#82 • 1866 North Carolina 50 Cent Note

Part of Goodman's Premiere Online Coin Auction (timed auction by Goodman’s Antiques & Estate Jewelry)

Starting at $5.00

Status: Available

Bidding closes Nov 1, 2026 6:20 PM EST

Scarce 1862–1864 State of North Carolina 50 Cents obsolete treasury note (often referred to by collectors as Civil War fractional scrip or a "shinplaster"). Historical Context During the American Civil War, metal coinage virtually vanished from circulation due to widespread hoarding. To fulfill the desperate need for daily low-value transactions, individual states, cities, and private banks stepped in to print their own small-denomination paper notes. The Design: The center features a three-masted sailing ship, flanked on the right by an ornate emblem reading "By Authority of Law". The Dates: While the text on the front states that the note is payable "on or before January 1st, 1866", the actual issue date is printed in the lower text line (typically 1862, 1863, or 1864 out of Raleigh, NC).