Exploring the Certified Currency Plate Proofs

"Exploring The Certified Currency Plate Proofs" is a reference work indexing the Fractional Currency issues produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing between Oct. 10, 1863 and Feb 15, 1876. This volume is an overview of the second, third, fourth and fifth issues of Fractional Currency. A larger collection is in the planning stages. In 1863, Secretary Salmon Portland Chase asked for a new type of fractional currency that was more difficult to counterfeit than the original postage currency issues. The new fractional currency notes differed from the earlier 1862 postage currency issues. They were very colorful with additional printing on the reverse. They incorporated several new measures to discourage counterfeiting. These included overprints, experimental paper, silk fibers, addition of surcharges, blue end paper, and watermarking. The series will provide a visual tour through the certified plate proofs created by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and held in the National Museum of American History. The Book series is intended for educational use only and to assist future researchers.