 MISSISSIPPI. Confederate State Armory. $2.50. 'Columbus, Miss., June 15, 1862.' Printed on white uniform square pattern laid paper. 164mm by 70mm. Red protector 'TWO FIFTY' across the center. At the upper left, a mechanic seated with hammer with factory in background. Across the top, fine line texts in italics over 'Two Dollars and Fifty Cents,'' in the center. Italic text continues below. City and date lower left and space for 'Supt.' at lower right. Imprint of 'Hutton & Freligh, printers, Memphis.'
Not listed in Keller as this is not a Sutler, but kept in this part of the collection by Mr. Ford. It came from the Criswell Collection Sale (Plated) of 1977. Kraus 55058; Rarity 7. Leggett 30; Rarity 7. Fully signed by Charles McDale as Superintendent, but not numbered. Another incredible Ford Collection note that again exudes history. Not only that, but this is a great odd denomination note on the series. These are rarely offered for sale although the Cook Collection Part I (1995 Smythe Memphis Sale) had eight (yes, eight!) denominations offered as a set in one lot (lot 1054).
The $2.50 denomination note in the Cook set was ''Good''. This note is an extraordinary Choice Extremely Fine. The note is quarter folded lightly, but the brightness and crisp paper make that grade accurate. Margins tight and diagnostic to the series. Destined for a great collection.
Ex Grover Criswell Collection (Kagin's ANA 86th Convention Sale, August 23-28 1977, lot 4360).
The Armory was originally a storage location for weapons, but during the war became a manufacturing concern and the vignette style certainly is appropriate. They were initially capable of producing 15,000 small arms rounds per day, 75-100 artillery shells, and 10,000 pounds of lead each month. They were related to the Columbus Naval Iron Works and these notes were issued to pay the workers. Of course, this was a necessity as the Confederate Treasury was slow in its bill paying from Richmond and Columbia due to its own shortage of Treasury note production.
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