Tahlequah, Indian Territory. Cherokee Nation. 1862 50 Cents. PMG Very Fine 25.

A Rag Paper Rarity Issued by the Cherokee Nation Tahlequah, Indian Territory. Cherokee Nation. 1862 50 Cents. PMG Very Fine 25. (Criswell CHR N-1, Burgett 5) - No. 948. A lovely 50 cent note from this interesting series that evolved from the Cherokee treaty with Confederate Brigadier General Albert Pike which was signed against the advice of Paramount Chief John Ross. A major portion of this treaty was the settlement of the 1846 claims due from Washington in the form of specie ($77,644.36 per Douglas B. Ball's research) and a trove of $172,300 in treasury notes issued under the authority of the Confederate States of America. The planned higher denomination notes which represented $20, $50, and $100 notes that would help in commercial channels while local change needs could be met by this series which was printed in denominations from 50 cents to $5. The notes were signed by Lewis Ross, brother of Chief John Ross, and Clerk Joshua Ross, who was a wealthy landowner who ultimately died in 1924. These notes did not circulate for long as most were seized and destroyed during a Union raid in July of 1862 which resulted in the capture and deportation of Chief John Ross by Union officials. He was replaced by his constant nemesis within the Cherokee Nation, Stand Watie who assumed the position of Chief and was also made a Brigadier General in the Confederate Army and later became the final Confederate general to surrender after the conclusion of the conflict. Notably these notes are uniface and come printed on very thin rag paper that is nearly translucent. No printer's imprint may be noticed, but these notes are now attributed to John Candy in the Shull-Criswell reference text. Intricate, ornamental patterns are seen at the top and bottom frame lines. End panels at left and right, composed of linked oval ornaments, enclose the denomination "HALF DOLLAR" in English at the left and translated into the Sequoyah (named for the Cherokee innovator) alphabet at the right. The interesting use of both language styles helped prevent raising the notes' denominations. The bolded numeric denomination is at upper left. The obligation is across, bolded Fifty Cents, and its translation in dialect. The additional obligation at the top, "Issued by authority of Law in lieu of Notes of the Confederate States," is continued along the bottom margin, "which are retained in the Treasury for the redemption hereof." The Shull-Criswell Rarity 10 (5-15 known) is accurate based on observed survivors. In recent years, we have sold a couple other low-end Very Fines, both of which straddled the $5,000 figure by the time bidding had concluded. Indeed, it takes little to recognize that this is a superior note and easily one of the finest your cataloger has ever encountered. Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000. Click here for certification details from PMG.

Estimation:€1,606.8

Voir tous les objets deStack's BowersouCartes Postales & Philatélie