Obsolete Currency

From the latter part of the 1700’s through the early 1870’s obsolete currency (often referred to as Broken Bank Notes) came from many sources, i.e.; States, Counties, Municipalities, Military, Banks, Corporations, and Private Merchants just to mention a few. Most people don’t realize that before the U.S. Government started regulating the banking industry in 1861, the aforementioned had their own money printed and thus provided collectors with lots of different themes and varieties. There are many choices and collectors can focus on their preferred notes. You can collect notes with a certain vignette (picture or scene), a particular State, city, or bank. Some people collect notes with bridges, signatures, cattle, horses, whales, ships, etc, and yes, even Santa Claus! Many obsolete bank notes are absolutely beautiful in artistic design and coloring. Depending on the grade (condition) many of these types notes are fairly inexpensive and readily available. Every paper money collector should have at least one piece of obsolete currency in his/her collection! There are many different references for individual states currency and they can be found online from various publishers and book dealers. For Southern States currency, I highly recommend “Southern States Currency” by Hugh Shull, published by Whitman Publishing Company.