USA-1863 Fractional Currency, 4th Issue

USA Paper Money, 1863 Fractional Currency, 4th Issue

President
Abraham Lincoln
3.3.1861 -15.4.1865

Vice President
Hannibal Hamlin
4.3.1861 - 3.3.1865

Printers: American Bank Note Company, New York (ABNC)
National Bank Note Company, NY (NBNC)

Fractional Currency, Fourth Issue, 3.3.1863

FOURTH ISSUE, 3.3.1863

P.115a,Fr.1257 10¢ 3.3.1863 ABNC *

Back NBNC

Back ABNC

Back ABNC

Back NBNC

Back ABNC

Back NBNC

**BACKGROUNDER**
Some of these Fractional Currency issues used a different printer for the face and back of the note. I asked Don Cleveland if he knew the reason for this practice. I also asked if he knew of any other countries or issuers who followed this practice and he provided the following explanation: There was a lot of concern about counterfeiting of the fractional banknotes. All the fractional issues, particularly the Second, were counterfeited. By having different printers do each side, Treasury felt the reproduction of the banknotes would be much more difficult, since each printer employed slightly different methods and styles of engraving and printing. I don't know how the logistics of printing and moving the half-finished and finished banknotes between printers and the government was handled. Security would certainly have been a problem, but I have not read of any of the shipments being hijacked. I do not recall any other countries, or other issuers, using different printers, but there probably are examples. Reader who are aware of other countries or issuers who have used the practice of multiple printers on the same banknote, please write us.

**ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS**
* We gratefully acknowledge Don Cleveland, IBNS Assistant General Secretary & Assistant Treasurer for Australasia who provided images and the above background info used in this section.