Money.org | Replicas of Obsolete Notes

Reprinted from The Numismatist, December 1992. Numismatist is the monthly publication of the American Numismatic Association.

Many times throughout the year the ANA receives phone calls from individuals inquiring about the origin and value of obsolete notes, which predominately date from the 1770s to the 1860s. Most are amazed at our skill in providing the serial number once we are given the date. Amazement fades to dismay when they are informed that "grandpa's heirloom" is actually a cheap imitation produced some 30 years ago.

Often they offer a fainthearted comment about the authentic appearance of the yellowed notes. we explain that these replicas are printed on paper that has been chemically treated to give it an antique, parchment-like look. The replicas usually are printed on paper that is crisp and wavy, with a tan color and browned edges.

Thousands of replica notes were produced prior to the Hobby Protection Act of 1971-73. These copies greatly outnumber the originals and. for the most part, were intended to mark the centennial of the Civil War. Tourists could buy packets of replicas at historic battlefields or other places of interest. Some notes also were produced to promote goods or services.

In England in 1964, replicas of Confederate notes were included in packs of chewing gum as part of a promotion by ABC Chewing Gum of Romford, Essex (see F. Philipson's article, "A Sticky Confederate Issue," in the June 1974 issue of Bank Note Reporter). The notes have black lettering on pink faces and white backs, and measure 5 1/2 X 2 3/4 inches (genuine notes are 7 1/4 X 3 1/4 inches).

The telltale sign of a replica is the static serial number. Serial numbers on genuine specimens are handwritten and advance consecutively with every note. Replicas are produced in quantity and bear the same number.

The accompanying list highlights replicas known to ANA. It should not be considered complete, as others undoubtedly exist. Thanks to Ed Fleischmann, who compiled the main body of this work in 1979 during his tenure with the ANA Certification Service.

KNOWN REPLICAS OF OBSOLETE NOTES

SERIAL #

ALABAMA
State of Alabama (Montgomery); $100; Jan. 1, 1864          834

ARKANSAS
Treasury Warrant; $1; Apr. 28, 1862                     128346

CALIFORNIA
Wells Fargo (San Francisco); $20; Jan. 11, 1871         370455

CANADA
City Bank (Montreal); $4; Jan. 1, 1857                   12549
CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA
$1; Feb. 17, 1864                                        82129
$2; Apr. 6, 1863                                         46695
$5; Feb. 17, 1864                                        18262
$10; Sept. 2, 1861                                        5089
$10; Feb. 17, 1864                                       40679
$20; Sept. 2, 1861                                        1524
$20; Feb. 17, 1864                                       46410
$20; illegible date (probably Sept. 2, 1861)             15247
$50; Sept. 2, 1861                                18441, 23961
$50; Apr. 6, 1863                                         3987
$50; Feb. 17, 1864                                 5670, 72104
$100; May 8, 1862                                        108 ?
$100; Nov. 20, 1862                                65798, no #
$500; Feb. 17, 1864                               16760, 18278
$1,000; May 28, 1861                                178A, 197A
$100,000; Jul. 5, 1861                                    4832
 (See the June 1974 issue of Bank Note Reporter (p. 7) for a list
  of "bubble Gum" wrapper replicas)

CONNECTICUT (COLONIAL)
10 Shillings; Jun. 1, 1780                               11259
Bank of New England; uncut sheet ($3-5-10-20); unissued   no #

CONTINENTAL CURRENCY
$20; Sept. 26, 1778                                     270350

DELAWARE (COLONIAL)
5 Shillings; Jan. 1, 1776                                62101

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Bullion Bank; $3; Jul. 4, 1862                            no #
Columbia Bank; $3; Oct. 20, 1862                          no #
Presidents Bank; $1; 1862                                 no #
 (See United States, Bank of)

FLORIDA
Bank of Fernandina; $5; Feb. 1, 1860                       236
Bank of Florida (Tallahassee); $4; Feb. 1, 1864            542
Bank of St. John's; $5; May 2, 1859                        667
Bank of West Florida; $10; 3 Nov. 1832                    1363
Merchants & Planters Bank; $20; 12 Nov. 1833              13??
State of Florida (Tallahassee); $1; Mar. 1, 1863          2396

GEORGIA
$100; Apr. 6, 1864                                      19567?

GEORGIA (COLONIAL)
$4; Sept. 10, 1777                                 2991, 19567

INDIANA
Citizens Banking House (Gosport); $2; Jul. 1, 1857           ?
Citizens Banking House (Gosport); $3; Jul. 1, 1857        2929
Citizens Banking House (Gosport); $5; Jul. 1, 1857        2658
Exchange Banking House (Indianapolis); $3; Oct. 27, 1819  no #

LOUISIANA
Canal Bank (New Orleans); uncut sheet ($10-10-10-10)      no #
Canal Bank (New Orleans); uncut sheet ($10-20-20-20)      no #
Canal Bank (New Orleans); uncut sheet ($100-100-100-100)  no #
State of Louisiana; $100; Mar. 10, 1863                   2650

MARYLAND
Sommerset & Worcester Savings Bank; $2; Nov. 1, 1862      1564

MARYLAND (COLONIAL)
$8; Apr. 10, 1774                                        14020

MASSACHUSETTS (COLONIAL)
$8; May 5, 1780                                          25480

MICHIGAN
Macomb Country Bank; $2; Apr. 1, 1758                     5203
Tecumseh Bank; $1; undated                                no #

MISSISSIPPI
Treasury Note; $100; Jan. 8, 1862                         2758

NEW HAMPSHIRE (COLONIAL)
30 Shillings; Aug. 24, 1778                                992
$7; Apr. 29, 1780                                   1702, A702

NEW JERSEY
Union County Bank (Plainfield); $5; Sept. 12, 1859        no #

NEW JERSEY (COLONIAL)
18 Pence; Mar. 25, 1776                                   8418

NEW YORK
Bulls Head Bank (new York City); $3; Aug. 10 , 1864       4042
City Trust & Banking Co.; $2,000,000; Dec 21, 1839        5509
Clinton Bank; $100; Dec. 2, 1839                             9
Corporation of the City of Albany; 10 cents; Jul. 17, 1862 676
Genessee County Bank; $52.12; May 5, 1865                16896
Sherman & Barnec (Buffalo); 25 cents; Jul. 11, 1862       no #

NEW YORK (COLONIAL)
5 Pounds; Feb. 16, 1771                                     
24323
$10; Aug. 13, 1776                                 illigible #

NORTH AMERICA
Bank of North America (Philadelphia); $1: Jan. 30, 1862     28
Bank of North America (Philadelphia); $1,000: Jan. 30, 1862 22

NORTH CAROLINA
State of North Carolina; $1; Sept. 1, 1862                 808

NORTH CAROLINA (COLONIAL)
$4; Aug. 8, 1778                                      126, 146

OHIO
Bank of Granville; $3; May 11, 1838                       7374
State Bank of Ohio
  (Franklin Center Branch, Columbus); $1; Jul. 7, 1861    9131

PENNSYLVANIA (COLONIAL)
15 Shillings; Oct. 1, 1773                                5520

RHODE ISLAND (COLONIAL)
$3; Jul. 2, 1780                                          2298

SOUTH CAROLINA
Cotton Planters Loan Association; $5; May 15, 1862         415

SOUTH CAROLINA (COLONIAL)
5 Shillings; Apr. 10, 1778                                 640
$8; Oct. 19, 1776                                         no #

TENNESSEE
Bank of Chattanooga; $2; Jan. 4, 186                      no #

TEXAS
Republic of Texas; $1; June 10, 1840                      2150
Republic of Texas; $2; March 1, 1841                      5214
Republic of Texas; $3; Sept. 1, 1841                       383
Republic of Texas; $5; Jan. 15, 1842                      2231
Republic of Texas; $10; Jan. 25, 184?                     5480
Republic of Texas; $20; Jan. 10, 1840                     1575
Republic of Texas; $50; Jan 1, 1840                       1112
Republic of Texas; $100; 1839                              15?
Republic of Texas; $100; May 29, 1830                      663
Republic of Texas; $500; Jan. 1, 1840                     1381
Texas Treasury Warrant; $5; Oct. 6, 1862                112586

UNITED STATES
Bank of the United States (Washington, DC);
   $10; Jan. 23, 1834                                      646
Bank of the United States (Washington, DC);
   $1,000; Dec. 15, 1840                                  8894
Bank of the United States (Washington, DC);
   $1,000,000; Dec. 25, 1840 (payable to Daniel Boone)     711

VIRGINIA (COLONIAL)
$250; Mar. 1, 1781                                        1165
Bank of Rockbridge; $5; Jan. 8, 1859                      1692
Treasury Note; $100; Oct. 15, 1862                   119, 2875