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5 Cents State of Alabama
| Issuer | State of Alabama |
|---|---|
| Year | 1863 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Obverse description | A cotton boll and leaves vignette occupies the central upper portion of the note. At the left edge, a shaded rectangular panel carries the letterpress inscription FIVE CENTS in bold type, with the series designation 1st SERIES running vertically along its right border. The central text field, set in multiple typefaces, bears the full obligation: THE STATE OF ALABAMA / WILL PAY TO BEARER IN / Confederate States Treasury Notes / when presented at the State Treas.y / in sums of TWENTY DOLLARS and upwards / FIVE CENTS. / Montgomery, January 1st 1863, with a further legend along the lower border reading RECEIVABLE IN PAYMENT OF ALL PUBLIC DUES. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | FIVE CENTS 5 No. THE STATE OF ALABAMA WILL PAY TO BEARER IN Confederate States Treasury Notes when presented at the State Treas.y in sums of Twenty Dollars and upwards. FIVE CENTS. Montgomery, January 1st 1863. 1st SERIES. RECEIVABLE IN PAYMENT OF ALL PUBLIC DUES |
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| Comments |
Alabama issued fractional currency in 1863 partly because small Federal coins had completely vanished from circulation — hoarded the moment war disrupted normal commerce. States, counties, and even individual businesses stepped in to fill the gap, and Alabama's treasury notes were among the more formally organized attempts to do so.
J.T. Paterson & Co. operated out of Montgomery and handled much of the Confederacy-adjacent printing work coming through Alabama during this period. The notes were redeemable in Confederate currency, which by 1863 was itself depreciating rapidly — a detail that made even newly issued fractional notes questionable tender.