10 Cent Postage Stamp Note?

Could someone tell me what this is? What they were used for? How were they used? Who would have used them? When they were used?
I have never seen anything like this before. So any and all info is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance

Tom

That is an example of postage currency issued during the Civil War in response to a shortage of coins. They were issued under an Act of Congress in July 1862 (referenced on the back of your note) that made postage stamps legal currency. In addition to the postage currency, there were also special envelopes to hold stamps being used as small change and metal cases with a clear mica window (both coin shaped and strip shaped) to hold postage stamps being used as change. The postage currency is collected both by stamp collectors and paper currency collectors. The postage currency was replaced by "shin plaster" fractional currency later during the war.

Thank you for the input. It was very helpful finding links for more info. I appreciate it.

The coin shaped stamp holders are known as "Encased Postage" - if you look on the Siegel auctions webpage they have sold a few specialized collections. They are listed with the EP prefix in the Scott Specialized Catalog. Postage Currency has a "PC" prefix. The are 4 values of the postage currency - 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, and 50¢ with differences on whether they were perforated and whether they have the American Banknote printer logo.

I am on Wikipedia under fractional currency....getting my informational overload.... Thank you for the help.