The Confederate States of America Dollar

With the beginning of the Civil War, the south began issuing its own currency. The first Confederate States of America (CSA) note was printed in April of 1861. If the South won, the notes would be redeemable for face value. If the North won, the notes would be worthless; but it was a gamble southerners were willing to take. Printed across the top of most confederate notes was the phrase, “Two years after the ratification of a treaty of peace between the Confederate States and the United States of America” then across the middle, the "Confederate States of America will pay" [amount of bill] "to bearer.”

At the beginning, the southern printers had to make do with whatever designs they had access to. Many of the first notes included scenes of slaves, ships, and gods and goddesses. Many later notes feature prominent southern figures such as Stonewall Jackson, Alexander Stephens, and Jefferson Davis.

The CSA notes were painstakingly hand numbered and signed. Most have rough, uneven edges since each note was cut by hand with scissors or shears. They were available in the following denominations: 10¢, 50¢, $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, $500, $1000.

As the war progressed, counterfeiting became rampant throughout the south. Inflation became a huge problem and by the end of the war CSA notes were almost worthless.

Today, these notes can be worth tens of thousands of dollars. Even the counterfeit notes can bring quite a bit.