EXHIBIT 12 (b)
RULE 30a-2(b) CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code), each of the undersigned officers of Tri-Continental Corporation (the “Registrant”), do hereby certify, to such officer’s knowledge, that:

(1)	The annual report on Form N-CSR of the Registrant for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 (the “Form N-CSR”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2)	the information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

Date: March 9, 2009	/S/ PATRICK T. BANNIGAN
	Patrick T. Bannigan
	Chief Executive Officer
Date: March 9, 2009	/S/ LAWRENCE P. VOGEL
	Lawrence P. Vogel
	Chief Financial Officer