US Postal Currency 5 cent 1862 1863

United States Post Office Department.

1862

Classification
Photograph
Museum
Wikimedia Commons
Credit line
This banknote was scanned by User:Swtpc6800 (Michael Holley) on an Epson Perfection V500 Photo at 720 dpi. Scanned January 2012.
Rights
Public domain, as the museum states it.
Who can see it
Teens profiles and older: its subject is for older viewers (war, death, the Passion, drink or the like). How works are placed

View at the Wikimedia Commons

About this work

Five-cent US Postal Currency, first issue, featuring Thomas Jefferson. Gold, silver and copper coins were horded at the start of the Civil War and postages stamps became a popular form of currency; however the adhesive back was a serious impediment. On July 17, 1862, Congress authorized printing of Postal Currency notes in the denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents. These notes could be redeemed for postage stamps or for a US bank note in the amount of five dollars or more. The Postal Currency was succeeded by Fractional Currency in 1863.