Southland Coins & Collectibles Inc.
4670 Lake Street
Civil War
Civil War Currency
We have a variety of paper money issued during the Civil War by the CSA, US, individual states and cities, railroads and various merchants.
Like its federal counterpart, the Constitution of the Confederate States of America tried but failed to reserve the production and control of national currencies to the central government.
The southern states did, in a way, abide by the Confederate Constitution's provision, as none of the notes issued in the South were classified as "legal tender." This would have made it mandatory for citizens to accept the paper currencies as payment for all debts and for use in all monetary transactions for goods and services. Instead, these currencies, created by state banks, state and local governments, railroads, and even merchants, were designed as promissory notes or interest-bearing notes that relied solely on the good faith and confidence of the people, not on the orders of a central government.
Printed on nearly all currencies is the promise by the issuing authority to "pay to the bearer" of any note its face value in dollars. Although notes held by a citizen could be exchanged "on demand" at a nearby bank or state treasury for either gold and silver coinage or bullion, the South's wholesale lack of precious-metal reserves made it impossible for authorities to honor this promise. Paper dollars were repaid or redeemed with still more paper. In order to function, the South's economy had to employ and accept some forms of money, despite its questionable values and obvious instabilities. Call for availability and pricing.
Like its federal counterpart, the Constitution of the Confederate States of America tried but failed to reserve the production and control of national currencies to the central government.
The southern states did, in a way, abide by the Confederate Constitution's provision, as none of the notes issued in the South were classified as "legal tender." This would have made it mandatory for citizens to accept the paper currencies as payment for all debts and for use in all monetary transactions for goods and services. Instead, these currencies, created by state banks, state and local governments, railroads, and even merchants, were designed as promissory notes or interest-bearing notes that relied solely on the good faith and confidence of the people, not on the orders of a central government.
Printed on nearly all currencies is the promise by the issuing authority to "pay to the bearer" of any note its face value in dollars. Although notes held by a citizen could be exchanged "on demand" at a nearby bank or state treasury for either gold and silver coinage or bullion, the South's wholesale lack of precious-metal reserves made it impossible for authorities to honor this promise. Paper dollars were repaid or redeemed with still more paper. In order to function, the South's economy had to employ and accept some forms of money, despite its questionable values and obvious instabilities. Call for availability and pricing.
State of Louisiana $5 Notes - $25.00 each
These $5 Notes were issued by the state of Louisiana on March 10, 1863, and payable to bearer at the Treasurer's Office in Shreveport, the capital of Louisiana during that time.
On the obverse of the note, the image in center depicts "The South Striking Down the Union," with one soldier in armor with his sword over his captive ready to strike and his left foot on an eagle's neck. The left image is of the state bird of Louisiana and symbol on its flag, the pelican nestled over her three chicks.
The reverse is a greenback, a design in green ink with the number 5 surrounded by wreaths at the left and right, a large V in the center, along with The State of Louisiana over it. Click on the image to see a larger representation of the notes.
On the obverse of the note, the image in center depicts "The South Striking Down the Union," with one soldier in armor with his sword over his captive ready to strike and his left foot on an eagle's neck. The left image is of the state bird of Louisiana and symbol on its flag, the pelican nestled over her three chicks.
The reverse is a greenback, a design in green ink with the number 5 surrounded by wreaths at the left and right, a large V in the center, along with The State of Louisiana over it. Click on the image to see a larger representation of the notes.
St. Landry Parish (Louisiana) $1 Note - $110.00
This small note was printed on paper of necessity and issued by St. Landry Parish of Louisiana on July 19, 1862, paying to bearer $1 in Confederate States Notes. St. Landry Parish is located in the south central part of the state, at the heart of the Creole and Cajun culture and heritage. The parish seat is the city of Opelouses. After Baton Rouge fell to the Union troops in 1862, Opelousas became the state capital for nine months. When Union troops occupied the city in 1863, the state capital moved to Shreveport. Opelousas was named after the the Native American tribe Opelousa, who occupied the area before the European settlements. Click on the image to see a larger representation of the note.
Bonds and Interest Bearing Notes
$100 CSA Note - Steam Locomotive
$100 note that accrues interest of 2 cents per day, paid annually. "Diffused-steam" locomotive in center and milk maid at left. The reverse of the note shows when interest was paid, and when the note was reissued in Houston, Texas. "CSA" block letter watermark. (Criswell #T-40)
Click on the image to see a larger representation of the note.
Click on the image to see a larger representation of the note.
$100 CSA Note - Hoeing Cotton
$100 note that accrues interest of 2 cents per day. Obverse shows in the center two slaves working the cotton field. At right, a woman, "Columbia," is standing adorned in robes. At left, an image of John C. Calhoun, U.S. Vice President under John Quincy Adams. Printed in black and red ink on watermarked paper. The reverse the when various interest payments were made. (Criswell #T41) Click on the image to see a larger representation of the note.
$1,000 CSA Coupon Bonds
We have a selection of $1,000 CSA bonds, authorized by the Act of Congress of the CSA on August 19, 1861. The bond paid bearer 8 percent interest a year, paying $40 twice a year on January and July as noted on the "coupons" at the bottom. A coupon was cut by the bearer of the note and handed over in order to receive interest. The bonds are on white paper, and 2,598 were issued. Each is signed by Register of the Treasury, Robert Tyler, who was the eldest son of John Tyler, tenth president of the United States. The portrait, surrounded by a wreath, is of Burton Norvell Harrison (July 14, 1838-March 29, 1904), lawyer, American Democratic politician, and private secretary to CSA president Jefferson Davis. Harrison was born in New Orleans and attended the University of Mississippi and graduated from Yale University. At the end of the war, Harrison was captured with Jefferson Davis and imprisoned at Fort Delaware. In 1866 he was released, settled in New York City and was admitted to the bar. (Criswell #96) Call for availability and pricing. Click on the image to see a larger representation of the bond. Note: The items sold may not be the exact one as pictured.
,This large $1,000 bond was authorized by the Act of February 17, 1864, and issued on March 1, 1864. The bond paid 6 percent interest a year, paying $30 twice a year on January and July for 30 years. The bonds were printed on thin paper with black over pink to dark red tint plates. A Confederate seal is at the top right corner of the bond. At the bottom left is the engraver, J. Archer of Richmond, Virginia. At the bottom right is the printer, Evans and Cogswell, Columbia, South Carolina. This is the third series of this bond, and 10,700 were issued. The bond features the Great Seal of the CSA and is signed by E. Apperson, Assistant Register. (Criswell #144B) Call for availability and pricing. Click on the image to see a larger representation of the bond.
This $1,000 CSA bond was authorized by the Act of Congress of the CSA on February 20, 1863, and paid 7 percent interest a year, paying $35 twice a year on January and July as noted on the "coupons" at the bottom. The bond is printed on dark pink paper and 34,891 were issued. The portrait is of General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson, one of the best known Confederate commanders after General Robert E. Lee. The note is signed by Assistant Register of the Treasury, Charles A. Rose. (Criswell #122) Call for availability and pricing. Click on the image to see a larger representation of the bond.
$500 CSA Coupon Bonds
We have a selection of these $500 CSA bonds, authorized by the Act of Congress of the CSA on February 20, 1863. Dates of issue were May 1863 to December 16, 1864. The bond paid bearer 7 percent interest a year, paying $17.50 semiannually. The bonds are on dark pink paper, and about 26,249 were issued. Each is signed by Assistant Register of the Treasury, Charles A. Rose. The picture in the center of the bond is a soldier warming his hands over a campfire. (Criswell #121) Call for availability and pricing.
Click on the image to see a larger representation of the bond. Note: The items sold may not be the exact one as pictured.
Click on the image to see a larger representation of the bond. Note: The items sold may not be the exact one as pictured.
We have several of these $500 CSA coupon bonds, authorized by the Act of Congress of the CSA on August 19, 1861. There were 1,833 issued. The portrait, surrounded by a wreath, is of Robert Augustus Toombs, an American lawyer, planter, and politician from Georgia who became one of the organizers of the Confederacy and served as its first Secretary of State. He served in Jefferson Davis' cabinet as well as in the Confederate States Army, but later became one of Davis' critics. The bonds paid 8 percent interest annually, paying $20 semiannually. Each bond is signed by Robert Tyler, Register of the Treasury. (Criswell #69) Call for availability and pricing.
Click on the image to see a larger representation of the bond. Note: The items sold may not be the exact one as pictured.
Click on the image to see a larger representation of the bond. Note: The items sold may not be the exact one as pictured.
$100 CSA Coupon Bonds
This selection of $100 coupon bonds were authorized by the Act of Congress of the CSA on August 19, 1861. The bonds paid an 8 percent interest rate annually, with coupons redeemable each January and July for $4 interest. There were 1513 issued and each is signed by Robert Tyler, Register of the Treasury. The bond features the portrait of George W. Randolph surrounded by a wreath of flowers. George Wythe Randolph was a lawyer, planter, and Confederate general. He served for eight months in 1862 as the CSA Secretary of War. He reformed procurement, wrote the conscription law, and strengthened western defenses. He was President Thomas Jefferson's youngest grandson by his daughter Martha Jefferson Randolph. (Criswell #42) Call for availability and pricing.
Click on the image to see a larger representation of the bond. Note: The items sold may not be the exact one as pictured.
Click on the image to see a larger representation of the bond. Note: The items sold may not be the exact one as pictured.
This $100 coupon bond was authorized by the Act of Congress of the CSA on February 20, 1863. The bond paid an 8 percent interest rate annually, with coupons redeemable each January and July for $4 interest. There were 17,936 issued, and it was signed by Robert Tyler, Register of the Treasury. The lower right corner identifies the imprinter as "G Wojciechowski, Lith." The portrait is of Alexander Hamilton Stephens, Vice President of the CSA from 1861-1865. After the war, Stephens was imprisoned until October 1865. The following year, the Georgia legislature elected Stephens to the United States Senate , but the Senate declined to seat him due to his role in the Civil War. He won election to the House of Representatives in 1873 and held that office until 1882, when he resigned from Congress to become Governor of Georgia. Stephens served as governor until his death in March 1883. (Criswell #123A) Call for availability and pricing. Click on the image to see a larger representation of the bond.
$50 CSA Coupon Bonds
This $50 CSA bond was authorized by an act of Congress of the CSA on August 19, 1861. The number issued was 2,059. The bonds paid 8 percent interest annually, with coupons redeemable each January and July for $2 interest. Printed on white paper, the portrait of an unknown man is surrounded by a wreath. The bonds were signed by Robert Tyler, Register of the Treasury. Call for availability and pricing. Click on the image to see a larger representation of the bond.
Newspapers published during the Civil War
Click on the images to see larger representations of the newspapers. Below are sample copies; dates our choice.
Southern papers - $95.00 each
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The Memphis Daily Appeal - $195.00 each
Northern Papers - $19.95 each
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Confederate Veterans Reunion Ribbon - $350.00
This is a ribbon given to a Confederate veteran who attended
a reunion of the Louisiana Division of the United Confederate
Veterans in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on October 25-26, 1916,
51 years after the end of the Civil War.
Click on the image to see a larger representation of the ribbon.