Bank of Chattanooga
Obsolete Notes

Initial Civil War Issues

Overview
Copper and silver coins in circulation prior to the war were being hoarded because there metal content was more valuable than there face value. The Bank of Chattanooga printed small denomination notes, ranging from 25 cents to $3, to use for small transactions within the local area. Confederate States Notes were used for larger transactions. John Overton signed notes from this period as bank president. In addition J. H. Holt, W. E. McClure and J. C. Warner signed notes for the president.

Notes of 1861 - 1862
The first notes printed during the war were $1, $2 and $3 notes. The low quality lithography notes were printed at J. Manouvrier in New Orleans.

$1 Notes
There are three varieties of the $1 notes. The first design has a simple gray bar with the title arched above. The second variety does not have TENN on it.

$1 ONE DOLLAR on gray bar, title arched above G-49
Dennis Schafluetzel collection

The first variety G-49 has a pink block on the back.

Back of $1 ONE DOLLAR on gray bar with pink block, G-49
Dennis Schafluetzel collection

$1 ONE DOLLAR on gray bar, title arched above, No TENN G-50
Dennis Schafluetzel collection

The second variety G-50 has a pink design on the back.

Back of $1 ONE DOLLAR on gray bar, with pink design, G-50
Dennis Schafluetzel collection

$1 ONE DOLLAR on gray bar, blue overprint ONE G-51
Dennis Schafluetzel collection

Four varieties of the B plate letter have been found on the G-51 $1 note.
B titled back filled	high B tilted forward filled	very high B tilted back filled	low straight open B

$2 Notes
There are four varieties of the $2 notes with Commerce seated with a ship in the background. The first variety G-62 has a pink block like the G-49 $1 on the back. The second variety does not have Tenn. on it. The second variety G-63 has a pink design like the G-50 $1 on the back. The third variety has a green overprint TWO that is 70 mm long. Both known notes were issued unsigned without a serial number. One of the two notes had incorrect signatures and a serial number that was added subsequently. The fourth variety has a green overprint TWO that is 78 mm long.

$2 Commerce seated, ship in background G-62
Tom Carson collection

Near the bottom of the vignette below Commerce's right elbow is what appears to be the engravers name F. Knoell similar to what Jerry Roughton and Paul Horner repoted in the North Carolina Numismatic Scripbook Vol II No 3, Whole No 28.

$2 Commerce seated, No Tenn G-63
Dennis Schafluetzel collection

$2 Commerce seated, 70 mm green overprint TWO, unissued, G-64
Tom Carson collection

The second of the three known $2 G-64 has improper signatures (see below) for any legitimate Bank of Chattanooga note. It was probably signed and numbered during the war by someone who found the unissued note so he could pass it easily. The third known note is unissued.

$2 Commerce seated, wrong signatures, G-64
Dennis Schafluetzel collection

$2 Commerce seated, 78 mm green overprint TWO G-65
Dennis Schafluetzel collection

$3 Notes
There are two varieties of the $3 Commerce seated with a shield to the left note listed, and a third variety recently discovered. All three varieties have a overprinted THREE. The red overprint length is 76 mm on the first variety, 87 mm on the second variety and 102 mm with a fancy font magenta overprint on the unlisted variety designated (G-78.1).

$3 Commerce seated by shield, 76 mm red overprint G-77
Dennis Schafluetzel collection

Near the bottom of the vignette below Commerce's right elbow is what appears to be the engravers name F. Knoell similar to what Jerry Roughton and Paul Horner repoted in the North Carolina Numismatic Scripbook Vol II No 3, Whole No 28.

$3 Commerce seated by shield, 87 mm red overprint G-78
Dennis Schafluetzel collection

All three of the known G-78.1 notes are unissued and burnt or rotted off on the lower ends. Note the difference in the size, color and font of the overprint vs G-78.

$3 Commerce seated by shield, 102 mm red overprint G-78.1
Tom Carson collection