Throughout history, the currency has served as an expression of a nation’s identity, values, and principles. The designs and details on notes and coins often provide an understanding of a country’s political and social landscapes from the eras when they were put into circulation.
One such example is the money from the Confederate States of America. This confederacy numbered 11 states, initially formed in 1861, right before the start of the Civil War in the US. Alas, ideals depicted in the currency of these times are far from virtuous. Rather, the money contained imagery that endorsed racism, white supremacy, and bigotry.
In this article, we will explore the troubled portrayal of minorities in the US currency during the Civil War and the long-lasting effects of discrimination that stemmed from it.
Table of Contents
Origins of Confederate Currency
Establishment of the Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America, colloquially known as the South, was formed in 1861 as a response to the country’s intent to abolish slavery. In February, following the election of Abraham Lincoln, seven states seceded from the US – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas.
The economies of these states were deeply intertwined with the labor of enslaved individuals, particularly in the agricultural sector. Consequently, they vehemently opposed the new government that posed a threat to their legal exploitation of people of color. In March of 1861, Alexander Stephens, the Vice President of the Confederate States, delivered a significant speech known as the Cornerstone Speech, wherein he outlined the fundamental principles upon which they aimed to construct their society.
“The new constitution has put at rest, forever, all the agitating questions relating to our peculiar institution African slavery as it exists amongst us the proper status of the negro in our form of civilization. [ . . . ] This was the immediate cause of the late rupture and present revolution. Jefferson, in his forecast, had anticipated this, as the “rock upon which the old Union would split.” He was right. What was conjecture with him, is now a realized fact. But whether he fully comprehended the great truth upon which that rock stood and stands, may be doubted.
The prevailing ideas entertained by him and most of the leading statesmen at the time of the formation of the old constitution, were that the enslavement of the African was in violation of the laws of nature; that it was wrong in principle, socially, morally, and politically. [ . . . ] Those ideas, however, were fundamentally wrong. They rested upon the assumption of the equality of races.
This was an error. [ . . . ] Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner-stone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth. [ . . . ]
The war started a month after the infamous speech in April. Four more states joined the Confederacy – Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The rest of the country was called Union.
Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri, often known as border states, held a unique position during the Civil War. While they were slave states, they made the decision to remain in the Union due to several factors. One primary reason was that their economies were not as heavily dependent on slavery as the Confederate states. Additionally, their geographic locations posed challenges, as they were situated unfavorably in relation to the Union states.
Creation and Purpose of Confederate Currency
In March of 1861, despite lacking legal recognition and tangible assets, the newly-formed Confederacy began issuing its own currency. The foundation of Confederate currency rested on the promise to redeem the notes for their stated monetary value once the South emerged victorious in the war.
This promise was prominently printed on many of the banknotes circulated by the Confederacy. Initially, they started with issuing one-dollar notes and progressively introduced various denominations into circulation, including 50 cents, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, $500, and $1000. Additionally, the Confederacy minted coins valued at 1 and 5 cents, further expanding their monetary offerings.
Design Inspiration
The designs of the banknotes and coins were often arbitrary. Some of the notes depicted gods and goddesses from ancient Roman religion, such as Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, and Minerva, the goddess of wisdom. Other notes featured prominent figures from US history who also supported the pro-slavery agenda, such as John C. Calhoun and Andrew Jackson.
There is a portion of notes that portray both ex-officials and Roman goddesses – George Washington appears on a $100 note with Ceres and Proserpina and on a $50 note with Tellus. The choice to include Washington is a peculiar one since he changed his views on slavery towards the end of his life, even though he owned more than a hundred slaves throughout his lifetime.
Certain Confederate notes featured portraits of prominent officials from that time. Alexander H. Stephens, the vice president, was depicted on the $20 note, while Jefferson Davis, the president, graced the $50 note.
Related: 1882 Silver Dollar Value
Depiction of Slavery and Racism
Within the mentioned collection of designs, there existed banknotes that shockingly depicted the subjugation of African American individuals. Adding to the distress, these depictions insinuated that the enslaved individuals were satisfied with their circumstances, disregarding the immense suffering endured by people of color over many centuries.
The intention behind these offensive designs was to perpetuate the belief that slavery was an inherent and acceptable social order in the Confederate States.
Notable examples of Racist Imagery
Let’s delve into the details of the racist imagery on the banknotes that the Confederacy put into circulation. There were five banknotes in total that depicted slavery directly, while many others portrayed individuals or symbols that represented this horrific social order from the time.
1861 $50 Bill
Design elements
The first series of Confederate money rolled out on April 5th, 1861. One of the first banknotes in this series was a $50 T-4 note. It featured three people of color working in the field at the center of the currency.
The symbolism of enslaved labor and racial hierarchy
This was just the beginning of the Confederacy’s indoctrination and public manipulation. The leaders wanted to entwine the message that slavery is a natural social order in peoples’ everyday lives, and the best way to do so was through money.
1861 $100 Bill
Description of the note’s imagery
Later in 1861, on October 22nd, the CSA issued another problematic banknote, T-13. Its value was $100, and it depicted slaves loading cotton into a wagon. This was the third series of Confederate banknotes.
Interpretation and critique of racial stereotypes
The Southern economy during that period heavily depended on cotton, as the textile industry experienced a significant boom, leading to soaring demand for this commodity. Given the labor-intensive nature of cotton production, the leaders and sympathizers of the Confederate States of America found slavery to be convenient.
The financial gains from cotton cultivation were immense, while the cost of labor was effectively nonexistent. This justification served as the basis for the Confederacy’s reprehensible pro-enslavement agenda, often without even making an effort to provide justifications for the views and positions it promoted.
1861 $10 Bill
Depiction of the dehumanization of enslaved individuals
One more bill from the third series of Confederate money that featured racist imagery was issued on March 17th, 1862. The T-29 banknote depicts a slave picking cotton in a field. The enslaved man’s face seems neutral – he looks concentrated on the work he is doing rather than distressed in any way. The beautiful scenery around him contrasts the disturbing background of the design.
This is another bill that proves that the Confederacy wanted to install the idea that slavery was just an ordinary system by depicting slaves as neutral or even happy about the work they were forced to do.
1861 $5 Bill
The portrayal of slaves and justification of brutality
Towards the end of November 1861, the CSA issued T-35, another banknote with slavery imagery. This $5 banknote featured slaves loading cotton onto a wagon, and it was similar to one of the previous racist designs. As mentioned, cotton was one of the most important parts of the South’s economy, and it was almost entirely dependent on enslaved people, which is why it was a common feature of Confederate money during the Civil War.
1862 $100 Bill
Note design
The fourth series of Confederate money included T-41, a banknote issued in 1862. The design featured two slaves working in a field. Their faces are not clearly visible, but their postures imply willful and even enthusiastic labor. The two men’s clothes are clean and whole, which was a rarity for the majority of slaves back then.
Influence of white supremacy on imagery
Behind this fake representation of the African American people forced to do intense work is white supremacy. Leaders of the CSA wanted to imply the supposed superiority of white over people of color. They wanted a social order in which the slaves’ work was not only desired but not even questioned as something problematic.
Related: 1884 Silver Dollar Value
Public Perception and Legacy
Contemporary reactions to racist imagery
The US was deeply divided during the Civil War, so the public perception of the Confederacy’s currency entirely depended on the political views of individuals.
On one hand, there were people who supported the Confederate States and fought to preserve the institution of slavery. The racist pictures featured on the money resonated with their stances on exploiting people of color, so they didn’t see a problem with them. On the other hand, those who supported the Union were more likely to condemn the troubled portrayal of minorities.
Not everyone who lived in the Union states supported the abolition of slavery and vice versa; not everyone who lived in the slave states defended the ideology of white supremacy and racist values. Many sources state that more than a million people lost their lives over this matter during the four years of the Civil War, so it’s clear that both sides had a myriad of followers.
Role in the ongoing discussions on racism and its symbols
Nowadays, those pictures are met with criticism as public perception has evolved since. While the US still has a lot of unlearning to do, something like this wouldn’t be possible today. The symbols of oppression on Confederate currency serve as a reminder of an awful era in the history of the United States that has had far-reaching consequences, some still felt to this day. While they shouldn’t be forgotten, they don’t mirror the beliefs of the majority of Americans.
Efforts for Recognition and Removal
The Confederate currency didn’t have any actual value as any hard assets didn’t back it up. The CSA promised to pay the bearer any amount of money they held “six months after the ratification of a treaty of peace.” They didn’t manage to keep their promise.
A Confederate dollar was worth around 90 Union cents at the beginning of the war. As the conflict progressed, the Confederate currency was losing value, and it was worth virtually nothing by the end of it (17 Union cents). At that moment, the inflation was so enormous that the prices rose by over 9000% when compared to the war’s beginning.
When the war ended in 1865, the Confederate States of America ceased to exist. The United States of America was reunited, and, therefore, all the Confederate money lost the little legitimacy it had.
Museums and Exhibitions
Curatorial approaches to displaying racist currency
The Confederate money is also displayed in some prominent museums, such as in the National Museum of African American Culture by Smithsonian Institution. In the case of museums and exhibitions, the Confederate money is used either as a historical artifact from war or as a powerful educational tool.
Impact on historical memory and heritage debates
Ironically, the Confederate money is worth much more nowadays than when it was issued. A single bill printed by CSA can reach the price of hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Some people believe that the banknotes glorifying slavery should have been deemed illegal to own, but they are still very easily accessible for collectors worldwide.
Conclusion
The Confederate States of America formed on the eve of the Civil War when seven states seceded from the US, later followed by four more, due to President Lincoln’s intent to abolish slavery nationwide. The loyal states supporting the president are commonly referred to as the Union.
Despite lacking proper equipment, designers, and materials, the Confederacy began printing money just before the war. Over seventy different designs were issued during the conflict, including disturbing portrayals of African American individuals working in cotton fields, perpetuating the principle of white supremacy.
After the war, the 13th Amendment was passed, abolishing slavery and freeing the oppressed. The Union’s victory led to the reunification of the Confederate states, discrediting the legitimacy of Confederate currency.
Today, CSA banknotes can be found in museums and private collections, with well-preserved pieces fetching high prices.
While unsettling, this racist imagery should not be forgotten. It serves as a reminder of a horrific era to prevent history from repeating itself.
