$500 CS Banknote

[tenfed1861]

Folks,tonight at a local auction,I had the chance to buy a $500 Jackson banknote.I have been online for the past hour or so trying to figure out if it's authentic or a fake.Some signs point to fake,while others point to real.Can anyone help me out on this one?
The Serial number is 18935,and all the sites do not mention that number as being a fake.The site of the printing was Atlanta.If anyone needs anymore info,I will be happy to give it to y'all.

[GarrettG1993]

Re: $500 CS Banknote

I don't pretend to be an expert in Confederate currency. However, even if it was a fake, if it was a period counterfiet it could very well be worth more than an CS government or state banknote that was "real". Any chance of getting a photo of it? I could probably help out a bit more then.

Cheers,
Garrett Glover

[fortdonelsonrelics]

Re: $500 CS Banknote

If you could scan the front and back - I'd be willing to help.

John Walsh

[Shockoe Hill Cats]

Re: $500 CS Banknote

On the same wavelength, what is the general auction prices for Confederate bills?

[tenfed1861]

Re: $500 CS Banknote

I'll try to get photos tonight or tommorrow.

[50th VA Corporal]

Re: $500 CS Banknote

Many years ago when I was a major force in the paper money collecting world (my collection was so comprehensive that the Smithsonian wanted me to "donate" it to them and I served as a consultant to the National Archives about assecions from the BEP to the Archives) I met the then renowned Col. Grover Criswell who was "THE" expert on the subject of Confederate currency. He had a few general guidlines for those newcomers into the hobby on trying to determine whether a Confederate note was real or not:

1) The paper was almost always thin.

2) The paper was almost always cut irregular.

3) The serial numbers were hand written in ink.

4) 99% of the time the signitories were signed by others.

5) The serial numbers and signatures ink should be brown - they started out black but now the ink has oxidized.

6) If the note has an "X" cut into it, or the signature cut out, or some other type of cut cancel it was a "redeemed" note and that alone does help in its authenticity.

I am more a specialist of the currency of the 1920's through 1950's, but that is a tid bit I learned along the way.

Jim Lemon
50th VA Corporal

[tenfed1861]

Re: $500 CS Banknote

Folk,sorry for the long wait.I have finally been able to get those photos of the bank note.Any help y'all might be able to give me will be greatly appreciated.

[Hank Trent]

Re: $500 CS Banknote

Well, I was going to ask if the signatures were really that black-looking, with no fading or browning. But it's easier to say, look for that serial number here:

http://www.crutchwilliams.com/BogusCSA_RoTx.html

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[tenfed1861]

Re: $500 CS Banknote

Well,this is a kick in the crotch.Looks like I have a really old repop someone must have either kept in their wallet or let the kids play with.Ah well,at least I only paid $35.00 for it,and not something more.
Thanks for your help,Hank.

[50th VA Corporal]

Re: $500 CS Banknote

All is not lost. Take it to an event and give it to a young lad. Maybe that $35 outlay will spark a young one's interest in the history and culture of the Civil War era; maybe it will be the spark to eventually bring another into the fold of Civil War reenacting. And then, just maybe, the smile he gives when he receives the gift will be well worth the $35 outlay!

Use it to pay forward. I do it frequently.

Jas. T. Lemon
Captain, 50th Va. Co. D