A lot of Civil War era US fractional currency. 25 Cents banknote with William P. Fessenden on the obverse, Third Issue, March 3rd, 1863, signed, marked Specimen on the backside. The lot also includes a separates reverse of the banknote in red. Fractional currency, also referred to as shinplasters, was introduced by the US federal government due to the coin shortage during the Civil War. William Pitt Fessenden, 1806 to 1869, was an American politician and the one of only three people depicted on United States Fractional currency during their lifetime. Antique Collectibles, Historical Americana, Antique Paper Money And Bank Notes, Numismatics.