Historical Note

In 1912, the United States Treasury department gifted the University of Missouri Libraries a collection of bills from the Confederate States of America. This collection includes 135 monetary notes, all using the Criswell Numbering System. This system was developed by Grover C. Criswell (1934-1999), a flamboyant and energetic dealer who specialized in Confederate and Southern States currency. In his book by the same name, Grover developed a numbering system for identifying the many varieties of notes. The Criswell numbering system was based on the work of William Bradbeer and is still widely used today.

Confederate currency was first issued at the beginning of the Civil War and used widely in the South as a legitimate means to purchase goods and services. Some currency was printed by the Confederate States of America as a whole, some by individual states, and some by private banks. The bills in this collection were all issued by the Confederate States of America. Due to various printers, confederate currency tended to vary from printing to printing and state to state. Bills issued by the C.S.A. were hand signed and individually numbered by the Treasurer and Register, however, the duty became taxing with the number of bills produced, so secretaries were hired to sign the bills in later printings. It was not uncommon for notes to be printed on a single side or cut unevenly. Ultimately, by the end of the war, Confederate currency was nearly worthless, in part due to forgery as well as the loss of confidence in the Confederacy.

Scope and Content Note

This collection includes 50 cent, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollar bills. All the bills in this collection were printed in Richmond, Virginia, the capital of the Confederacy. They were printed from 1861-1864 and were signed by a variety of treasurers and registers. The bills are in various physical conditions, with many having wrinkles, holes, stains, and tears. Images on the bills included many famous Confederate figures such as Jefferson Davis, R.M.T. Hunter, Judah P. Benjamin, and Lucy Pickens. They also depicted symbols and figures the Confederacy considered important, such as bales of cotton, the goddess of war Minerva, and the capital building in Richmond, Virginia.

Series Descriptions

Paper currency of the Confederate States of America (C.S.A.) with a letter of correspondence documenting gift of currency, along with further descriptive material. 

Series One – Confederate Currency 
Series 2: Correspondence and Supporting Material

Inventory

1861 $50.00 Number 1, Criswell 16, Series 3, Serial Letter: Bb, Tellus (left), George Washington (center); 
1861 $50.00 Number 2, Criswell 75, Serial Letter A2, 2 sailors (left), Moneta with treasure chests (center); 
1861 $50.00 Number 3, Criswell 86, Serial Letter WA, Portrait of Jefferson Davis (center), black/green; 
1861 $20.00 Number 4, Criswell 33, Serial Letter D, Large sailing vessel (center); 
1861 $20.00 Number 5, Criswell 131, Serial Letter A10, Sailor at capstan (left), sailing ships (center); 
1861 $20.00 Number 6, Criswell 139, First Series, Serial Number 6, Portrait A. H. Stephens (left), Industry seated between Cupid & beehive (center), Woman with anchor and palm tree (right); 
1861 $20.00 number 7, Criswell 142, 2 Series, Serial Number 7, Portrait A.H. Stephens (left), Industry seated between Cupid & beehive (center), Woman with anchor and palm tree (right); 
1861 $20.00 Number 8, Criswell 143, 3 Series, Serial Number 10, Portrait A.H. Stephens (right), Industry seated between Cupid & beehive (center), Woman with anchor and palm tree (right); 
1861 $20.00 Number 9, Criswell 147, Serial Letter X, Portrait Alexander H. Stephens (center), green ornamentation; 
1861 $10.00 Number 10, Criswell variation of 36 or 37, Serial Letter A, Woman (left), Liberty with eagle shield and flag (center); 
1861 $10.00 Number 11, Criswell 156, Serial Letter K, Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (left), child (right), black and orange/red; 
1861 $10.00, Number 12, Criswell 173, Serial Letter Y, Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (left), Hope with anchor (center), Portrait C.G. Memminger (right), solid red “X” & “Y” overprint; 
1861 $10.00 Number 13, Criswell 168, Serial Letter Z, Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (left), Hope with anchor (center), Portrait C.G. Memminger (right); 
1816 $10.00 Number 14, Criswell 201, 2nd Series, Serial Letter Z, Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (left), Hope with anchor (center), Portrait C.G. Memminger (right); 
1861 Number 15, Criswell 230, Serial Letter A10, Liberty and Commerce with urn (left), Train (right); 
1861 $10.00, Number 16, Criswell 237, Serial Letter F, Man picking cotton (center); 
1816 $10.00, Number 17, Criswell 238, First Series, Serial Number 2, Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (left), General Francis Marion’s sweet potato dinner (center), Minerva (right); 
1861 $10.00 Number 18, Criswell 239, Second Series, Serial Number 8, Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (left), General Francis Marion’s sweet potato dinner (center), Minerva (right); 
1816 $10.00, Number 19, Criswell 240, Third Series, Serial Number 1, Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (left), General Francis Marion’s sweet potato dinner (center), Minerva (right); 
1861 $10.00, Number 20, Criswell 242, Fourth Series, Serial Number 5, Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (left), Gen. Francis Marion’s sweet potato dinner (center), Minerva (right); 
1861 $5.00 Number 21, Criswell 44, Serial Letter Bb, Sailor (left), Liberty with eagle (center); 
1861 $5.00 Number 22, Criswell 251, Serial Letter I, Portrait C.G. Memminger (left), Minerva (right), green ornamentation; 
1861 $5.00 Number 23, Criswell 268, Serial Letter H, Portrait C.G. Memminger (left), Minerva (right); 
1861 $5.00 Number 24, Criswell 272, Serial Number 11A, Sailor (left), Ceres on bale of cotton (center); 
1861 $5.00 Number 25, Criswell 278, Second Series, Serial Number 11A, Sailor (left), Ceres on bale of cotton (center); 
1861 $5.00 Number 26, Criswell 284, Serial Letter A, Portrait C.G. Memminger (left), sailor with bales of cotton (center), Justice and Ceres (right); 
1861 $5.00 Number 27, Criswell 285, Second Series, Serial Number 4, Portrait C.G. Memminger (left), sailor with bales of coon (center), Justice and Ceres (right); 
1862 $50.00 Number 28, Criswell 353, Serial Letter YA, Portrait Jefferson Davis (center), black and green/green reverse; 
1862 $50.00 Number 29, Criswell 350, Serial Letter YA, Portrait Jefferson Davis (center), black and green/green reverse. 

1862 $20.00 Number 30, Criswell 364, 1st Series, Serial Letter H, State Capitol at Nashville (left), Portrait A.H. Stephens (right), blue reverse; 
1862 $20.00 Number 31, Criswell 365, 1st Series, Serial Letter B, State Capitol at Nashville (left), portrait A.H. Stephens (right), blue reverse; 
1862 (actually 1861) $10.00 Number 32, Criswell 343, Serial Letter M, Ceres reclining on cotton bales (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right); 
1862 $10.00 Number 33, Criswell 376, Serial Letter A, State Capitol at Columbia, SC (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right) Pink paper/blue reverse; 
1862 $10.00 Number 34, Criswell 371, 2 Series, Serial Letter H, State Capitol at Columbia, SC (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right), pink paper/blue reverse; 
1862 $10.00 Number 35, Criswell 373, 3 Series, Serial Letter B, State Capitol at Columbia, SC (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right), pink paper/blue reverse; 
1862 $10.00 Number 36, Criswell 377, 3rd Series, Serial Letter D, State Capitol at Columbia, SC (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right), pink paper/blue reverse; 
1862 $10.00, Number 37, Criswell variation of 377, 3 series Serial Letter D, State Capitol at Columbia, SC (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter(right), pink paper/blue reverse; 
1862 $10.00 Number 38, Criswell 375, 4 Series, Serial Letter E, State capitol at Columbia, SC (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right), pink paper/blue reverse; 
1862 $5.00 Number 39, Criswell 382, 1st Series, Serial Letter H, State Capitol at Richmond, VA (center), Portrait C.G. Memminger (right), blue reverse; 
1862 $5.00 Number 40, Criswell 383, 2nd Series, Serial Letter B, State Capitol at Richmond VA (center), Portrait C.G. Memminger (right), blue reverse; 
1862 $5.00 Number 41, Criswell 387, 3rd Series, Serial Letter G, State Capitol at Richmond, VA (center), Portrait C.G. Memminger (right), blue reverse;1862 $2.00 Number 42, Criswell 334, First Series, Serial Number 5, Portrait J.P. Benjamin (left), Personification of South striking down Union (center); 
1862 $2.00 Number 43, Criswell 336, Second Series, Serial Number 8, Portrait J.P. Benjamin (left), Personification of South striking down Union (center); 
1862 $2.00 Number 44, Criswell 337, Third Series, Serial Number 1, Portrait of J.P. Benjamin (left), Personification of South striking down Union (center); 
1862 $2.00 Number 45, Criswell 338, Second Series, Serial Number 9, Portrait of J.P. Benjamin (left), Personification of South striking down Union (center), green overprint; 
1862 $1.00 Number 46, Criswell 339, First Series, Serial Number 7, Liberty (left), steamship (center), Portrait Lucy Holcombe Pickens (right); 
1862 $1.00 Number 47, Criswell 341, Third Series, Serial Number 10, Liberty (left), Steamship (center), Portrait Lucy Holcombe Pickens (right); 
1862 $1.00 Number 48 Criswell 342A, Second Series, Serial Number 8, Liberty (left), Steamship (center), Portrait Lucy Holcombe Pickens (right), green overprint; 
1862 $1.00 Number 49, Criswell 398, 1st Series, Serial Letter F, Portrait Clement C. Clay (right); 
1862 $1.00 Number 50, Criswell 401, Serial Letter A, Portrait Clement C. Clay (right); 
1863 $100.00 Number 51, Criswell 325, Serial Letter Z, Portrait J.C. Calhoun (left), Men hoeing cotton (center), Columbia (right), orange/red overprint; 
1863 $100.00, Number 52, Criswell 402/7, Serial Letter A, Two soldiers (left), Portrait Lucy H. Pickens (center), Portrait George W. Randolph (right);1863 $50.00 Number 53, Criswell 411/8, Serial Letter XA, Portrait Jefferson Davis (left), green and black/green reverse; 
1863 $50.00 Number 54, Criswell 412/8, 1st Series, Serial Letter YA, Portrait Jefferson Davis (left), green and black/green reverse; 
1863 $20.00 Number 55, Criswell 426/3, 2nd Series, Serial Letter B, State Capitol at Nashville, TN (center), Portrait A.H. Stephens (right); 
1863 $20.00 Number 56, Criswell 428/5, 3rd Series, Serial Letter C, State Capitol at Nashville, TN (center), Portrait A.H. Stephens (right); 
1863, $10.00 Number 57, Criswell 429/10, Serial Letter C, State Capitol at Columbia SC (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right), blue reverse; 
1863 $10.00 Number 58, Criswell 430/8, 1st Series, Serial Letter G, State Capitol at Columbia, SC (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right); 
1863 $10.00 Number 59, Criswell 434/9, 5th Series, Serial Letter E, State Capitol at Columbia, SC (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right), blue reverse; 
1863 $10.00 Number 60, Criswell 437/3, 1st Series, Serial Letter A, State Capitol at Columbia, SC (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right), blue reverse; 
1863 $10.00 Number 61, Criswell 442/6, 2nd Series, Serial Letter G, State Capitol at Columbia, SC (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right), blue reverse; 
1863 $5.00 Number 62, Criswell 450/1, 1st Series, Serial Letter G, State Capitol at Richmond, VA (left) Portrait C.G. Memminger (center), blue reverse; 
1863 $5.00 Number 63, Criswell 453/5, 2nd Series, Serial Letter A, State Capitol at Richmond, VA (left), Portrait C.G. Memminger (center), blue reverse; 
1863 $5.00 Number 64, Criswell 453/3, 2nd Series, Serial Letter A, State Capitol at Richmond, VA (left), Portrait C.G. Memminger (center), blue reverse; 
1863 $5.00 Number 65, Criswell 458/7, 3rd Series, Serial Letter C, State Capitol at Richmond, VA (left), Portrait C.G. Memminger (center), blue reverse.  

1863 $5.00 Number 66, Criswell 458/11, 3rd Series, Serial Letter F, State Capitol at Richmond, VA (left), Portrait C.G. Memminger (center), blue reverse; 
1863 $5.00 Number 67, Criswell 464/8, Serial Letter B, State Capitol at Richmond, VA (left), Portrait C.G. Memminger (center), blue reverse; 
1862 (1863?) $2.00 Number 68, Criswell 470? 1st Series, Serial Letter F, decorative numeral; 
1863 $2.00 Number 69, Criswell 470, 1st Series, Serial Letter G, Portrait Judah P. Benjamin (right); 
1863 $2.00 Number 70, Criswell 471, 2nd Series, Serial Letter H(?), Portrait Judah P. Benjamin (right); 
1863 $1.00 Number 71, Criswell 474, 1st Series, Serial Letter A, Portrait Clement C. Clay (center); 
1863 $1.00 Number 72, Criswell 478, 2nd Series, Serial Letter D, Portrait Clement C. Clay (left); 
1863 $0.50 Number 73, Criswell 485, First Series, Serial Letter A, Bust of Jefferson Davis (center); 
1863 $0.50 Number 74, Criswell 485, First Series, Serial Letter B, Bust of Jefferson Davis (center); 
1863 $0.50 Number 75, Criswell 485, First Series, Serial Letter C, Bust of Jefferson Davis (center); 
1863 $0.50 Number 76, Criswell 485, First Series, Serial Letter D, Bust of Jefferson Davis (center); 
1863 $0.50 Number 77, Criswell 485, First Series, Serial Letter E, Bust of Jefferson Davis (center); 
1863 $0.50 Number 78, Criswell 485, First Series, Serial Letter F, Bust of Jefferson Davis (center); 
1863 $0.50 Number 79, Criswell 485, First Series, Serial Letter G, Bust of Jefferson Davis (center);1863 $0.50 Number 80, Criswell 485, First Series, Serial Letter H, Bust of Jefferson Davis (center); 
1863 $0.50 Number 81, Criswell 485, First Series, Serial Letter I, Bust of Jefferson Davis (center); 
1864 $100.00 Number 82, Criswell 490, Serial Letter B, Two soldiers (left), Portrait Lucy Pickens (center), Portrait Geo. W. Randolph (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $50.00 Number 83, Criswell 498, 3 Series, Serial Letter A, reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $50.00 Number 84, Criswell 499, 4 Series, Serial Letter A, Portrait Jefferson Davis (center), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $50.00 Number 85, Criswell 500, Serial Letter A, Portrait Jefferson Davis (center), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $50.00 Number 86, Criswell 501, 1st Series, Serial Letter A, Portrait Jefferson Davis (center), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864, $50.00 Number 87, Criswell 502, 2 Series, Serial Letter A, Portrait Jefferson Davis (center), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $20.00 Number 88, Criswell 516, Serial Letter C, State Capitol at Nashville, TN (left), Portrait A.H. Stephens (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $20.00 Number 89, Criswell 517, Series 1, Serial Letter A, State Capitol at Nashville, TN (left) Portrait A.H. Stephens (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $20.00 Number 90, Criswell 518, Series 2, Serial Letter B, State Capitol at Nashville, TN (left) Portrait A.H. Stephens (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $20.00 Number 91, Criswell 519, Series 3, Serial Letter D, State Capitol at Nashville, TN (left), Portrait A.H. Stephens (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $20.00 Number 92, Criswell 520, Series 4, Serial Letter B, State Capitol at Nashville, TN (left), Portrait A.H. Stephens (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $20.00 Number 93, Criswell 521, 5 Series, Serial Letter D, State Capitol at Nashville, TN (left), Portrait A.H. Stephens (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $20.00 Number 94, Criswell 522, VI Series, Serial Letter B, State Capitol at Nashville, TN (left), Portrait A.H. Stephens (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $20.00 Number 95, Criswell 523, VII Series, Serial Letter B, State Capitol at Nashville, TN (left), Portrait A.H. Stephens (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $20.00 Number 96, Criswell 524, VIII Series, Serial Letter C, State Capitol at Nashville, TN (left), Portrait A.H. Stephens (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $20.00 Number 97, Criswell 525, IX Series, Serial Letter D, State Capitol at Nashville, TN (left), Portrait A.H. Stephens (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $20.00 Number 98, Criswell 526, X Series, Serial Letter C, State Capitol at Nashville, TN (left), Portrait A.H. Stephens (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $10.00 Number 99, Criswell 540, Serial Letter H, Horse pulling cannon (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right), reddish background/blue reverse. 

1864 $10.00 Number 100, Criswell 541, 1st Series, Serial Letter C, Horse pulling cannon (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $10.00 Number 101, Criswell 543, 2 Series, Serial Letter B, Horse pulling cannon (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $10.00 Number 102, Criswell 545, 3 Series, Serial Letter F, Horse pulling cannon (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $10.00 Number 103, Criswell 546, 4 Series, Serial Letter A, Horse pulling cannon (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $10.00 Number 104, Criswell 547, 5 Series, Serial Letter C, Horse pulling cannon (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $10.00 Number 105, Criswell 548, 6 Series, Serial Letter E, Horse pulling cannon (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $10.00 Number 106, Criswell 549A, 7 Series, Serial Letter H, Horse pulling cannon (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $10.00 Number 107, Criswell 550, 8 Series, Serial Letter D, Horse pulling cannon (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $10.00 Number 108, Criswell 551, 9 Series, Serial Letter H, Horse pulling cannon (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $10.00 Number 109, Criswell 552, 10 Series, Serial Letter F, Horse pulling cannon (center), Portrait R.M.T. Hunter (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $5.00 Number 110, Criswell 558, Serial Letter C, State Capitol at Richmond, VA (center), Portrait C.G. Memminger (right); 
1864 $5.00 Number 111, Criswell 560, Series 2, Serial Letter A, State Capitol at Richmond, VA (center), Portrait C.G. Memminger (right); 
1864 $5.00 Number 112, Criswell 561, Series 3, Serial Letter A, State Capitol at Richmond, VA (center), Portrait, C.G. Memminger (right); 
1864 $5.00 Number 113, Criswell 562, Series 4, Serial Letter E, State Capitol at Richmond, VA (center), Portrait C.G. Memminger (right); 
1864 $5.00 Number 114, Criswell 563, Series 5, Serial Letter G, State Capitol at Richmond, VA (center), Portrait, C.G. Memminger (right); 
1864 $5.00 Number 115, Criswell 564, Series 6, Serial Letter C, State Capitol at Richmond, VA (center), Portrait C.G. Memminger (right); 
1864 $2.00 Number 116, Serial Letter A, Portrait Judah P. Benjamin (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $2.00 Number 117, Criswell 567, Serial Letter B, Portrait Judah P. Benjamin (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $2.00 Number 118, Criswell 567, Serial Letter C, Portrait Judah P. Benjamin (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $2.00 Number 119, Criswell 567, Serial Letter D, Portrait Judah P. Benjamin (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $2.00 Number 120, Criswell 567, Serial Letter E, Portrait Judah P. Benjamin (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $2.00 Number 121, Criswell 567, Serial Letter G, Portrait Judah P. Benjamin (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $2.00 Number 122, Criswell 567, Serial Letter H, Portrait Judah P. Benjamin (right), reddish background/blue reverse; 
1864 $1.00 Number 123, Criswell 574, Serial Letter D, Portrait Clement C. Clay (center); 
1864 $1.00 Number 124, Criswell 574, Serial Letter F, Portrait Clement C. Clay (center); 
1864 $1.00 Number 125, Criswell 576A, Serial Letter B, Portrait Clement C. Clay (center), red background; 
1864 $1.00 Number 126, Criswell 576A, Serial Letter E, Portrait Clement C. Clay (center), red background;1864 $0.50 Number 127, Criswell 578, 1st Series, Serial Letter A, Bust of Jefferson Davis (center); 
1864 $0.50 Number 128, Criswell 578, 1st Series, Serial Letter B, Bust of Jefferson Davis (center); 
1864 $0.50, Number 129, Criswell 578, 1st Series, Serial Letter C , Bust of Jefferson Davis (center); 
1864 $0.50 Number 130, Criswell 578, 1st Series, Serial Letter D, Bust of Jefferson Davis (center); 
1864 $0.50 Number 131, Criswell 578, 1st Series, Serial Letter E, Bust of Jefferson Davis (center); 
1864 $0.50 Number 132, Criswell 578, 1st Series, Serial Letter F, Bust of Jefferson Davis (center); 
1864 $0.50 Number 133, Criswell 578, 1st Series, Serial Letter G, Bust of Jefferson Davis (center); 
1864 $0.50 Number 134, Criswell 578, 1st Series, Serial Letter H, Bust of Jefferson Davis (center); 
1864 $0.50 Number 135, Criswell 578, 1st Series, Serial Letter I, Bust of Jefferson Davis (center). 

MU Catalog: Confederate Currency Collection.