Fractional currencywas issued during and after the U.S. Civil War due to the hoarding and shortage of gold, silver and copper coins. It was printed in five issues in denominations of 3, 5, 10, 15, 25 and 50 cents. The notes were printed from August 21, 1862, until February 15, 1876. The first issue of fractional currency was authorized by Congress in the summer of 1862 and signed into law on July 17, 1862. It is called Postage Currency since these notes had as their central vignette the five and ten-cent stamps of the day.