T-2. Confederate Currency. 1861 $500. PMG Very Fine 25. No. 123, Plate A. 607 examples of this Montgomery $500 were issued by the Confederacy. Today, a little over a hundred are reported to be in existence. The T-2 was engraved and printed by the National Bank Note Company in New York, and features neatly penned signatures of Register of the Treasury Alex B. Clitherall at left and Treasurer E.C. Elmore at right. Seen on the reverse are two manuscript endorsements. The top endorsement is in pink ink and appears to read " Issues July 15, 1861 Mark Jackson Cap / Csa." The bottom endorsement is very difficult to decipher, but appears to read "New Orleans Aug 20/61 Recd from ___ five hundred from 80/100 dollars principal interest". The T-2 is widely regarded for its artistic beauty (thanks in part to NBNC). Ceres, the goddess of agriculture is shown in the lower left. The central vignette, design by James Smillie, is titled <em>The Crossing</em> and features a steam locomotive with cars in tow crossing a bridge over a river with cattle watering themselves as a man on horseback looks on. Bold green security and border prints are seen along with intricate die counters in dark black ink. The amount of "500"s on the face design is staggering, and one could easily get lost trying to count them all. The example offers good appeal for the assigned grade, and would easily be the center of any Confederate collection it enters. PMG comments "Rust, Corner Tears."