Fractional Currency
with the bust of CSA President Jefferson Davis
$1 Confederate note from 1864 featuring the
Confederate congressman from Alabama, Clement C.
Clay
$2 Confederate note from 1864 featuring
Judah P. Benjamin, a member of the Confederate
cabinet
$5 Confederate note from 1864 also known as
the "Lincoln assassination note" because one of these notes were
found in Lincoln's wallet immediately after his assassination on
April 14, 1865
$10 Confederate States of America Note from
1864
$20 Confederate note from 1864 featuring the picture
of Alexander Stephens, the Vice-President of the Confederate States
of America
$50 Confederate note from 1864 featuring the picture
of Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederate States of
America
$100 Confederate note from 1864 featuring
the picture of Lucy Pickens, the wife of the South Carolina
governor, along with portraits of George W. Randolph and two
soldiers
1864 Confederate $500 note featuring the
portrait of General "Stonewall" Jackson
