Currency Question

[birdlady]

I am a new member, and I found what looks like two ten-dollar Confederate bills among my deceased parent's belongings. Can anyone tell me if they are valid and explain why the two Xs are stamped on both bills? The design doesn't look like any others I have seen. Thank you!

 

[Salterr]

I am a new member, and I found what looks like two ten-dollar Confederate bills among my deceased parent's belongings. Can anyone tell me if they are valid and explain why the two Xs are stamped on both bills? The design doesn't look like any others I have seen. Thank you!

View attachment 513351

View attachment 513352

This doesn't appear to be a genuine bill. The paper looks waxed and the coloring would have reddish x's. I believe it's a T-26. @Bur Oak please help out new recruit.

 

[birdlady]

Thank you. What is a T-26?

 

[Pollaco]

If that is supposed to be the back or reverse to that $10.00 (T26) it is most definitely a fake. No real Confederate bill had that design on the back.

 

[Pollaco]

If that is supposed to be the back or reverse to that $10.00 (T26) it is most definitely a fake. No real Confederate bill had that design on the back.

Oops, sorry I misread your opening post. I assumed the top picture was the reverse of the bottom picture. But I still believe them both to be fakes. The top one most definitely is. Are the Roman Numerals or "Xs" red in color?

 

[Bur Oak]

I am a new member, and I found what looks like two ten-dollar Confederate bills among my deceased parent's belongings. Can anyone tell me if they are valid and explain why the two Xs are stamped on both bills? The design doesn't look like any others I have seen. Thank you!

This doesn't appear to be a genuine bill. The paper looks waxed and the coloring would have reddish x's. I believe it's a T-26. @Bur Oak please help out new recruit.

Sorry to say, but the note in the image is a low quality reproduction. Salter is right, it's a copy of the type known to collectors as T26. The genuine notes were e printed with black on white, but with two red Xs added to try and deter counterfeiting. Tha backs were blank, though often showing the red Xs.

The Xs came in one of three varieties, known to collectors as "Fine Lace," "Solid," and "Coarse Lace." The note in this post is of the Coarse Lace variety.

 

[birdlady]

Thank you for responding! I suspected they might be fakes, but I appreciate your verifying this and explaining what to look for!

 

[Pollaco]

In addition to the Xs not being red, one of the things which stood out were the black signatures. Had the Ink from the signatures of that period been real it would have turned a brownish color. Real notes were handwrittened in a black gall ink that has since turned brown.

 

[birdlady]

Thanks, good to know!

 

[Pollaco]

Out of curiosity what "design" is on the back side of that $10.00 in the top picture?

 

[Bur Oak]

In addition to the Xs not being red, one of the things which stood out were the black signatures. Had the Ink from the signatures of that period been real it would have turned a brownish color. Real notes were handwrittened in a black gall ink that has since turned brown.

I've posted this elsewhere, but it bears repeating. Iron gall ink, when freshly applied, was black. Depending on the formulation and the conditions of storage it often turns brown or at least brownish. It can on occasion remain black, though it's usually still possible to distinguish it from black printer's ink.

 

[Salterr]

Thank you. What is a T-26?

T-26 is the designation given to the note. It's a catalog number. Coins and paper money have catalog numbers like this that define what it is on the list of known pieces

 

[Bur Oak]

Thank you. What is a T-26?

T-26 is the designation given to the note. It's a catalog number. Coins and paper money have catalog numbers like this that define what it is on the list of known pieces

Good catch, Salterr. Somehow I didn't see the question.

To elaborate on the answer, the number of different designs and denominations have, for simplicity, been given catalog numbers. The system in almost universal use is one devised by the late Grover Criswell. In his system there are 72 distinct types, given the letter "T" for "Type" followed by a number. For counterfeits of a given type, the designation changes to "CT" for "Counterfeit Type" followed by the appropriate number.

To confuse the issue, two of his types (Nos. 47 & 48) have been determined to have nothing to do with anything issued by the Confederate Treasury, and are no longer included by most. To avoid greater confusion, numbers following 48 have not been changed. There are those who consider designs that were similar or identical to others except for the addition of an overprint* to be varieties rather than separate types, but they still use the Criswell numbers because of the general acceptance of the system.
_______
* For example, the T25 is identical to the T26, except they don't have the red Xs. The T39 is nearly identical to the T40 except for minor changes to the central vignette. It is said that Criswell gave those two different numbers in an effort to sell more notes! Confederate records published in Thian's "Register of the Confederate Debt" make no distinction.

 

[birdlady]

Wow! Glad you are all so knowledgeable. Thanks so much for the education.
Interestingly, the two I have are double-sided and do not have red ink. The creator must not have expected them to pass for the real thing!

 

[Bur Oak]

Wow! Glad you are all so knowledgeable. Thanks so much for the education.
Interestingly, the two I have are double-sided and do not have red ink. The creator must not have expected them to pass for the real thing!

The note you posted looks like one of the "parchment paper" souvenirs made long after the war and often sold at parks and museums. Definitely designed not to be deceptive.

 

[Pollaco]

I'm still not sure what that top $10.00 is supposed to be. I am not familiar with that design.Are you sure that is not the reverse side of something? It looks like more of a back than a front. Stage money , maybe?

 

[Bur Oak]

I'm still not sure what that top $10.00 is supposed to be. I am not familiar with that design.Are you sure that is not the reverse side of something? It looks like more of a back than a front. Stage money , maybe?

Judging by the folds, I believe the top image is the back view of the same note.

 

[Pollaco]

Judging by the folds, I believe the top image is the back view of the same note.

That's what I originally thought as well. But on rereading the opening post , it was stated that there were 2 (two) $10.00 bills.

 

[Bur Oak]

That's what I originally thought as well. But on rereading the opening post , it was stated that there were 2 (two) $10.00 bills.

... and explain why the two Xs are stamped on both bills?

X's on BOTH bills. I take it to mean this is one, and there is another which was not posted here.

 

[Pollaco]

I am no English Major but the words "two ten-dollar Confederate bills", "they", and "both" all appear in the sentences of the opening post.All three of those descriptions imply plural.What you say is very possible and it could be taken that way but the bills are described as "they" and "both".I totally agree on the folds.