S4 E17 Lincoln’s Counterfeiters: Crime, Chaos, and the Birth of the Secret Service

During the American Civil War, the nation was bleeding on the battlefield—but another war was being waged in the shadows. Counterfeiters flooded the Union with fake money, threatening to destroy its fragile economy from within. Amid the chaos, Abraham Lincoln faced an invisible enemy that struck at the very idea of trust itself.

In this episode of The Dark History Podcast, Rob Bradley speaks with historian Andrea Nolen, author of Lincoln’s Counterfeiters, to uncover the hidden story of 19th-century forgery, financial collapse, and the desperate creation of the U.S. Secret Service. Together, they expose the network of con men, printers, and opportunists who thrived during America’s darkest hour—and reveal how this forgotten war shaped the modern world of crime and security.

What happens when truth becomes negotiable, and even money can’t be trusted? Lincoln found out the hard way.

Links To Andrea Nolen:

https://www.andreanolen.com/

I'm on facebook under "Lincoln's Counterfeiters"

and instagram as "andreanolenauthor"