On February 25th, 1863 Abraham Lincoln signed legislation entitled “An Act to provide a National Currency, secured by a Pledge of United States Stocks, and to provide for the Circulation and Redemption thereof,” it later became known as the National Currency Act. The requirements form achieving national bank status changed during the note issuing period, […]

Fourth Issue Fractional Currency further diminished the pretense of stamp money with which the five issues of fractional notes were launched. With this issue they removed the bronze overprints from the third issue and improved the type of paper adding in silk fibers to the paper. They dropped the five cent note in this issue […]

The third issue of Fractional Currency started at the end of 1864 with the war going full blast. As the quality of the Fractional Notes improved, so did the quality of the counterfeits of the earlier issue notes. This and the ever-increasing demand for “small change,” made a design change necessary. There are more varieties […]

The Flying Eagle cent is a one-cent piece struck by the United States Mint as a pattern coin in 1856 and for circulation in 1857 and 1858. The coin was designed by Mint Chief Engraver James B. Longacre, with the eagle in flight based on the work of Longacre’s predecessor, Christian Gobrecht. By the early […]