Hokiefan's Collection Of Arkansas Obsoletes, Scrip And National Bank Notes

I had a good night tonight with two decent acquisitions of Arkansas National Bank Notes.

The First National Bank of Stuttgart, AR, charter #10459, was chartered on November 11, 1913, and was liquidated on March 31, 1930 and absorbed by the First State Bank of Stuttgart. This was the only issuing bank in Stuttgart.

The bank issued $5, $10 and $20 1902 DB, 1902 PB and 1929 Type 1 notes. There are a total of eleven large size notes and seven small size notes in the T&P census. There are four $5 1929 Ty.1 notes listed, all TPG graded, and this one is by far the highest graded note (the next highest is a PCGS 45 example). Other than a CGA-certified 62 1902 PB $10 note, this is the only uncirculated note of any type listed for this bank. I'm very happy to add this one to my Arkansas NBN collection.

Signatures of cashier C.C. Berry and president A.B. Banks.

This was purchased from an online dealer from whom I've bought coins from for 10 years, but I rarely even look at their currency inventory as I've never found anything I've been interested in. I'm glad I took a glance through it tonight, however! Seller's pic.


The First National Bank in Ashdown, AR, charter #13534, was chartered on April 3, 1931. It succeeded The First National Bank of Ashdown, charter #10486, the only other issuing bank in this city. It merged and became a part of The State First National Bank of Texarkana, AR in 1995.

The bank issued $5, $10 and $20 1929 Type 1 and 2 notes. There are a total of 9 notes in the T&P census. Seven of those are Type 1 notes, and there is a single $20 Type 2 and this lone $10 Type 2 listed. While the bidding went a bit higher than I expected on Heritage, this is another one I'm pleased to add to my set. Seller's pic.

Signatures of cashier J.M. Johnson, Jr. and president N.C. McCrary.

Thank you, Hondo! I was quite surprised to find that one. I've been trying to keep an eye out on a lot of dealers' national bank note inventories after a recent surprise on that $3 obsolete note I'd written about in an earlier post. It really paid off this time - that was a tough note which hadn't had a public sale in about 12 years.

So many of the Arkansas banks have very few known notes, and it appears that they're pretty tightly held with very infrequent public sales. I've been picking up quite a few lately that seem to be coming from the same collection, based on the cert numbers on the holders (this Stuttgart note wasn't one of those, however, but the Ashdown note was). Heritage has a lot more coming up this summer - I'm looking forward to filling a lot of tougher holes in my set!

Thanks, jbuck!

Very nice!

You have a fascinating collection underway!

I saw that you have at least one note from the Eric Newman collection. Just a useless trivia side note for you on Newman's collection. He was close friends with longtime Florida dealer Harley Freeman, who had an extensive collection of obsolete notes and National Currency. Newman and Freeman did some horse-trading over the years, and that's how Newman acquired part of his vast collection. Freeman had a superb collection of Continental Currency and Florida obsolete notes, but also had obsolete notes from many places. I think Newman ended up with a large part of that collection. Freeman was also close friends with Grover Criswell, and I knew both of them very well back in the Jurassic Era when I was a high school kid roaming shows all over the country flipping coins for profit. Harley also *may* have had *some* involvement with the 1913 Liberty nickel and *may* have had a scrapbook filled with telegrams and letters about it, but that's a long story for another day.

Two fresh pickups. Not the prettiest notes, but fairly interesting (at least in my mind!).

The Arkansas National Bank of Fayetteville, AR, charter 8786, was one of three issuing charters in Fayetteville. It was chartered on July 8, 1907, liquidated in 1931 and was absorbed by FNB of Fayetteville.

The bank issued $5-$20 denomination 1902 RS/DB/PB and 1929 Ty.1 notes.

There are 36 large size and 9 small size notes in the T&P census. This note is one of only four $10 1929 Ty.1 notes listed, and as a bonus has a very low serial number!

Signatures of cashier Tom (T.L.) Hart and president B.R. Davidson.


The First National Bank in Hartford, AR, charter 11830, was the last of three names this charter issued notes under. It was chartered as The Farmers and Miners National Bank of Hartford on September 3, 1920. In 1924, it absorbed The First National Bank of Hartford, charter 11748, which was the only other issuing charter in this city. In 1925 the name was changed to New First National Bank of Hartford, then in 1926 changed to First National Bank in Hartford. The bank was liquidated in 1934 and absorbed by the City National Bank of Fort Smith, AR.

Only $5 denomination 1902 PB, 1929 Ty.1 and 1929 Ty.2 notes were issued by this charter, with 5 large and 7 small notes listed in the T&P census, and none of those listed in a grade higher than 20. This note is new to the census, and the holder notes a tear.

Signatures of cashier C.H. Savage and president I.H. Nakdimen.

Interesting side note on Iser H. Nakdimen. I noticed I had another note from a different city with his signature as president, so I looked up a bit of information on him. According to his obit, at one time he was president and owner of 16 different banks. In the SPMC database, it shows him as president of 8 different chartered national banks, 4 each in Oklahoma and Arkansas. He also founded a telephone company and owned a chain of newspapers, among many other things. Sounds like he was a very busy fellow!

+ 1 I really like that #76 note FNB $10 from Ashdown.



Must be sweet to own 1 of the 10 registered! Really attractive example (despite its design being a bit cockeyed)!



I love reading these side notes from veterans & its fantastic to see your collection get some respect (it deserves).



Incredible low #2 $10 note! If I wanted pretty I'd go to my wife's hair salon. You're really rounding out an amazing collection.