5¢ Fractional Currency Note

The 1862-1863 First Issue of fractional currency is often called postage currency. Hoarding of coins during the Civil War led Congress to authorize acceptance of postage stamps as currency. But then all the stamps disappeared! So fractional notes that looked like stamps were circulated. This First Issue 5¢ note, with brown face and black back, has straight edges, depicts the George Washington stamp of the era, and bears the American Bank Note Company monogram in the lower right corner of the reverse.