Confederate currency

[Bur Oak]

They all seem nicely cut, high grade, and several seem to have better than average color. I've been at this a while and I own a couple of nice T65s. I rarely if ever buy an 1864 note anymore. But I have to say, if one like these came up for sale at the right price, I'd be more than seriously tempted!

I couldn't afford a long set of consecutive notes, nor would I want to be partly responsible for breaking up such a set even if one was available. Keep them together and enjoy. You're very lucky, especially if they were just given to you!!! I'm very jealous.

 

[Pollaco]

Was I seeing things or did one of those T65s have a 6 digit serial number?

 

[Bur Oak]

Was I seeing things or did one of those T65s have a 6 digit serial number?

Looks like 59253 partly stamped over the "No." Part of the "N" looks a little like a "1" between numbers in the stamped serial, but that's just an illusion.

 

[Pollaco]

Looks like 59253 partly stamped over the "No." Part of the "N" looks a little like a "1" between numbers in the stamped serial, but that's just an illusion.

Yep, a second (and closer) look revealed that.

 

[pab1986]

That 4th one down, the $100 with a train you appear to have more than one of those. How many of those do you have? You have what appears to be the T40. But the T39 is a very similar design and both were prone to counterfeiters.

28 of these

 

[pab1986]

Was I seeing things or did one of those T65s have a 6 digit serial number?

How high to serial numbers go. I've seen some that are 3 digit 4 and 5. I kinda have doubts on the 3 digit ones. But again I know nothing about them however you guys have helped a lot thanks

 

[Bur Oak]

How high to serial numbers go. I've seen some that are 3 digit 4 and 5. I kinda have doubts on the 3 digit ones. But again I know nothing about them however you guys have helped a lot thanks

Glancing through Thian's Register of the Confederate Debt, it looks like for the T65 (1864 $100) notes, no Series, the numbers ran from 1 to 98000. For 1st Series, they ran from 1 to 93600. The records are missing for 2nd Series.

I believe Polloco's question about a six digit number arose from the knowledge that the so-called Havana counterfeits usually (if not always?) have six digit serial numbers.

 

[Pollaco]

Right, I was hinting that a Havana Counterfeit may have been among your "horde". The 6 digit serial number is a dead give away for one of these. Another is date of Feb. 17th on top of your note. A real note has 2 dots under the "th". A fake only has 1 dot.But Bur Oak is correct in that your serial number should be no higher than 5 digits.

 

[Bur Oak]

28 of these

Somebody just gave you all of these? Unbelievable!

 

[pab1986]

Somebody just gave you all of these? Unbelievable!

 

[Pollaco]

I am not in a situation at the moment to be buying much of anything, but may I ask are any of these notes for sale? But it really would be ashamed to break up a set (or sets) like yours.The "collectbility" of you currency is it's sheer numbers and the conservative serial numbers. I'm afraid that would be an enormous cost to any one collector.

 

[pab1986]

Somebody just gave you all of these? Unbelievable!

I can see where a person would find it hard to believe. However not everybody knows that there's collectors who pay for old money. It wasn't that long ago I probably would've passed on the opportunity to possess these. Like no thank you I'm good. Lol I have always enjoyed seeing old books, letters and money in museums. I always found the letters more appealing for sure. I guess we all have different things we consider valuable.

 

[Bur Oak]

Well, if you ever decide to give them away....

 

[pab1986]

Well, if you ever decide to give them away....

I tell you what, in the event that I sell a good portion of them (hard times) I will save a few to give away to the ones who have helped me get to know these old notes.

 

[Pollaco]

I tell you what, in the event that I sell a good portion of them (hard times) I will save a few to give away to the ones who have helped me get to know these old notes.

You just can't beat a deal like that.

 

[iac249]

HI everybody I'm a new member and I wanted to gain knowledge on some confederate currency that was given to me. I'm not familiar with it at all. I am finding it interesting though through some research. I was unaware of the 72 types/styles. The money was so much cooler back then in my opinion. I'm going to post a few pictures just to get feedback and learn what I can. Thanks

I can certainly recommend the book Collecting Confederate Paper Money. I have the 2014 Field Edition, and it will list all the types and their variants along with values and how to grade them. Also includes info on contemporary counterfeits, which in some cases are now worth more than the genuine notes.

 

[Bur Oak]

I can certainly recommend the book Collecting Confederate Paper Money. I have the 2014 Field Edition, and it will list all the types and their variants along with values and how to grade them. Also includes info on contemporary counterfeits, which in some cases are now worth more than the genuine notes.

Agreed, with minor comment. The info regarding counterfeits in that book is sketchy and incomplete. What's there is helpful, but not comprehensive. Also, in iac249's comment, emphasis should be placed on "... which in some cases ...." That's true as stated, but in many cases, the counterfeits are worth significantly less. Some people reading that might get the wrong impression that it applies to all. (It's happened before.)

 

[Pollaco]

True, most contemporary counterfeits are of little interest to collectors. Unless there's possibly some history behind the counterfeited notes like the Havana Counterfeits or some of Samuel Upham's "replicas''. Otherwise they are of little value. That is not to say that aren't some gems out there but that must be determined individually case-by-case.

 

[Bur Oak]

True, most contemporary counterfeits are of little interest to collectors. Unless there's possibly some history behind the counterfeited notes like the Havana Counterfeits or some of Samuel Upham's "replicas''. Otherwise they are of little value. That is not to say that aren't some gems out there but that must be determined individually case-by-case.

Well, there are collectors interested in counterfeits, but true, they are fewer in number than those interested in genuine notes. That's the "demand" component of the supply and demand equation. There is also the "supply" component. Rare counterfeits of common notes will fetch a higher price. Common counterfeits of rare notes will be relatively cheap. Take the T-31 for example. Not one of the rarest types, but scarcer than many. The genuine notes are a little pricey, while the far more common Upham (and later) CT31s are pretty cheap in comparison. Now something like, for example, an intaglio printed CT9 is going to go somewhat higher than a genuine T9.

 

[Pollaco]

Maybe I didn't emphasize it enough, but some counterfeits do have some "History" behind them.And they are part of the story of Confederate Currency. Like the one posted one back on post #27.