1863 Special Texas Treasury Warrant - Payable in Confederate Notes

Description

1863 Special Texas Treasury Warrant - Payable in Confederate Notes
Offered for your consideration is an 1863 Treasury Warrant issued by the state of Texas, payable in Confederate notes. Headlined “
Special Treasury Warrant
” and issued by “
THE TREASURER OF THE STATE OF TEXAS
”, the body of this document states that the issuing authority “
Will pay to the Order of
H Murphy pr C H Randolph Three hundred & thirty four 62/100 (Confed Notes)
Dollars, it being for
Amt School Fund due Denton County for 1863
and chardge the same to account of Special Deposit.
” (note the spelling of the word “
charge
”). This piece was issued from the “
COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE, AUSTIN
” on “
Decr. 8 1863
” and signed at the conclusion by “
CH Randolph
” and “
CR Johns
” in their capacities as “
Treasurer
” and “
Comptroller
”, respectively. The serial number and amount appear at the top at the left and right, respectively. All of the foregoing information is enclosed on three sides by decorative borders, with the one at the left being particularly intricate. A manuscript “
Paid
” notation can be seen near the center of the document. The back was originally blank, though it now bears the signature of “
CH Randolph
” at the center. An interesting item, especially with the specification for payment in “
Confed. Notes
” and the misspelling of the word charge. One wonders how the fractional amount was to be paid, since the Confederacy produced no coins, and had only the same year as this piece begun issuing a 50¢ note. It has been estimated by a leading researcher in the field that less than 100 of these forms still exist. A great addition to any Civil War era collection, or as an adjunct to a period Texas currency set.
Cyrus Halbert Randolph
was born in St. Clair County, Illinois, on December 9, 1817, though he subsequently lived in Missouri, Tennessee, and Alabama prior to March, 1838, when he moved to Texas and settled in Houston County. An attorney by profession, Randolph served as justice of the peace for Houston County in 1840 and was chief justice of the county by 1843. He was elected sheriff in 1847, serving one year, and a member of the Texas House of Representatives from November, 1851 through November, 1857. Randolph served as the state treasurer from 1859 through 1865. Cyrus Halbert Randolph died on August 30, 1889 and was buried in the Oakwood Cemetery, in Austin, Texas.
Clement Reed Johns
was born in Rutherford County, Tennessee, on August 12, 1816. He graduated from Jackson College in 1836, after which he moved with his family to Texas. Between 1837 and 1845 he was active in the border conflicts, rising to the rank of major and inspector of the Fourth Brigade. In 1840-41 he represented Red River County in the Texas Congress. He was elected state comptroller in 1858, serving until his retirement from public life in 1865. Clement Reed Johns died in Austin, Texas on July 30, 1886, and was buried in that city’s Oakwood Cemetery.
The currently offered document exhibits signs of expected period use, followed by years of storage. Light toning is present across the entire surface, imparting to the paper a pale blue appearance. This toning is slightly darker at the edges, particularly along the bottom. The manuscript additions to the text appear to be somewhat faded, while the signatures of the two officers are sharp and bold (the treasurer’s signature exhibits ink smears across many of the letters). The signature on the back also seems to be slightly faded, though not as much as the principal text. The edges are cut tight, with each of the decorative borders experiencing some damage to their design. All of the edges appear to be somewhat irregular, though it is most pronounced at the top and bottom. Measuring approximately 3⅛ x 7⅜ inches, this piece, executed in period ink on light blue paper, would make an excellent addition to any Civil War era financial collection.
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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