The SilverTowne Vault Blog

100 Greatest American Currency Notes Series: 1861 Montgomery Note $500 Confederate States of America Note

Published 04/25/2024

Rare is the name of the game this go ‘round as we continue our blog series covering Whitman Publishing’s 100 Greatest American Currency Notes. With guidance from authors Q. David Bowers and David M. Sundman, we will uncover what makes this one of four denominations to come from the esteemed March 1861 notes issue from the National Bank Note Co.

#53 – 1861 “Montgomery Note” $500 Confederate States of America Note

The $500 “Montgomery Note,” Criswell Type 2, is the second highest denomination of four to come from the March 1861 notes as just 607 sheets were issued from the National Bank Note Co. One of the reasons for its rarity, aside from how many were issued, is that it came from the first capital...read more