1861 15c Corporation of Winchester, VIRGINIA (Upham Facsimile) Note w/ IMPRINT!
1861 15c The Corporation of Winchester facsimile note printed by Samuel Upham.
This note is printed in red ink with the signatures, date, and serial number printed in black. At the center is a Vignette of the Great Seal of the State of Virginia which includes the Goddess, Virtue standing on a defeated Tyrant with the motto above, "SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS" which means "Thus Always to Tyrants".
Upham owned a store in Philadelphia where he sold cosmetics, drugs, stationery, and newspapers. When the Civil War hit, he came up with a new business idea. Many customers in the Union states were curious about Confederate money and Southern banks so he began to print notes such as this one to sell, showing people what Southern currency was like. Many of these notes found their way South and passed as genuine, further destabilizing the Confederate's financial system. What began as a souvenir for the North was quickly becoming a problem for the South. Confederate President Jefferson Davis even put a bounty on Samuel Upham's head for $10,000. By mid 1863, Confederate finances were in such a mess that even genuine notes began to lose all value. After the war, Upham was quite proud of the contribution he made to the Union victory. He shortly went back to selling stationery and newspapers. Today, Upham's souvenir printings are prized collectibles! Upham passed away on June 29, 1885 at the age of 56.
This note grades About Uncirculated.
It measures ~ 7" x 3".
1861 15c The Corporation of Winchester facsimile note printed by Samuel Upham.
This note is printed in red ink with the signatures, date, and serial number printed in black. At the center is a Vignette of the Great Seal of the State of Virginia which includes the Goddess, Virtue standing on a defeated Tyrant with the motto above, "SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS" which means "Thus Always to Tyrants".
Upham owned a store in Philadelphia where he sold cosmetics, drugs, stationery, and newspapers. When the Civil War hit, he came up with a new business idea. Many customers in the Union states were curious about Confederate money and Southern banks so he began to print notes such as this one to sell, showing people what Southern currency was like. Many of these notes found their way South and passed as genuine, further destabilizing the Confederate's financial system. What began as a souvenir for the North was quickly becoming a problem for the South. Confederate President Jefferson Davis even put a bounty on Samuel Upham's head for $10,000. By mid 1863, Confederate finances were in such a mess that even genuine notes began to lose all value. After the war, Upham was quite proud of the contribution he made to the Union victory. He shortly went back to selling stationery and newspapers. Today, Upham's souvenir printings are prized collectibles! Upham passed away on June 29, 1885 at the age of 56.
This note grades About Uncirculated.
It measures ~ 7" x 3".
1861 15c The Corporation of Winchester facsimile note printed by Samuel Upham.
This note is printed in red ink with the signatures, date, and serial number printed in black. At the center is a Vignette of the Great Seal of the State of Virginia which includes the Goddess, Virtue standing on a defeated Tyrant with the motto above, "SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS" which means "Thus Always to Tyrants".
Upham owned a store in Philadelphia where he sold cosmetics, drugs, stationery, and newspapers. When the Civil War hit, he came up with a new business idea. Many customers in the Union states were curious about Confederate money and Southern banks so he began to print notes such as this one to sell, showing people what Southern currency was like. Many of these notes found their way South and passed as genuine, further destabilizing the Confederate's financial system. What began as a souvenir for the North was quickly becoming a problem for the South. Confederate President Jefferson Davis even put a bounty on Samuel Upham's head for $10,000. By mid 1863, Confederate finances were in such a mess that even genuine notes began to lose all value. After the war, Upham was quite proud of the contribution he made to the Union victory. He shortly went back to selling stationery and newspapers. Today, Upham's souvenir printings are prized collectibles! Upham passed away on June 29, 1885 at the age of 56.
This note grades About Uncirculated.
It measures ~ 7" x 3".