Is It a Find?!

Dear Dan, I found this Civil War Confederate $100 loan certificate folded in an old book. It looks to be original and has real signatures. I was wondering what information you may be willing to share with me about it. Thank you for your input. Mark Hello Mark, At the beginning of the Civil War in 1861 the South needed to find ways to fund their war effort. One of their means was to issue a series of loans or bonds. From 1861 to 1864 the South printed over 150 different types of Confederated bonds ranging from $50 to $10,000. These bonds came with attached coupons at the bottom, which every six months could be redeemed for partial repayment plus interest. Each bond featured a serial number and an official signature that was also present on the corresponding coupons. These bonds became worthless at the end of the Civil War with the collapse of the Confederate government. Bonds that have all the coupons fully intact will sell for a premium to collectors as opposed to those with few removed. Like the bond you presented, often, they retail for about $100, with a few rare exceptions realizing upwards of a several thousand dollars. It would be best to find a rigid plastic sleeve to store it in. Thank you for the question and the great piece of history.