- Joined
- May 12, 2010
- Location
- Now Florida but always a Kentuckian
Confederate money was easy to counterfeit. Large amounts of it were printed in the North and circulated in the Confederacy in an attempt to debase its value. There was so much counterfeit that this has contributed as to how much legitimately were issued.
One of the best counterfeiters was Samuel C. Upham. He printed fake Confederate currency and claimed to be selling it for novelty purposes. He labeled many of them in margin "Fac-Simile Confederate notes sold, wholesale or retail, by S.C. Upham, 403 Chestnut Street, Phila". The words were hardly noticeable at a glance and were meaningless to the illiterate.
He stated "During the publication of those facsimile notes I was the "best abused" man in the Union (by the Confederacy). Senator Foote, in a speech before the Rebel Congress at Richmond, in 1862, said I had done more to injure the Confederate cause than Gen. McClellan and his army."
Upton's notes have an historical value today. They can command $75 to $100 in Fine condition for the note with Upton's advertisement in tact. In uncirculated condition, they are worth about $250. Those listed as scare and rare are even worth more.
From: "Confederate States Paper Money"edited by George S. Cuhaj and "Everyday Life During The Civil War" by Michael J. Varhola.
One of the best counterfeiters was Samuel C. Upham. He printed fake Confederate currency and claimed to be selling it for novelty purposes. He labeled many of them in margin "Fac-Simile Confederate notes sold, wholesale or retail, by S.C. Upham, 403 Chestnut Street, Phila". The words were hardly noticeable at a glance and were meaningless to the illiterate.
He stated "During the publication of those facsimile notes I was the "best abused" man in the Union (by the Confederacy). Senator Foote, in a speech before the Rebel Congress at Richmond, in 1862, said I had done more to injure the Confederate cause than Gen. McClellan and his army."
Upton's notes have an historical value today. They can command $75 to $100 in Fine condition for the note with Upton's advertisement in tact. In uncirculated condition, they are worth about $250. Those listed as scare and rare are even worth more.
From: "Confederate States Paper Money"edited by George S. Cuhaj and "Everyday Life During The Civil War" by Michael J. Varhola.