Authentication of Confederate Notes

I have two notes that I think are reproductions, but am not sure. The signatures are black (not brown), and the watermark on one I think should be red, but it's black. Any thoughts out there please? Thanks in advance.

Hello 🤖

Without pictures, it will be very difficult for anyone to help you. Could you please post clear pictures of each side of your item?

Please note that this is an automatic message. Feel free to ignore if it is not relevant.

Apologies; accidentally hit Enter before finishing the post.

And, not to inundate you, but these two notes are different. Both are on very flimsy paper, while the previous post's bills are on stiff material that is very textured. The 25-cent note in this post has a colored watermark and the signature has gone brown/sepia.

The top two are modern reproductions sold as souvenirs at civil war battle sights.

Here's a couple others 

Same 2396 number.

Pictures of the back side of the bottom two? Any bleed through of the ink signatures?

Both reverse sides blank. The North Carolina 25-cent note show bleedthrough of the first letter of the signature.

A  lot of these reproductions have the same TELLS. The first example has the same serial number (like that “2396” on the State of Florida). Generally, if you've seen photocopies of photocopies, that's what these notes look like to me. There is a site which has a list of the serial number ranges that were extensively copied but I cannot find it.*

Other TELLS:

Typically, the contrast (super dark thick black elements on lightened paper in the fields) is the first tell I look for. The design is always dark (no subtle grey scale) along with too thick dark signatures (sometimes blobby), thick darkened serial numbers (often ID in a known range) all on paper which is artificially made to look old (darkened brown) instead of naturally aged.  There are also examples that are unnaturally bleached white too!  Most fakes have few natural stains+ & signs of circulation but rips and sometimes other scribble will be present from unsavoury individuals who were looking to turn a profit on something with minimal value. Sometimes the copies have been crumpled to give it more of an authentic look but if you know the tells you know its just a copy that's been purposely abused.

I have enjoyed watching some informative videos on real Confederate banknotes & the reproductions look nothing like them (IMO) other than they're poor knock offs of the originals. 

*REVISED:

Just found the site on How to determine whether your Confederate money is fake.

+Sometimes when there is a natural stain from the first note copied it will look like a black blob.

Hope that helps!

Thanks much! Very helpful. I’m curious about the second two notes I sent from North Carolina and the other just CSA. They seem to be a little more authentic. I’ll chase them down on the sites that you referenced. Thanks again.

bjudisch

I have two notes that I think are reproductions, but am not sure. The signatures are black (not brown), and the watermark on one I think should be red, but it's black. Any thoughts out there please? Thanks in advance.

 

Your instincts are likely right. Black signatures and black “watermarks” usually point to modern reproductions. Originals typically show brown ink from iron gall signatures and red or tinted security fibers, not printed effects. Paper feel and printing sharpness would confirm it, but based on what you describe, they are not genuine Confederate issues.

Here is my authentic note for comparison. I collect  CSA notes and CSA state notes  and I also I have the book on these. 

Vastly different from the reproduction notes…