"Another Civil War Story," accompanies this 50 centavos script distributed by the Spiegelberg bank. It was prepared by Mrs. Willi (Flora) Spiegelberg and can be found in the Museum of New Mexico (MNM) in Sante Fe.

At times during the Civil War there was a great scarcity of small silver coins, and in order to remedy this inconvenience to business the Federal government granted the privilege to reliable, trustworthy merchants and bankers to issue "Script." It was paper money like our bank notes or greenbacks, in amounts of Ten, Twenty and Fifty cents. The names of the merchants, or bankers was printed on this white Script paper, and they were responsible for the amount of every issue. This Script was given the unpleasant nickname of "Shindplaster," possibly by those who disapproved of it.

Spiegelberg Brothers were among the first merchants and bankers out West to have been granted the privilege to issue the Script, and they considered it a great honor.

During the Civil War the Second National Bank of Sante Fe New Mexico was organized. Lehman Spiegelberg was elected President and Willi Spiegelberg Cashier. At that time it was obligatory for the President and Cashier to personally sign all greenbacks, it was indeed a strange sight to see thousands upon thousands spread out to dry.