1862 Confederate States of America 100 Dollar Bill Value Guide

The 1862 Confederate States of America $100 bill, specifically the T-41 series, is a poignant artifact of Civil War history featuring a central vignette of slaves hoeing cotton. As an interest-bearing note, it functioned as a government IOU rather than standard currency, making it a unique specimen for numismatic collectors.

What affects the value of 1862 Confederate States of America 100 Dollar Bill?

• Condition and crispness of the paper, as many surviving notes suffer from heavy folding or 'pinholes'.
• The presence of clear, vibrant orange-red ink, which can fade or be absent on lower-quality specimens.
• The clarity of the hand-written serial numbers and signatures of the Register and Treasurer.
• Evidence of 'cut-canceling' or stamps indicating the note was redeemed or processed during the war.

How to Identify 1862 Confederate States of America 100 Dollar Bill?

• Look for the portrait of John C. Calhoun on the left and an allegorical figure representing Columbia on the right.
• Verify the presence of the distinct orange-red '100' overprints designed to deter period counterfeiters.
• Check for hand-signed signatures and handwritten dates, which were standard for these interest-bearing issues.
• Examine the paper quality for the thin, often brittle texture characteristic of authentic 1860s Confederate currency.

History of 1862 Confederate States of America 100 Dollar Bill

Issued during the American Civil War by the Confederate States of America, this 1862 note was part of the 'Interest Bearing' series. Because the South lacked a central gold reserve, these notes functioned more as IOUs that promised repayment with interest after a treaty of peace was signed. The orange-red color was intended to deter counterfeiters, though many variations and fakes were produced both during and after the war.