Item 35: Twenty Cent Note, Confederate Currency, 1862 June
Item — Box: 16, Folder: 35
Dates
- Created: 1862 June
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 page suffers tearing and discoloration.
Measurements:
3.5 x 2.5 in.
Description:
The following item, dated in June of 1862, depicts a twenty cent note printed for the Confederate States of America, printed in the city of Charleston. This was issued in the middle of the American Civil War by South Carolina as a tax note. Tax notes were made by cities and towns to be used to pay taxes by the citizens. This note is signed on the bottom indicating that it was used. This bill has the arm and hammer symbol on it, which was commonly used by banks. The note is being issued to E. W. Edmunson.
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.
Location:
Charleston, South Carolina.
Transcription:
Front
June 1862
CITY OF CHARLESTON. S.O
20 20
TWENTY CENTS
This Note shall be received in payment of Taxes and other
Dues to the City of Charleston.
E. W. Edmunson(?)
For Mayor and Aldermen
Back
Twenty
Creator
- From the Series: Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829. (Person)
- From the Series: Pennsylvania Economy League (Organization)
- From the Series: George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820 (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