Thanks to a special purchase of 1861 $2 Notes in the possession of one family for over 150 years, you can own an heirloom-quality Civil War collectible! Due to a severe Civil War money shortage, many southern states, cities and businesses printed their own currency. This Crisp Unused 1861 $2 Note was issued by the New Orleans, Jackson & Great Northern Rail Road Company – a prominent Confederate railroad. These notes were issued in New Orleans on Nov. 16, 1861 (stated near top border), before that city was captured by the Union in 1862. After its capture, this railroad firm was allowed to continue printing currency to keep the company healthy and to put this vital railroad line in service to the Union.
The face, which depicts a steam locomotive pulling passenger cars around a bend, bears red handwritten signatures of company officials R.S. Charles and E. Solomon, and a handwritten red serial number to the left of the illustration. Due to a wartime paper shortage, these notes were produced on currency stock already printed on one side for an earlier financial institution. So the back shows portions of $1 and $2 notes previously produced for a former bank in Mississippi. Don't miss this opportunity to own a prominent Civil War currency note in Crisp Unused condition!