$1000 Confederate States of America 1861 – The only $1000 Confederate note, and the highest denomination. Only 607 were issued from the first capital Montgomery, Alabama. Pictured on the left is John C.Calhoun, “Firebrand Secessionist” of South Carolina. On the right is President Andrew Jackson – the same portrait that is on U.S. $20 bill today.
HISTORY OF CONFEDERATE CURRENCY
After South Carolina seceeded from the Union in 1860, ten other states soon fallowed; these “rebel” states formed the Confederate States of America. The Confederate government began to issue Money from the first capital in Montgomery, Alabama in April 1861. Only 4,426 notes were issued from Montgomery.
By May 1861, with the Confederate capital permanently established in Richmond, Virgina, the Confederacy started to issue larger quantities of Money. By the end of 1864, these issues totaled nearly two billion dollars. In addition to this currency, individual Southern states, banks, municipalities, and associations all printed their own money.
The first Confederate currency demonstrated engraving and printing of the highest quality, and many of the notes were beautifully designed. Many issues contained portraits of Southern heroes, while others were of mythological deities, such as Ceres, goddess of agriculture. Other drawings showed business activities, inclluding cotton picking and steamboating.
However, the need for speed and the shortage of proper paper stock eventually resulted in lowered quality of the currency. To reduce costs, most of the issues were not printed on the reverse side. The South’s impending defeat along with excessive printing of the currency resulted in its rapid depreciation.
Vedere di più
Scopri l'agenda dei collezionisti!
Scopri l'Agenda
