1862 STATE OF MISSOURI CIVIL WAR CURRENCY NOTE - BEAUTIFUL CHOICE CRISP

Description

HERE IS A BEAUTIFUL 1862 STATE OF MISSOURI  CURRENCY NOTE, issued at JEFFERSON CITY, January 1, 1862.
Features central vignette of farmer with team of horses, plough behind, dog lying at feet. Young girl with flower garland in hair at left.  Missouri State seal at right. Large
Green fancy protector T W O at center.
Printed by A. Malus, New Orleans. Back is blank as issued.
Serial #17416.
Hand signed by W. Shields, commissioner, and countersigned y C.F. Jackson.
The people of Missouri were split over whether to stay in the Union or secede. Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson held very strong pro-Confederate sympathies, but was unable to persuade a state convention to vote for secession. After a military confrontation with Union forces in St. Louis, Governor Jackson, along with the state legislature and most of the state government, fled Jefferson City, which was captured by Union forces. The secessionist state government convened in the town of Neosho, Missouri and passed an Ordinance of Secession on October 28, 1861. Despite this, the secessionist government issued currency still labeled at Jefferson City.
Missouri then found itself with two state governments - one Union and one Confederate. Missouri sent representatives to both the U.S. and Confederate Congresses. The Confederacy admitted Missouri as the 12th State of the Confederacy. Nearly 1,200 battles and skirmishes were fought in Missouri during the war. Eventually, Union troops wrested control of the entire state and by 1865 the secessionist government had fled to Marshall, Texas.
CHOICE CRISP ABOUT UNCIRCULATED. Very bright and bold.
NO pinholes, tears or writing. A minor broad corner fold at lower left. A very scarce issue to find this nice!