Item 34: Twenty Dollar Bill, Confederate Currency, Issued to C. L. Shoyer, Printed by Unknown, after [Samuel C. Upham], 1861 July 25
Item — Box: 16, Folder: 34
Dates
- Created: 1861 July 25
Creator
- Upham, Samuel C., 1819-1885 (Person)
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Paper currency.
Condition Note:
Poor. The paper is very thin and fragile, with tearing along the seams.
Measurements:
7 ½ in. x 3 ¼ in.
Description:
The following item, dated July 25, 1861, depicts a twenty dollar bill printed for the Confederate States of America. This bill has twenty dollars on it four times in red ink. There are two illustrations, one in the center and one on the lower left corner. In the lower left corner there is an illustration of a Native American man sitting on a barrel, smoking a pipe. This item is a counterfeit bill, which can be ascertained by the imagery on the bill, as well as potentially by the signature of the treasurer for the Confederate states. The treasurer for the Confederates during 1861 was Edward Carrington Elmore, ca. 1826-1873. However, the bill could have been signed by a clerk in office with the haste that was required of these printings, but it also possibly notes the false signature of the fake bill.
This illustration was originally included as a way to advertise tobacco.The center is an illustration of the Greek goddess Artemis riding a deer. This bill is known as the female riding a deer or FRD bills. These were a series of bogus bills that were circulated throughout the Confederate states. The original engraving is believed to be made by Samuel C. Upham, a printer from Philadelphia. Upham is the most well known counterfeiter who printed forged Confederate bills. He denied making the FRD engraving, but many believe that the art style is the same.
The true Confederate States bills were created just before the onset of the American Civil War, whereby the newly formed Confederate States issued the bills to support their succession efforts and support their end of the war. The first of this money was issued in March of 1861, collecting interest as a circulation of $1,000,000 was issued. These bills are called “Greybacks,” thus distinguishing them from the U.S. dollar, known as “Greenback,” which was also started in circulation at the same period to support the Union and its army during war efforts. As the war progressed, and the outcome of the South’s loss became more apparent, the greyback and confederate bills lost their value quickly. The bills contained numerous iconographies, including engravings of leading Confederates, gods and goddesses, trains, ships, and enslaved persons. The haste with which these bills were printed means that they have some anomalies that make them unique, such as hand cut scissor edging and signatures from clerks.
For more information on this currency, see reference pages, 100-102 in the Confederate States Paper Money by George Cuhaj.
Location:
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Transcription:
Receivable in payment of all
dues except export dues
Two years After date
The CONFEDERATE
State of America
No.6430 No. 6430
Fundable in
Confederate States
Stock bearing Eight
percent interest
Will pay to Bearer
TWENTY DOLLARS
Richmond, Va July 25, 1861th
C. L. Shoyer for REGISTER Wollf 99 Treas[ure]r
Creator
- Upham, Samuel C., 1819-1885 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu