/r/Nationalbanknotes
Discuss, share and learn all things related to National Bank Notes including: postcards, checks, documents, banknotes, ads, and anything else related to the banks or bankers.
Discuss, share and learn all things related to National Bank Notes including: postcards, checks, documents, banknotes, ads, and anything else related to the banks or bankers.
National Bank Notes were issued by over 12,000 national banks across the US between 1863 and 1935. All show the name and city of the issuer and the signatures of the bank officers. To learn more, see: Collecting National Bank Notes
/r/Nationalbanknotes
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Picked this really low charter number up today
18:37 UTC
Seeking more information on this note
Hey all! I found this looking through some personal items given to me by a family member. Can anyone provide me with some insight? Is it worth something? Should I get it graded?
18:18 UTC
Cleaning out late grandpa’s home. What do we have here?
03:14 UTC
The Consolidated National Bank of Dubuque, Iowa
Charter 2327 started life as The Second National Bank of Dubuque, Iowa in 1876. In 1923 it consolidated with the Dubuque National Bank. This resulted in an appropriate title change to The Consolidated National Bank of Dubuque, Iowa.
Issuing only $5s in large and small, currently 53 large are reported of the 108,956 issued. They entered receivership in July of 1932.
This bank is also one of two Iowa charters to have engraved officer signatures on the notes. The other was The Valley National Bank of Des Moines.
Cashier, Joseph William Meyer (1883-1937) and President, Judson Keith Deming (1858-1953)
21:45 UTC
Mexico NY $10 note
14:21 UTC
American National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago, Illinois
A note I've been excited to share is this T-1 $5 on the American National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago, Illinois.
You may be curious to why I am excited over a bank with 84+ small size reported. The reason is this is the FIRST T-1 $5 with this title to be reported. A friend found this for me at the Denver ANA last month and my only response to him was "F*****g buy it!" This note made its proper debut at the NBN Conference at Heritage last week.
Possibly there are more out there hidden in dealer "common" inventory and if so, I'd love to see them. I have been told Track and Price lists another T-1 $5, but upon further research it is actually the first title.
This charter started as the Straus National Bank and Trust Company and changed the name in January of 1933. This left limited time to receive T-1 notes with the new title. Only 1642 sheets of T-1 $5s were delivered before the switch to T-2s. In fact, T-1s of $10s and $20s also had limited runs of 526 and 212 sheets respectively.
Cashier, John Henry Krafft (1882-1958) and President, Samuel Jones Tilden Straus (1876-1942)
00:19 UTC
The Farmers National Bank of Aurelia, Iowa
While not a scarce bank, this large example from The Farmers National Bank of Aurelia, Iowa boasts eye appeal for its grade and some nice signatures.
16 large are recorded in the NBNC for this Cherokee County bank that was in business from 1910 to 1984. Two banks issued in town, with this charter being more frequently encountered. The bank still stands at the SW corner of 2nd and Main…and still maintains its previous identity above the door.
Nice pen sigs of Assistant Cashier, Ray Jennings Parrott (1897-1982) and President, Peter Daniel Wine (1859-1940)
22:44 UTC
The First National Bank of Miami, Florida - the only large-size $10 in the census
23:13 UTC
The Farmers National Bank of Osage, Iowa
Osage, Iowa had 2 issuing charters. This charter operated under two titles. The Farmers National Bank of Osage, Iowa was the first title of 4885. It was only used on large size notes and examples a very scarce. Currently 5 notes are recorded in the NBNC with this title. 2 of them are held in the Higgins Museum. This note was a welcome new addition to the census and my collection.
Despite opening in 1893, the bank only issued 11,808 large notes. Keeping a circulation around $13,000 until 1925 when circulation dropped to $0 made large examples scarce from the time they were issued. The bank did pick up issuance in the small size era, and 39 small notes with the banks second title are reported.
The pen sig of Cashier, Elmer Charles Swanson (1892-1957) remains, while the Presidents has faded.
19:10 UTC
The First National Bank of West Point, Georgia
Fresh from the weeds and brand new to the census, this West Point ‘02 Plain Back is the 5th reported example from this tough to find Troup County issuer. I was thrilled to pick up this simply tough note from a one bank town that has appeared at auction only twice since 1979.
CH# 8046, The First National Bank of West Point, was organized on January 11, 1906 and survived for 20 years until it was absorbed by the Citizens Bank of West Point on March 23, 1926. Only a little over 10,000 sheets of Red Seals, Date Backs, and Plain Backs were issued during the bank’s life. The signatures did not survive the extensive time in circulation this note experienced, however this represents a prime example of getting what you can, plus every example listed in the NBNC is listed as Fine or below. I am very excited to obtain yet another difficult to obtain charter and city with this great note!
01:16 UTC
The First National Bank of Adel, Iowa
While there are 22 recorded on The First National Bank of Adel, Iowa, offerings seem to be scattered. I have never found one at an Iowa coin show in my years of attending. That's why I was glad this new to the census example appeared.
This bank was short-lived. Only in operation from 1908 to 1928 when it was liquidated and absorbed by Adel State Bank. Issuing 65,852 notes spanning all three 1902 Series types, they favored the $5, $10, and $20 denominations. Over half of the survivors are $5s. Grades of the recorded range from About Good to Uncirculated. However, many of the examples lack signatures, even the high grade. Looking at currently available scans, this example is the only one with legible signatures.
Adel is located in Dallas County just west of Des Moines. During the issuing era the population was around 1,500 people. Recently the population has increased drastically due to the suburbs of Des Moines becoming hot real estate commodities for those wanting to work in the city, but enjoy a small town. Adel is also home to Iowa's only billionaire, Harry Stine.
Purple stamped sigs of Lloyd Ruby Roberts (1886-1960) and his father, William Roberts (1846-1928)
21:39 UTC
The First National Bank of Manilla, Iowa
20 notes make up the small size census for The First National Bank of Manilla, Iowa. A high survival rate considering only 3,180 were issued before the bank entered receivership in January of 1933.
Manilla was an important division point for The Milwaukee Road Railroad which connected the Omaha main to the Sioux City division. During it's heyday the population was near 1200 people. Today that figure has been halved. It was home to 2 national banks. This was the only to issue small size.
Cashier, Robert Charles Jackson (1870-1936) and President, Edward Saunders (1859-1943)
19:42 UTC
"Low" Serials on Nationals
I just have to put this out there since I see it a lot. Not just here, but on other platforms.
National Bank Notes were printed in far lesser quantity than other issues of their time. Unless the serial is a single digit it is not really a "low" serial number. In fact, unless it is 1 or 2 the majority a serious collectors and experts do not care. Besides 1929 Type 2 issues (with some one offs in other series) , there can be 2-6 notes with the same serial (different plate positions) depending on the sheet combination.
Telling somebody who knows nothing about these things that they have a "low" serial that doesn't meet the above criteria is giving them a false expectation of higher value.
16:46 UTC
$5 1929 Bellflower, Ca
Tougher small size for LA county.
02:11 UTC
Hi! I’m curious to know how much this First National Bank of Delta $50 might be worth. I’d love to learn more about it!
17:56 UTC
Not every day you get to handle one of the most legendary Nationals out there…
The last appearance of a Puerto Rico Red Seal was in June of 1997. Estimated at $200k+ in our CSNS Signature Sale at Heritage!
18:01 UTC
The Bedford National Bank, Bedford, Iowa
Of the 29 large notes reported on The Bedford National Bank, Bedford, Iowa, this is the first $10 1882 Date Back to surface. This note walked into a local shop late last year.
1860 sheets of 10-10-10-20 1882 Date Backs were printed. This is the second shortest type issuance by the bank behind the 10-10-10-20 Brown Backs.
Bedford, Iowa was home to 2 national banks. However, Charter 2298 The First National Bank, is unique and is in the Higgins Museum.
Though the signatures have faded, the blue overprint remains quite vibrant.
21:21 UTC
The Merchants NB of Savannah, GA.
Notes like these I think are the ones that impress me. More than a half million notes issued in the bank’s 53 year tenure between 1866-1919 and only 20 reported. Among that half million were a little more than 150,000 $5 date backs of which just 1 reported, this being the second.
This bank only has 10 sales in the last 30 years.
23:31 UTC
Hello everyone! Any ideas on value for this? I have an opportunity to purchase it, but don’t want to overspend. Tia!
21:27 UTC
The First National Bank of Hubbard, Iowa
A better Iowa small note is this example from The First National Bank of Hubbard, Iowa.
This bank was chartered in 1907 and opened on New Year's Day 1908. On Dec. 30th, 1931 they absorbed Charter 6435 - The First National Bank of Radcliffe, Iowa. However, they entered receivership in October of 1933.
17 small are recorded in the NBNC, but you don't see them offered that often. This example walked into a local coin shop a few months ago. Aside from an unfortunate tear, it is a solid example.
Cashier, Theodor Paul Guenther (1888-1973) and President, Simon Henry Boeke (1874-1948)
22:29 UTC
The Merchants National Bank of Burlington, Iowa
u/mission42 Requested I post some notes from Burlington, Iowa. I'll start with this one..
This is the first $50 1902 Plain Back to surface from The Merchants National Bank of Burlington, Iowa. The bank opened in 1870 and by the time they started issuing 1902 Date Backs they limited the denominations to $5s, $50s, and $100s. Surprisingly only one pre-1902 Date Back note is known: A serial #1 Original Series $2. Aside from the $2, most Of the 52 large notes known 45(!) are Plain Back $5s mostly from original UNC runs. 6 are high denoms: 2 DB $50s, 2 DB $100s, 1 PB $100, and now this PB $50. Only 221 50-50-50-100 sheets of 1902 Plain Backs were issued.
Signatures of Cashier, Esco Walker Wichhart (1890-1946) and President, James L. Edwards (1864-1946) appear on the note
20:38 UTC
National Note
More of a coin guy not a big currency guy but trying to get into it! Was at a coin show today and I came across this note. The dealer said this issue is pretty rare. Was asking $350 for it. Just curious if anyone could give some insight on it and it’s possible value.
21:57 UTC
Illinois Aces
01:28 UTC
The First National Bank of Richland, Iowa
I'm excited to share this note from The First National Bank of Richland, Iowa.
3 years ago I was able to purchase a $20 1882 Date Back from this bank. At the time there were only 2 reported notes that had been known for over 25 years. With one in the Higgins, I had to jump at it or I may never find another. The bank had a TINY issuance and that is explained in the next paragraph. I was amazed I was able to acquire such a rarity! Then....
Last month 2 became 3 when this $10 1882 Date Back showed up on eBay. Not only was I surprised to see it on eBay, it also had a sane BIN price. After the purchase was complete I asked the seller where it came from. They said it walked into their shop in Virginia with a bunch of "junk" large type notes. You just never know where these things will show up. This is the first $10 denomination of any time to surface. The previously reported notes are both $20 1882 Date Backs.
This is a true Iowa rarity from a town most people-even Iowans-have never heard of. The FNB of Richland, Iowa was chartered in 1900 and liquidated in August of 1919. During that time they had a very limited output of notes. Issuing only the $10 and $20 denominations they produced: 720 sheets of 1882 Brown Backs, 700 sheets of 1882 Date Backs, and 7 sheets of 1882 Value Backs for a total of 5,708 notes with a face value of $71,350. That is a tiny output for nearly 20 years of business. Additionally their total circulation was never more than $10k.
The fact 3 notes exists from this bank is a treasure. This note also has condition going for it as well.
Excellent pen sigs of Cashier, George Cornelius Reames (1868-1955) and Vice President, Edwin Stanton Wolcott (1862-1945)
21:17 UTC