See my bills above. Could they fund a trip to Europe? A new car?

   Notes were printed in denominations of $0.50, $1.00, $2.00, $5.00, $10, $20, $50, $100, $500 and $1000. Beginning with the issues of 1861 and running through 1864, 72 major types were created. Wow.

   The South had neither the infrastructure nor the manufacturing capacity of the North, and it still had to purchase military equipment and pay its bills. The Confederacy decided to print paper money as a fundraising strategy. Seriously?

    Lacking a tradition of fine engraving, the artistry and imagery on the bills was limited. Images of mythological figures were copied from existing bills and centered on docile depictions of slavery and images of leading southern figures like Andrew Jackson and Jefferson Davis. In printing its bills, the South relied heavily on lithography (copying), which made counterfeiting easy.  

   Paper currency has no intrinsic value like gold or silver does. We accept that it has value either because it is backed by precious metal or because the issuing government guarantees it. Confederate currency was backed only by a promise to pay. Oy.

   OK, so much for the smarty pants educational part of the blog. How much are my bills worth?

   In the 1950s the Cheerios cereal box offered a premium of confederate banknotes! They were first issued in 1954. For 25 cents and a Cheerios box top you received nine notes and an album. My stash? They are worth about what they would have been worth at the end of the Civil War – zip.

   Bogus and unique also describes the TOPPS Chewing Gum notes issued around 1962. Originally these sets were called Civil War bubblegum cards because they were sold in one and five cent wax packs with gum and replica Confederate money.