Fractionals and the US Civil War

 What role did "fractionals"  play in the Civil War?

Fractional Currency, also known as Fractionals, is a term used by currency collectors to identify a note with a face value of less than (a fraction of) one U. S. Dollar. 
During the Civil War, coins were very scarce, a problem made worse by metal shortages and public hoarding. 

Fr#: 1228 Fractional Currency 5 Cent First Issue Perforated Edges with Monogram PCGS 62 PPQ New

Coins were so scarce that merchants couldn’t make change for their customers. Consequently, starting in 1862, the US Government issued paper Fractionals  in 3, 5, 10, 15, 25 and 50 cent denominations. Fractional Currency notes have dates ranging from 1862 (the Civil War) to 1876. 

Notes could be exchanged for face value in postage stamps. An interesting controversy occurred when the first Superintendent of the National Currency Bureau (now known as the Bureau of Engraving and Printing – BEP) Spencer M. Clark printed his picture on the 5 cent note. 

It is now only legal to portray persons of distinction on currency following their death, plus at least two years. Imagine that such a controversy occurred over a five cent fractional note! 

Because of their significance in US history and policy, Fractional Currency and Fractional Notes have become increasingly collectable and valuable. 

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For a look at some exciting Fractional Notes, visit us at

http://www.treasuredstocks.com/currency/  

We are official members of multiple numismatic-related organizations. Thus, Treasuredstocks.com welcomes any and all questions regarding our FRACTIONAL NOTE postings and our passion for collecting coins and currency of all types. 

We are here to assist you! 

Please give us a call at 870-670-4255 or email us at jeff@treasuredstocks.com

Memorial Day: Colonial Notes Honor our Nation's Birth

As Memorial Day approaches and July Fourth is right around the corner, our thoughts return to the origins of this great nation and the Colonial Notes - Colonial Currency that 
helped our nation grow and prosper. Our Treasuredstocks.com President Jeff Smith is a proud Veteran of the US Navy.

For some exciting information about Colonial Notes, read  on...

Shortly after landing in the New World, colonists became increasingly dissatisfied with the barter system of trade between them, this new nation, and England. The colonists wanted and needed economic independence from Britain and sought to establish their own economic stability by printing paper money.

Though in 1690 the Massachusetts Colony was the first to print paper money, each Colony eventually printed its own colonial notes to enhance a convenient exchange and pay off debt. 

While Spanish Dollars were popular as colonial coins (the origin of our “dollar” denotation for US money) currency was noted in British pounds, shillings and pence.  Importantly, Britain disallowed Colonial Currency as legal tender in 1764 which contributed to great discontent with Britain, among colonists.

In addition to individual colony issued Colonial Notes, as the Revolutionary War began in 1775, the Continental Congress circulated paper currency to help finance the war. 

This process was backed by a hoped-for future tax income rather than real gold or silver. Unfortunately, these Continental notes depreciated rapidly, partly due to expert British counterfeit operations designed to sabotage US war efforts. 

Following the war, states and private banks continued to issue their own currency. But, because of the problems with depreciation, inflation, value variances, and counterfeit, the US Constitution later denied individual states the right to make their own money.

Colonial notes are rare and extremely valuable. They were a significant part of our heritage as an independent and free nation. To hold one of these is to hold a vital part of our social, economic and political independence from Britain. 

For more information about these and other collectable coins and currency, please visit our web site at  http://www.treasuredstocks.com/or email  jeff@treasuredstocks.com

Disney Dollar Demise: The end of an era

Disney Dollars: 1987 – 2016 

RIP  29 years of Wonder 

Digital Currency and Disney Gift Cards are reasons cited for yesterday’s official discontinuation of Disney Dollars. 

Of course, because Disney Dollars never expire, Disney will continue to accept them as currency, at face value. But this is small comfort to Treasuredstocks.com and other Disney Dollar collectors who, since 1987, have anxiously awaited each new Disney Dollar issue and theme.

This sad announcement was made on Thursday with the final discontinuation date of 14 May 2016. That is, all official Disney production and sales of Disney Dollar Notes ended yesterday!
You may wish to access official news media items located at these web sites. WDW News Today (reports on Disney park information and news), broke the story late last week and reports were later confirmed by the Orange County Register.

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/05/breaking-disney-dollars-to-be-discontinued-may-14th-2016/

http://www.dailynews.com/business/20160513/disney-dollars-to-be-discontinued-at-disneyland-walt-disney-world

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/disney-715755-dollars-disneyland.html

Disney Dollars have been extremely popular with collectors since their birth in May 1987. Functioning as both currency and souvenir, these beautifully engraved existing “Dollars” will now be far more difficult to locate and more expensive to purchase. 

“This news is devastating,” said Jeff Smith, Treasuredstocks.com President. “Collectors from all over the world love and cherish these amazingly beautiful notes. Disney Dollars have been a really fun way to introduce currency collecting to children of all ages! Disney Dollars have always made great Christmas and birthday gifts!”

First released in 1987, Disney Dollars were recognized for very high quality printing with intaglio steel engraving and expensive 100% cotton paper, giving Disney Dollars the feel and appearance of beautifully crafted currency. Just like any “real” money, they have anti-counterfeiting features such as reflective ink and imprinting, unique serial numbers and letters, tiny specks of glitter (we call pixie dust), and expensive micro-printing. 

Important characters on each bill include Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto, and many others. Each side of the bill incorporates its denomination and each currency item has a serial number series year. These numbers/letters denote when they were printed and where they originated. Some bills were printed in small amounts such as the limited edition $50 and some were printed in large quantities.

Each bill is signed by Scrooge McDuck as treasurer – he is considered the CFO, bank administrator.

Disney Currency designs changed yearly, often reflecting the general theme for that year. Bills also include letter designations, located after the serial number. For example, an A series relates to a note initially sold at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA (A is for Anaheim), D denotes Walt Disney World in Florida, and T (available starting in 2005) designates Disney stores. There are also a few very rare B (for Designer Charles Boyer). 

Now, at age 29, official production and sales of Disney Dollars has ended.

Importantly, though Disney Dollars never expire, once “spent” at Disney Parks and Stores, notes are cancelled and destroyed.

So the only way to purchase Disney Dollars now is through collectors like Treasuredstocks.com. Please let us help you build your own collection of these ever-more-valuable/rare world famous Disney currency notes. 

For a look at some exciting Disney Dollar Notes, visit us at

http://www.treasuredstocks.com/currency/

Treasuredstocks.com welcomes any and all questions regarding our Disney Dollar postings and our passion for collecting coins and currency of all types. We are here to assist you! 

Please give us a call at 870-670-4255 or email us at jeff@treasuredstocks.com

Error Note Fun and Folly

Why should I be interested in Error Notes? 
(you may ask)

The real fun in collecting error notes is that BEP currency printing flaws can be obvious, elusive, distinctive, and inexplicable. 

Currency ERRORS  have occurred since money was created.
Importantly, collecting legitimate  Error Notes is a fascinating sub-specialty for numismatics world-wide. Error notes have captivated even the most novice collector because finding and examining misprinted paper money is both educational and historical. 

In the US, a legitimate Error Note is any unacceptable note, created by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) that somehow, mysteriously (no one can say for sure how or why), escaped both human and mechanical inspections. That is why error notes are extremely rare, collectable, and in most cases, hold ever-increasing exceptional value.

That is why our Treasuredstocks.com staff encourage you to take a careful look at the contents of your wallet-- you may even find one! And what a great gift, as well as conversation piece, these Error Notes will make!

Let us help you build your own ERROR NOTE collection! 

For a look at some exciting Error Notes, visit us at

http://www.treasuredstocks.com/currency/

 

We are official members of multiple numismatic-related organizations. Thus, Treasuredstocks.com welcomes any and all questions regarding our  
ERROR NOTE postings and our passion for collecting coins and currency of all types.

We are here to assist you! 

Please give us a call at 870-670-4255 or email us at jeff@treasuredstocks.com

Pick versus Friedberg numbers -- who and what are they?

"What is the difference between Pick and Friedberg numbers?" you ask ...

Pick Numbers (P# or Pk#) refer to Non-US, foreign currency items ... 

Treasuredstocks.com has listed Pick numbers for our World Currency notes. Similar to Friedberg numbers identified and used for United States Currency, Pick numbers refer to a referencing and numbering system for International Currency items. This referencing and cataloging system is based on methods developed by Albert Pick and described in Standard Catalog of World Paper Money edited by George Cuhaj. 

Here is an example of one of our foreign currency notes with the Pick Number (Pk#) listed. 

Friedberg Numbers are identified for US currency pieces ... 

Friedberg  (Fr#) Numbers have become a very popular numbering system for Untied States Currency.  As a kind of reference and number system, the Friedberg number refers to Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg’s Paper Money of the United States, the authoritative reference of US currency.  Treasuredstocks.com includes Friedberg numbers for our legitimate US currency items. 

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For a look at some rare and collectible currency, visit us at

http://www.treasuredstocks.com/currency/

We are official members of multiple numismatic-related organizations. Thus, our entire staff at Treasuredstocks.com welcomes any and all questions regarding our coin and currency postings and our passion for collecting coins and currency of all types. 

We are here to assist you! Please give us a call at 870-670-4255 or email us at jeff@treasuredstocks.com

12 GREAT reasons to choose nursing as your career and profession

Nurse’s Week is May 6-12

Do you know someone who has expressed a desire to become a nurse? Have you ever thought of joining the nursing profession? Here are 11 great reasons to fulfill this nursing dream.

Twelve GREAT reasons to become a nurse:

-  a wide, wide range of specialties and sub-specialties

-  flexible hours and scheduling options

-  The opportunity to travel to many places

-  Respect and appreciation from patients and families

-  Life-long learning, never stagnant

-  Zero boredom

-  The ability to interact with people from all walks of life

-  The ability to witness the miracles of life and birth and death

-  Various levels of achievement to meet each person’s desires and abilities

-  The ability to teach others while learning ourselves

-  Job security, job opportunities, decent salaries/benefits

And for the very best reason of all: 

Making a difference in the lives of people and communities

May 6-12: Happy Nurse’s Week to all

May 6-12 is National Nurse's Week

May 6-12: Happy Nurse’s Week to all Nurses and to all those who know and love  a member of this noble profession!

1984 10 Pounds Bank of England, Great Britain PMG 65 EPQ Gem Unc. Pk# 379c

The founder of Modern Nursing is Florence Nightingale. She was born on May 12^th, 1820. National Nurses week here in the United States begins with national nurse’s day May 6^th and ends May 12, Nightingale’s birthday.

Florence Nightingale is the founder of Modern Professional Nursing.  She was the first professional nurse educator, the first nurse researcher, to first nurse author and historian, and the first nurse to develop military and public health standards world-wide. 

Nightingale developed the nursing school curriculum that was implemented with the first professional nursing school program here in the United States. The important focus of her curriculum was on student education and quality learning.

Though born to British wealth and nobility, Florence was named after Florence, Italy -- the location of her birth during her parents’ travel to that area in 1820.

To the horror of her family, Florence Nightingale chose to be a nurse during a time when nurses were low-life drunkards and thieves. She spent her life promoting health and professional nursing practice and care. One of her greatest contributions to nursing and to military healthcare was during the Crimean War. This was a war between England and Russia -- 1854. Tens of thousands of England’s sick and wounded soldiers were dying from lack of care.

Amazingly, in just six months, Nightingale and her 38 trained nurses lowered the death rate in those filthy Turkish dirt-floor hospitals from 42% to 2%!!

Upon Nightingale’s return from the war, the grateful soldiers and their families donated enough money to her to start the first professional school of nursing in London. Queen Victoria presented Florence Nightingale with a broach. Etched upon this broach were the words, “Blessed are the Merciful.”

To honor Florence Nightingale and pay tribute to her enormous contributions to nursing and healthcare worldwide, Great Briton placed her picture on the reverse side of this beautifully engraved currency note.

Treasuredstocks.com proudly displays this stunningly beautiful note on our web site (see above). 

This week -- National Nurse's Week -- our entire staff and administration pay tribute to and honor Florence Nightingale, a true nurse hero.
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Treasured stocks.com was founded in 1987 to provide currency enthusiasts and investors with a wide choice of currency items. The site offers a range of national and international coins and currency for the value conscious currency collector and investor. We are here to assist you! Please give us a call at 870-670-4255 or email us at jeff@treasuredstocks.com