Got this Confederacy note and I know nothing about them except what I searched out on ebay. It is a $50 note from Richmond, dated Sept. 2nd 1861. The portrait is of Jefferson Davis. The (serial) numbers look handwritten. The only weird thing is that the obverse is the same as the reverse, except for one is green and the other is gray or black (faded). One $50 note seen on ebay had a different date and different reverse. Another $50 that sold on ebay was the same date and obverse as this one but DIDN'T show the back. I never heard of a currency that had the same engraving on both sides. That's what makes me suspicious that it's a fake. Anyway, take a look at this and please let me know what you think. Bruce
Serial number 18443 is on Crutchfield's list of bogus notes. Although he pictures a different copy, the OPs note is a copy.
It's a fake alright but I cannot find it in A Guide Book of Counterfeit Confederate Currency by Tremmel. It is not SF-57 or SF-57/406 both of which are genuine notes that stolen and the signatures and serial numbers forged. It is not CT-66 (wrong color) or CT-66/496 (signatures and serial numbers are both printed with the bill).
This note definitely has its serials and signatures printed with the bill. If they were handwritten, they wouldn't be green or black; they'd be faded to some shade of brown by now. The pen ink used back then wasn't very colorfast, and would be very easy to distinguish from the ink used for the rest of the printing. Compare for example this note.
Thanks for the advice. Has anyone heard of any currency that has the same engraving, obv. & rev.? The serial numbers and the signatures are printed and not hand signed. The paper has the very worn feel to it but I never thought it was real. Interesting though. Bruce
