Picked up these two over the past week. 1864 Confederate $20 note (a T-67 I think). I didn't find the serial number in the lists of known repros and it feels like old paper. Print looks a bit blurry under magnification, but that may be due to the poor original paper quality (?). The old handwriting is tough to decipher, but I THINK the Serial is 75756 (no "hats" on the fives). This note is not one that I have seen exactly before (but then, I don't get out much). On the right it says "Post Note" and on the left "FIVE". Flanking the main image of a riverside dock scene is "5" on the left and "V" on the right, so they have all the bases covered! It is a remainder and oil stained about 2/3 of the way across. The back is unprinted. The main text reads, "A ________ after date, We promise to pay James Monroe or bearer FIVE dollars. Cincinnati ___________ 18___" Very small at the bottom is "Murray Draper Fairman & Co.". Is this the printer, or the company who issued this note? EDIT: Just found some info that this is the engraver/printer. Formed in 1810 and merged/renamed in 1823, putting a 13-year window on its printing. Interestingly, this timeframe is during the Presidency of James Monroe. So it seems this note is payable to the President or bearer? Curious, if I'm understanding it right. Any information or comments that can be provided would be most welcome! Rob
From what I understand, a Post Note is, unlike a banknote, payable after a period of time has elapsed. They can bear interest, but don't always. Thats what the line is, after "Five Dollars At". It's neat, I like it.
That CSA note is absolutely real, and I think the serial is probably correct (5s or 3s, depending on the handwriting flourish of the signer)...I'd post mine for comparison, alas I framed it before I got a scanner, so no picture... and I think Harris right on the Post Note. Not sure CSA is considered "obsolete" per se, it's it's own category of note, like Colonials and Continentals... no longer legal tender, but Obsoletes refer usually to non-nationally issued currency. But someone please expound and correct on that notion...
That's a pretty good description of obsoletes, MEC. And, yes, CSA aren't usually lumped in with obsoletes. Rob, good detective work on narrowing down the date window for these notes. I wasn't able to find any further info about the bank or banker, but these post notes were printed in $1, $2, $3, and $5 denominations, all just the same except for the dollar amount. All appear to be remainders, so these may never have been issued. I'd be surprised if James Monroe referred to the President, who was a Virginian. More likely this James Monroe was a Cincinnati merchant or financier. If you can get a hold of Haxby's "Standard Catalog Of United States Obsolete Bank Notes" (Vol. 3) I'm sure there is more information about these notes.
