Civil War Fredericksburg Obsolete Municipal Notes.

These are Civil War-era municipal emergency notes (“shinplasters”) issued by the Corporation of Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1861—a scarce and desirable category of obsolete U.S. currency.

Identification

There are four notes:

25 Cents

Dated Sept. 19, 1861

“Due by the Corporation of Fredericksburg”

Municipal emergency issue

$1.00

Dated Oct. 3, 1862

“Due by the Corporation of Fredericksburg”

Larger denomination city note

50 Cents

Dated Sept. 17, 1861

Printed by Hoyer & Ludwig, Richmond, Va.

50 Cents

Another design, same issuer

Also printed by Hoyer & Ludwig, Richmond, Va.

These are examples of Virginia obsolete currency, issued because coinage disappeared from circulation during the Civil War.

Why they matter

Fredericksburg, Virginia was a major Civil War location, especially during the Battle of Fredericksburg.

These combine:

Civil War history

Local Virginia history

Obsolete currency design

Scarcity

Condition assessment

Very heavily circulated

Significant staining / toning

Edge damage

Folds

Possible repairs / backing wear

Weak reverse details