Confederate Currency 1861 5 Dollar Treasury Bill Christopher Memminger T-33 (2024)

FAQs

Are Confederate Treasury notes worth anything? ›

Of course, how much each example is worth depends on various factors, such as rarity, preservation and condition. And while many older notes have historical value, some bills can be potentially worth tens of thousands of dollars.

These might have value as collectables or historical artifacts. Modern era fakes are just to scam collectors who can't spot the fakes. What is the current value of a Confederate dollar from the American Civil War? For currency exchange, zero.

The Confederate dollar, often called a "Greyback", was first issued into circulation in April 1861, when the Confederacy was only two months old, and on the eve of the outbreak of the Civil War. At first, Confederate currency was accepted throughout the South as a medium of exchange with high purchasing power.

This denomination of a five dollar bill has a red underprint. There is a portrait of Confederate Secretary of the Treasury, C.G. Memminger, at the bottom left. In the center of the bill is a vignette of the Confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia.

Confederate Coins Are Valuable for a Reason

They're also very, very rare. Even if you may never encounter one of these coins in your pocket change (or even your grandpa's coin collection), just knowing their stories is fascinating and fun.

The backs of Confederate banknotes were blank and in circulation became a dirty gray.

Although Confederate banknotes are not legal currency, they are now worth much more than they were during the Civil War as antique collector's items and a considerable number of these banknotes still exist among museums and collectors.

It is one of just four half dollars struck in April 1861 at the New Orleans Mint while the Branch Mint was under the physical control of the Confederacy. Heritage writes, “The 1861 Original Confederate half dollar is one of the rarest and most enigmatic issues in the history of American coinage.”

Some of the original notes may have been printed using color ink and/or may have had reverse side printing. The word "COPY" is marked upon each replica note in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Federal Regulations, Hobby Protection Act.

Most all original Confederate notes as well as most Southern State banknotes were hand signed in an indelible ink known as iron gall ink that originally was very dark blue-black ink but took on a brown color with exposure and age.

What Confederate currency has slaves on it? ›

Typical of many Confederate bills, the $100 note honors a white hero of the South, in this case the late Senator and secession advocate John C. Calhoun. But the largest vignette, at top, is devoted to a field scene in which slaves serenely hoe cotton.

The "cracked Confederate obverse," containing a crack running from the coin's rim to Liberty's nose and passing near the seventh star, can be attributed to the Confederacy's control of the mint because this cracked die would later be used to produce four Confederate half dollar proofs.

Confederate dollars are not accepted as legal tender anywhere. However, for collectors and dealers of obsolete currency, Confederate dollars are valuable as collectible items.

When the Lincoln Memorial was constructed the names of 48 states were engraved on it. The picture of the Lincoln Memorial on the $5 bill only contains the names of 26 states. These are the 26 states that can be seen on the front side of the Lincoln memorial which is what is pictured on the $5 bill.

Lucy Holcombe Pickens (1832–1899), known as the “Queen of the Confederacy,” is the only woman to be featured on currency issued by a Confederate state. Pickens was born on her family's planation in La Grange, Tennessee.

The Confederacy no longer existed, so there was nobody who would exchange its paper money for gold or silver. Today, though, Confederate dollars have value as a collectible item. Just like people will pay money to own a Civil War hat or musket, they will pay money to own Confederate money.

Almost all Confederate notes were hand-signed, numbered, and cut by Treasury clerks in Richmond. The currency was backed by bonds and guaranteed only after the signing of a peace treaty between the United States and the Confederacy. As the likelihood of peace dimmed, the notes quickly lost their value.

The identifying number of the bill is printed and handwritten below on both sides of the illustration, [No. / 63785]. Underneath the illustration, printed in large block letters is the inscription, [THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA / Will pay / TEN DOLLARS TO / Bearer. / RICHMOND / February 17th 1864. / 10].

Grading currency should be done very conservatively. With currency, the condition of the paper relates to the value. Every fold, crease, bent corner, etc, reduces the value for currency. The more worn the paper is, the less it will be worth.