Confederate States of America Currency

Confederate States of American (CSA) currency is unique in that it was not backed by any hard standard, but rather by a promise of repayment upon independence. Both coins and banknotes were created for the fledgling CSA. Banknotes were nicknamed greybacks, associated with the grey color of the South's military uniforms.

CSA currency existed in many forms: Confederacy-wide notes, state-issued notes, and private bank-issued notes. Several prototype coins were made both during and after the Civil War. In 1861, 12 to 14 original prototype copper-nickel pennies were minted. The dies used to mint these coins now reside in the Smithsonian Institute, although they were used to make commemorative coins after the Civil War. Additionally, four Confederate half-dollar coins were minted. All four survive to this day.

Today, CSA currency is very collectible due to the historical resonance of the American Civil War. Many bills and coins show signs of individual stories that reflect the turbulence of the time in a way that few other mediums can accomplish. While counterfeiting was popular due to the large number of different printings, there are many noteworthy and desirable counterfeits with quality equal to or even surpassing that of the officially released currency.

Quick Facts

• The promissory nature of CSA currency echoes that of the United States Revolution when the colonies produced fiat currency
• Many CSA banknote designs feature prominent contemporary and historical figures including a $50 bill featuring George Washington
• An 1861 issue $100 note sold for just over $5,000 at a California auction in 2014. Several other rare notes sold at the same auction for $2,000 to $3,000