The very first 1861 notes paid, with interest, "Twelve months after date ..." and the note would be hand dated when it was issued. Later, they went to "Two years after date ..." and the notes no longer paid interest. Still later, it became "Six months after the ratification of a treaty of peace..." and finally, "Two years after the ratification of a treaty of peace..."As the Confederate government became less optimistic about it's ability to back its notes in a timely manner, the people similarly lost confidence in the value of Confederate paper. It's also interesting that the notes were "Receivable in payment of all dues except export duties." If goods were leaving the country, they wanted something other than their own paper.
