Beyond Face Value

"Beyond Face Value," a virtual exhibit organized by the U.S. Civil War Center, takes a novel approach in looking at money. The site puts forth the idea that currency produced by the Southern states is a unique, and very valuable, reflection of Confederate society. Bank notes from this era were often illustrated with vignettes symbolizing economic power and strength. In the North, images of factories and railroads dominated. But in the South, agriculture scenes featuring slaves and cotton were common. Easy to navigate, the site presents full-color reproductions of seventy-six bank notes or proof plates of proposed designs for bank notes produced in slave and former slave states in the mid-1800s. The illustrations are grouped by state and subject. The site also provides short, informative essays that provide historical context for the images. An excellent biography offers users the opportunity to "learn more about it."