Confederate States of America $100 Bill Value Guide

The 1862 $100 Confederate note is a significant piece of Civil War history, notable for its unique status as an interest-bearing security that accrued two cents per day. This T-41 series bill is highly collectible due to its detailed vignettes of enslaved laborers and its portrait of South Carolina statesman John C. Calhoun.

What Is Confederate States of America $100 Bill Worth?

The typical price range for Confederate States of America $100 Bill is $180 - $200 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Paper crispness and the absence of heavy staining or 'pinholes' from period storage.
• The clarity of the hand-written signatures and the visibility of the serial number.
• Presence of 'cut-canceled' marks or heavy circulation wear which can decrease the $180-$200 market average.
• Centering of the print and the integrity of the borders, as many were hand-cut from sheets unevenly.

How to Identify Confederate States of America $100 Bill?

• Look for the central vignette depicting enslaved people hoeing cotton and the portrait of John C. Calhoun on the lower left.
• Verify the 'Interest at two cents per day' text printed across the face of the note.
• Check for hand-signed signatures and handwritten serial numbers, which were standard for these 1862 issues.
• Examine the paper quality; authentic notes were often printed on thin, plain paper that may show 'crinkling' or original fold lines.

History of Confederate States of America $100 Bill

Issued between 1862 and 1863, this T-41 series note features central vignettes of enslaved people hoeing cotton and a portrait of John C. Calhoun at the left. It was unusual as an interest-bearing note, intended to encourage citizens to hold onto the currency rather than spend it, accruing interest at two cents per day. As the Confederacy's fortunes declined, the note's purchasing power plummeted, eventually becoming worthless after the war ended in 1865.