need help finding repro US currency

[John Culp]

I do not know where to look for this, but feel that somebody must be reproducing greenbacks or state note for US use. If you can nudge me toward a source I'd be grateful.
John Culp culp2000@hotmail.com

[Tyler Underwood]

Re: need help finding repro US currency

John, I believe Bob Sullivan was making currency at one time.

[den.bolda]

Re: need help finding repro US currency

Good post John.

Additionally, is anyone minting coin copies out there?

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: need help finding repro US currency

Good post John.

Additionally, is anyone minting coin copies out there?

There were a few made for the Westville 1865 scenario in 2012, but I heard the vendor making them got a certain call from the US Secret Service regarding not putting "COPY" on the backs of them and they could be mistake for counterfeits. If you find coin copies good enough to use at our events of mid-19th century coinage, let me know! I have yet to find any, other than the non-issued Confederate coinage you see at National Park gift shops.

[50th VA Corporal]

Re: need help finding repro US currency

I replied via email to John Culp.

I have been making reproduction Confederate, Federal, and some Southern and Northern Bank Notes for about two years now for my company pay calls (I even did a multi-company pay call once), school / educational programs, individuals, etal.

All of my notes came from original note scans. For Federal notes I had to reduce the size to comply with Federal laws and have the word copy indiscriminately on each specimen. Confederate notes have also been reproduced from originals as are the Northern and Southern State notes.

In the last two years I believe I have made around three thousand notes. I usually keep a good inventory of Confederate notes on hand ) of which I have sixteen types / denominations spanning the entire war era. If the notes were issued uniface I still scanned the backs as originals, at times, exhibited ink bleed through.

Federal notes I just usually do on request, as same for State Notes.

Usually winter time I do most of the printing and cutting where there is not so much demand on my time. I can do Patriotic Covers also.

I don't make a lot of money doing it - it started more of supplying myself until the word got out. If you are looking to do a Pay Call let me know and we can possibly work together on it. If you buy anything from me mention you saw it on the Authentic Campaigner and I'll donate 10% to the website.

Cordially,

Jim Lemon jameslemon@hotmail.com

[Dreamer42]

Re: need help finding repro US currency

A few years back I found some images of various currency on the Internet. I Photoshoped these to allow me to make front and back copies on one printed sheet of paper. I, too, inserted REPRODUCTION on each image. Print, fold and glue.

Jay Reid
Dreamer42
9th Texas/165th NY

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: need help finding repro US currency

Biggest issue I see with people making currency is they do not seem to realize that numerical prices were lower in denomination than today. This is particularly true for prewar /early war scenarios.

For example, if a soldier's pay was about $13ish per month, a dollar bill would be like how we think of a $20 note today- not something to throw around lightly unless we are rich. Period $5s and $10s would be like $50 and $100 bills we think of today.

Fractional currency bills, state backed bills, bank backed bills, commodity backed bills or postage stamp money would be more common to find in someone's pocket back then, and even then in lower denominations.

Think: Do you walk around with huge wads of $50s or $100s today commonly in their pockets? Yeah, most people back then didn't either. The larger $50-100 or $500 notes were almost rarely seen, from what I have read. That is, until inflation took hold due to war's privations.

We mostly see these denominations commonly at events due to the fact they are sold readily in envelopes at NPS gift shops. ;)

General rule I follow is keep the bills under $20 in denomination I carry in my pocket, unless needed for a scenario.

Good resources for research:

http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-civilwar/4622

http://www.barrons.com/articles/SB50001424052748703596604578235552788285428

http://www.visit-gettysburg.com/civil-war-money.html

[mikemescher]

Re: need help finding repro US currency

Concerning the value of money, when my wife, Virginia, did her study of store ledgers about fifteen years ago, the rule of thumb then was about 20 to one, i.e., one dollar in period currency would equate to about $20 in modern value. I'm sure it has gone up since then but haven't calculated the new inflation value.

Michael Mescher

[Tyler Underwood]

Re: need help finding repro US currency

Great info on currency, but the original question was a source of makers. Lets keep our focus on that.