Postage currency

Postage currency, or postal currency, were low value US banknotes issued in August 1862. They were made to make up for a severe shortage of coinage due to hoarding.

These were engraved and bore stamp designs and were issued perfed and imperf. Inscriptions noted that the banknotes could be redeemed for equivalent postage stamps. They came in 5¢, 10¢, 25¢ and 50¢ denominations.

Also issued around the same time were small-size fractional currency banknotes, nicknamed "shinplasters". These came in various denominations as well. They were disliked and often devalued since there was no equivalent backing of value.  File:US 5c postage currency.jpg|5c value face. The reverse is in black. 

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