The L-i-K-S, who was moving and really didn't need more stuff to pack and schlep, forwarded seven boxes full of Mom's stuff to me this week. For sorting, selling, storing, or whatever.

Included, scattered here and there, I found more bits of money. A few more coins, none of which I've had a chance to look at yet, and some really unusual paper money.

And a few other interesting items.

Behold, the rare "cut tag," offered here for your viewing convenience because lots of pictures follow.

I'd almost forgotten what USA bills used to look like, back when the fiction was that you could trade paper for "real" money any time you wanted.

ONE DOLLAR is payable to bearer on demand, says this 1957 issue bill. And across the top, "Silver certificate" (which means you could redeem this for silver but not gold).

The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA will pay to the bearer on demand TWO DOLLARS, says this 1953 $2 bill. At the top it says "United States Note", where later bills say, "Federal Reserve Note."

The engraving on the back is pretty, too.

I don't think money is as pretty as it used to be.

But the real "find" in these boxes had to be the yellowing, tattered envelope that, when investigated, revealed a couple of 1943 ration books and some very odd-looking bills.

Some kind of Confederate money, I'm no expert. They're all dated Feb 17, 1964, except the hundred, which is dated Nov 20, 1862. (I don't suppose there's any significance to the dates. I guess I need a historian :) to remind me of my Civil War history--I haven't read up on that era in fifteen years.)

The smaller bills are marked, "...will pay to the bearer on demand" around the denomination and Two years after the ratification of a treaty of peace between the Confederate States and the United States of America. The $100 gives a six-month time interval (and offers interest at two cents a day).

The backs are less interesting.

I tried hard to get clear pictures of the engraving, but my little camera just isn't up to the challenge of close-ups.

I've been handling them, which I know is a no- no, but I don't care. They're interesting.

The ration books are equally as interesting.

(The surname "Quinn" places these in my maternal grandmother's family.)

In other news, I found an entire box of photographs my father took and sent home when he was in Korea. (Other than confirming he'd been there, he refused to talk about his war experience completely.) Some he'd written explanations of on the back and some he hadn't, so I can't be sure what they all show.

40 years of postcards from my Dad's family as they traveled around their part of the country, visiting each other and looking for work. 500 postcards unmarked and why anyone kept postcards that were never written on or mailed is a mystery to me.

Apparently I always tended toward the dramatic.

This early postcard from me, at summer scout camp, says, "Hi! How are you? I'm O.K. I had an accident. Will explain in letter." I'm sure my parents didn't freak out at that or anything. (Presumably this was the occasion when a horse bit me, but I can't be sure.)

More later. Have a good day!