Collectors of Civil War currencies can walk a thin line between numismatics and philately.
During the Civil War, the American economy was in complete disarray. Because of a severe shortage of coinage throughout the nation, many people started using various forms of payment for their daily necessities. Copper tokens, partially or entirely modeled like U.S. cents, were widely used.
On July 17, 1862, Congress signed into law an act that gave the Treasury Department the authority to issue “postage currency.” The postage currency utilized the then-current postage stamp design, printing them on Treasury paper. People generally interpreted this to suggest that postage stamps could be used as legal tender, but the fragile stamps were not suited for the rough handling that currency typically endured. They were thin and easily damaged, and the glue on the back
