Help With Old Stamp

Hey, I found this old stamp and iv been trying to find out what it is for a few hours now and nothing.

it doesn't look like a regular stamp, it says Postage certificate at the top, so maybe its something to get stamps with?

on the back it it says exchangeable for united states notes.

the only date I can find says, act approval July 17, 1862.

i attached some pictures,

if anyone could tell and info about it that would be great.

G'day Butler,

welcome to the family,
hope you enjoy your stay.



what you have is postal currency
someone posted an example recently, but where, I cannot recall.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_currency

to the community

This is call Fractional Currency and was use during the Civil War era as small currency because of the shortage metal to mint coins.

Hey, thank you for your reply's.

Just wondering if this note would be worth much?

Thanks,

I'm assuming that all your postage currency is the same 5c and with the ABCo imprint in the lower right corner on the backside, and they are all imperforate. That would make it Scott catalog # PC5.

If so, then the value for a CRISP NEW CONDITION (NOT CREASED OR WORN) is $70 in the 2008 Scott catalog. The catalog states "Creased or worn copies sell for 25 to 75 percent less." Yours look pretty beat up, so keep that in mind.

Check to see if you have the inverted back variety. That catalogs for $525.