1864 $10 Confederate States of America Banknote (7th Issue, Richmond) – Criswell / Fr. T-68 – Artillery Vignette & R.M.T. Hunter 

Holder Label Verification

• Sticker Label: Reads "1864 $10 Confederate States of America Banknote (T 68 Type, Richmond Issue)".

• Label Accuracy: 100% correct. It accurately matches the standard catalog designation for this series.

Item Overview

• Issuing Authority: The Confederate States of America, Richmond, Virginia

• Denomination: $10.00 ("Ten Dollars" / "Will pay Ten Dollars to Bearer")

• Date of Issue: Richmond, February 17th, 1864

• Series / Issue: 7th Issue (Authorized under the Act of February 17, 1864 – the final general currency issue authorized by the Confederate Congress)

• Catalog References:

  • Slab / Standard Type Reference: CSA Type 68 (T-68)

  • Friedberg Reference: Fr. CS-68

  • Criswell Reference: Criswell # 490–544 (series/plate dependent)

• Serial Number: Hand-inked dual serial number 19166 (in original brown iron-gall ink)

• Plate Position / Letter: Plate letter E (with series indicator 6. Series along the left border)

• Printers & Engravers: Keatinge & Ball, Columbia, S.C. (imprinted along the lower left margin: "Keatinge & Ball, Columbia S.C.")

• Signatures: Hand-signed in period iron-gall ink by authorized Treasury clerks signing on behalf of the Register ("for Regr.") and Treasurer ("for Treasr.")

• Reverse Design: Intricate blue-green geometric lathework web featuring large ornamental "TEN" flanked by four circular denomination cartouches ("10").

Artwork & Historical Iconography

• Central Vignette: Confederate Field Artillery in Action. A spirited battle scene depicting horse-drawn artillery caissons rushing a cannon into battery amid rolling battle smoke.

• Portrait Vignette (Lower Right): Robert Mercer Taliaferro (R.M.T.) Hunter. Hunter served as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Confederate Secretary of State (1861–1862), and later as a prominent Confederate Senator from Virginia.

• Left Border Paneling: Heavy decorative panel with vertical ornamental "TEN" flanked by stylized filigree.

• Peace Treaty Clause: Upper left inscription reads: "Two Years after the Ratification of a Treaty of Peace between the Confederate States and the United States of America".

Condition & Visual Grade

• Assigned Technical Grade: Very Good to Fine (VG 10 – F 12)

• Preservation Highlights:

  • Displays authentic wartime circulation with multiple vertical folds, horizontal center creasing, and natural paper softening.

  • Retains its original reddish coral/pinkish face tinting, which was applied by Keatinge & Ball as an anti-counterfeiting measure.

  • Both hand-written iron-gall signatures and the 19166 serial numbers are fully visible with natural oxidation.

  • Margin borders are largely intact with expected perimeter handling, minor edge roughness, and a small handling nick along the top center border.

  • The blue reverse lathework printing remains strong and well-aligned with clear frame margins on all four sides.