Forced Issue Circulated Under Orders of General Ben Butler's Union Occupation Forces in New Orleans!

New Orleans, La., May 22, 1862. Large vignette at the center of the Bank of Louisiana building with the number "20" on both sides. At the lower left is an illustration of the Roman God "Mercury" wearing his winged hat, and holding the number "20," and at the upper right is an illustration of the Greek Goddess "Athena," with the Roman numerals "XX" at the lower right corner. The note is vertically stamped in blue, "FORCED ISSUE," along the right side directly next to "Athena." That was done by the occupying Union forces under the command of General Benjamin F. Butler. Fancy red reverse, "Bank of Louisiana" with a pair of Roman numerals "XX" on each side. Very fine plus. Scarce, and very desirable 1862 New Orleans bank note that was forced to be circulated by the Federal authorities after their capture of New Orleans.

WBTS Trivia: The capture of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana started on April 25, 1862, and the city fell to Union forces on May 1st. The Bank of Louisiana, in New Orleans, opened for business in 1824, and operated until they became The Louisiana National Bank in 1866. Union General Ben Butler, nicknamed "The Beast" by the citizens of New Orleans, ordered that Confederate Treasury notes could no longer be issued by any New Orleans bank. Instead the note listed here was "forced" to be issued in this very nice example from The Bank of Louisiana.

"Mercury," was the Chief Messenger of the Gods in Roman mythology. He was the God of financial gain, commerce, eloquence, communication, travel, luck, trickery, merchants, and thieves. He was also responsible for carrying souls to the underworld by wearing a broad brimmed winged hat, (or a "petasus" in Latin) that allowed him to fly according to Roman legend.

"Athena" was the daughter of Zeus, and the Greek Goddess of War. She was usually portrayed wearing a helmet, and carrying a lance.