0 Confederate States Coupon Bond – Criswell 45, Ball 119

Description

0 Confederate States Coupon Bond – Criswell 45, Ball 119
Offered for your consideration is a 0 coupon bond issued by the Confederate States of America under the Act of August 19, 1861. It was catalogued by the late Grover Criswell as Cr. 45 and by the late Dr. Douglas Ball as B. 119. The central vignette features a portrait of Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter, a pre-war United States representative and senator, as well as a short-term Confederate Secretary of State and long-term Confederate senator, presented in a circular frame and surrounded by an ornate floral design. Immediately above, printed in an arc, is
“CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA LOAN”
, with the maturation date and the interest rate at the upper left and right, respectively. Below the vignette, printed in a lovely italic scrip, is a lengthy financial obligation which states (in part) that “
On the first day of July, 1879, The Confederate States of America will pay to the Bearer of this Bond … the sum of ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS with Interest thereon … at the rate of Eight per Cent. per annum …
”. This is followed by a statement that
“… This debt is authorized by an Act of Congress, approved August 19, 1861 entitled ‘An Act to authorize the issue of Treasury Notes and to provide a War Tax for their redemption …’”
. It further states that,
“… the Register of the Treasury, in pursuance of the said Act of Congress, hath hereunto set his hand and affixed the seal of the Treasury at RICHMOND, this
19
day of
Dec
186
2
…”
, with the signature of the register,
“Ro. Tyler”
, appearing at the lower right. A decorative, rectangular border, with the denomination repeated on three sides and a feline face amid a floral design on the fourth, with circular medallions at each corner, encloses all of the foregoing elements, neatly separating them from the remaining 29 interest coupons. Each of these coupons is valued at
“FOUR DOLLARS”
and hand-signed by
“H Starke”
, an employee of the Confederate Treasury. This bond was printed by
“B. DUNCAN COLUMBIA. S.C.”
, as evidenced by their imprint at the lower center.
In common with most government bonds of this era, the reverse of this piece is blank. Confederate fiscal records indicate that 1,399 bonds of this type were originally issued, though how many have survived the intervening 150+ years is unknown (this particular bond is very near the end of the issue, bearing as it does serial number “
1359
”). A great bond to frame with a piece of Confederate currency for display in a den or office.
Robert Tyler
was the son of John Tyler, the 10
th
President of the United States, and served as the register of the Confederate Treasury from August 13, 1861 until the close of the war. He received his position mainly through the influence of his father and not due to any special abilities of his own. It is interesting to note that during his father’s administration, Robert spent a great deal of time in the White House, and his wife served for some time as the official hostess.
This piece exhibits light toning across the entire surface, imparting to the document a beige to tan hue, somewhat darker at the top corners and along the edges (these can be hidden if the bond is matted for framing). Several foxing spots are scattered throughout the design, slightly more visible on the blank back. The contrast is average for the issue, with the manuscript additions being sharp and fully legible. Due the acidic nature of the period ink, minor erosion is present when the bond is viewed from the back. In common with virtually all documents of this type, numerous horizontal and vertical folds (as well as some on the diagonal) are present (these folds occurred when the bonds were placed in safes or the cubbyholes of desks), with wrinkles noted at the edges (possibly from being wet in the past). The margins are average for the issue, with the bottom being cut to the frame of the coupons (this occurred when the coupons were removed for redemption). This bond, measuring approximately 13¾ x 14⅞ inches, is very popular with framers, especially with the floral design and decorative border. An attractive and historic memento of that turbulent period in American history.
A charge of .95 will be added to the winning bid for postage and insurance.
If you have any questions concerning this item, please ask before purchasing.
Buy or Bid with Confidence – American Coins & Collectibles President Richie Self has worked 6 years as a paper money grader/authenticator. He has contributed to numerous reference books within the industry, as well as being a co-author of “The Comprehensive Catalog and History of Confederate Bonds, 2
nd
Edition” with Douglas B. Ball, Ph.D., Henry F. Simmons, M.D., Ph.D. and James R. Desabaye. Mr. Self is a life member of the American Numismatic Association, the Society of Paper Money Collectors, as well as numerous regional numismatic associations. He is an authorized submitter to NGC, PCGS, and PMG, a diamond founding member of Coin Dealers Helping Coin Dealers and a supporter of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets. American Coins and Collectibles can be found at many of the state and local coin shows.
American Coins and Collectibles
Shreveport, LA