Southern State Issued
Currency of Missouri During the Civil War
Missouri is somewhat unique among the
states involved in the Civil War. She had two state
governments...one Confederate and one Union...who sent
representatives to both the U.S. Congress and Confederate States of
America Congress. Missouri initially proclaimed neutrality while
the other Southern States were seceding but the neutrality was
broken when Union forces under General Nathanial Lyons arrested the
Missouri State Militia at their encampment near St. Louis. Lyon's
army then proceeded to Jefferson City, forcing the State government
under Governor Claibourne Jackson into exile. Governor Jackson and
the Missouri government retreated to the town of Neosho in the
southwestern corner of the state and on October 31, 1861, adopted
an Ordinance of Secession; voted $10,000,000.00 for defense; and
authorized the issuance of defense bonds for that amount. General
Lyons instituted a new state government loyal to the Union and
appointed a military governor and state officers, and declared
martial law over the entire state which remained in place during
the entire Civil War. On November 28, 1861 the Confederate Congress
passed an Act admitting Missouri as the 12th state of the
Confederacy.
During the Civil War, the Confederate State government of Missouri
issued two series of notes and a series of requisition notes. The
First Series included interest bearing notes printed in January
1862, and allegedly countersigned by Confederate state Governor
Jackson. The Second Series were known as Defence Bonds which were
not interest bearing notes. Most of these notes are found unsigned
and undated. It is believed that they were never actually issued
and finding an example with an original signature and date is
extremely rare. Also printed but unlikely ever issued were notes
known as Requisition for Defence Bonds. All 1st series notes are
either plain back (uniface) or printed on the backs of old bills of
laden or exchange. All Second Series Defence Bond notes are uniface
notes while all Requisition for Defence Bonds notes have ornate
backs.
First Series Interest Bearing Notes -
January 1, 1862
The $5, $10 and $20 First Series notes
payed 10% interest per annum. The $3, $2 and $1 denominations did
not pay interest.
$1 note printed on the back of a bill of
exchange from the Canal Bank of New Orleans featuring Missouri
Governor Clairborne Jackson surrounded by Confederate flags and
cannon.
$1 Note printed on the back of a bill of
exchange on blue colored paper with Confederate President Jefferson
C. Davis surrounded by Confederate flags and
cannon.
$2 Note with plow horses and
farmer
$3 note printed on the back of a bill of
exchange featuring Missouri Governor Clairborne Jackson surrounded
by Confederate flags and cannon.
$5 Note with the allegorical figure of
Commerce seated on a bale of cotton
$10 Notes with the allegorical figure of
Ceres seated on the horn of plenty. One note printed on blue paper,
the other printed on creme colored paper.
$20 Note with the allegorical figure of a
flying Ceres and Liberty standing at the left side
Second Series Defence Bond
Notes
Missouri Defence Bond notes were intended
for use by Missouri State Guard paymasters for payments to its
soldiers. Defence Bond notes are always found unsigned and it is
doubtful that any were ever actually issued. All Second Series
Defence Bond notes were printed by Keatinge and Ball of Columbia,
South Carolina.
$1 Note with a maiden and cows in a
pasture.
$3 Note with a flying allegorical
Ceres.
$4 Note with a Mississippi
riverboat.
$4.50 Note with an allegorical Ceres seated
between Commerce and Navigation.
Requisition For Missouri Defence Bonds
Notes
Requisition for Missouri Defence Bonds
notes were intended for use by Missouri State Guard paymasters for
payments to its soldiers. These notes could be converted to
interest bearing interest bearing bonds that payed 10% interest.
All Requisition notes were printed by Keatinge and Ball of
Columbia, South Carolina and feature ornate printed
backs.
$20 Requisition note featuring Miss Liberty,
a steamship, and the State Seal.
$50 Requisition note featuring a slave
carrying cotton with overseer and slaves in the
background.
$100 Requisition note featuring Confederate
President Jefferson Davis and the State Seal.
