Examples of Southern State Issued Banknotes of the Confederacy
ALABAMA
Obsolete or broken banknotes came to an end after the Civil War. In the Confederacy, paper money was issued by
the Confederate government in Richmond, the Southern States, and many private banks. In the beginning, the Confederacy tried to back its paper money with cotton bales stored in Southern ports, but the Confederate notes ultimately became worthless paper. In the North, as part of the National Bank Act of 1863, a 10 percent tax was levied on all private banknote issues. By 1866, private and state banks had either joined the National Banking System or closed their doors. Many banknotes are only printed on the front side.
On January 11, 1861, Alabama became the 4th State to secede from the Union. Montgomery was the first capital of the newly formed Confederate States of America. Alabama did not issue its own currency until 1863. All notes were redeemable only in Confederate States Treasury Notes, when presented at the State Treasury in sums of $20 or more. The State of Alabama issued a total of $7,542,680.00 in banknotes and treasury notes during the War. Most Alabama State issued notes, with the exception of the $100 and $50 notes, are uni-face or plain back notes.
... State of Alabama 1863
5 Cent Fractional Note 1st Series with cotton boll
... State of Alabama 1863
25 Cent Fractional Note with wagon of cotton
... State of Alabama 1863
50 Cent Fractional Note with portrait of Juliet Hopkins, who established hospitals during the Civil War for wounded Alabama soldiers
... State of Alabama 1863
$1 Note with the Capitol in Montgomery and a portrait of Governor John Shorter, the second of Alabama's three Civil War Governors
... State of Alabama 1864
$5 Note with Overseer watching slaves
... State of Alabama 1864
$10 Note with Governor Thomas Watts
... State of Alabama 1864
$50 Note with Governor Thomas Watts, the third of Alabama's three Civil War Governors
