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

Thanks, jbuck and hfjacinto!

jbuck, I don't believe I've ever been through DeWitt myself. I'm getting a lot of notes from the towns down in the delta region, so I may have to take a little road trip sometime and actually visit some of them! I could hit a lot of them on a day-trip from where I live, just a little west of Little Rock.

Some of the best catfish places are found in the delta region, jbuck!

I added three more Heritage Arkansas NBN purchases this week. While my general goal is to get a single example of a large and small size note from each bank which issued them, I have occasionally picked up an additional type or denomination when the mood strikes me. Two of these notes are such a case; one was added because of its scarcity, the other because of its grade.

The First National Bank of Springdale, AR, was chartered in 1907 and merged and became part of First Security Bank in 2004. It was the only issuing charter in the city. The bank issued 1902 RS/DB/PB and 1929 T1/T2 notes in denominations of $5, $10 and $20.
Signatures of cashier J.L. Stafford and president Art L. Lewis.

I already own a small size example from this bank, a $20 1929 Ty.1 note. While it was one of only four $20 Ty.1 notes listed in the T&P census, this $20 Ty.2 note is the lone example listed, and a slightly higher grade than my Ty.1 example.


The First National Bank of Batesville, AR, was chartered in 1905 and was liquidated in 1930. It was one of two issuing charters in Batesville. The bank issued 1902 RS/DB/PB and 1929 T1 notes in denominations of $5, $10 and $20.
Signatures of cashier Albert Sims and president R.C. Dorr.

I already own a large size example from this bank, a $5 1902 PB graded PCGS 20. This $10 1902 PB, while more common with 35 listed in the census, is a far more attractive example graded PMG 53EPQ. This note comes from a small run of notes which are mostly graded AU to CU.


The First National Bank of Fayetteville, AR, was chartered in 1904 and merged and became part of Worthen National Bank of NW Arkansas in 1992. It was one of three issuing charters in Fayetteville. The bank issued 1902 RS/DB/PB and 1929 T1/T2 notes in denominations of $5, $10 and $20.

While 1902 PB notes are fairly common with 35 total in the Track&Price census, 1902 RS and DB notes are far scarcer. This example is one of three $20 1902 Date Back notes listed.
Signatures of cashier Bruce Holcomb and president E.F. Ellis.

Thanks, jbuck!

Nice examples!

I made three Arkansas NBN acquisitions this week on Heritage. The first one is a bit special to me for two reasons - its scarcity and the fact that it has the signature of a female bank president.

The First National Bank of Gentry, AR, was chartered in March 1923 and was liquidated and absorbed by Bratt State Bank of Siloam Springs in June 1934. It was the only issuing charter for Gentry, a small town in the far northwest corner of Arkansas. The bank issued 1902 Plain Back and 1929 Ty.1 notes in denominations of $5, $10 and $20, and 1929 Ty.2 notes in denominations of $5 and $10.

None of the notes from this bank are common, with a total of 4 large size and 12 small size notes in the census. However, the bank only issued a small number of 1929 Ty.2 notes. A mere 128 $5 and 45 $10 of these were issued before the bank ceased operations. It's probably not surprising, therefore, that this example is the lone Ty.2 note from this charter listed in the Track&Price census.

Another thing of interest is the signature of the bank president. While Marion Abner Wasson was president of the bank from 1923 until 1932, his mother Elizabeth Rebecca Wasson was president from 1933 until the bank was liquidated. Some notes from this charter also have the signature of a female cashier, who later served as the vice-president of the bank. This is the only NBN I own, for Arkansas or anywhere else, which has the signature of a female president.

Signatures of cashier Tom Whiteside and president E.R. (Elizabeth Rebecca) Wasson.


The City National Bank of Fort Smith, AR, was chartered in September 1914. It merged and became part of BancorpSouth Bank in 2000. It was one of 6 issuing charters (under 7 titles) for the city. The bank issued only $10 denomination 1902 DB/PB and 1929 T1/T2 notes. All notes besides the 1902 DB are relatively common. There are 43 1902 PB notes listed in the census, but this example is the highest grade listed.

Signatures of cashier Wood Netherland and president I.H. Nakdimen. This is the 4th note from 3 different titles I own with Nakdimen's signature as president; as I've mentioned before he served as president of 4 issuing charters (7 titles in all) in Arkansas, as well as 4 issuing charters in Oklahoma.


The Planters National Bank of Mena, AR, was chartered in May 1933 and merged and became part of FNB in Hot Springs in 2005. It was one of three issuing charters in Mena, but the only one which issued small size notes. The bank issued only 1929 Ty.2 notes in denominations of $5, $10 and $20.

The bank managed to issue over 11,000 notes between 1933 and 1935, of which a total of 19 are listed in the T&P census. This note is one of 7 $5 1929 Ty.2 notes listed. The holder has a notation of "minor ink" which can be seen on the face of the note.
Signatures of cashier Fred C. Embry and president W.W. Townsend. This was the only signature combination for this charter.

Thank you, jbuck!

Three new Arkansas NBN additions from Heritage this week. The large group of these Heritage has offered this summer has about wound down. There are only three more remaining I'm bidding on - a small and large note from Eureka Springs (both very tough notes), as well as a serial #1 from Newark graded 64 which may likely go for more than I'll be wanting to spend. We'll see...

The First National Bank of Mansfield, AR, was chartered on June 21, 1918, put under conservatorship in March 1933 and went into receivership in November 1933. It was one of two issuing charters in Mansfield, and the other charter number is the next one (11196) as both banks received their charter on the same day.

This bank issued $5 denomination 1902 PB and 1929 T1/T2 notes. This is one of 16 $5 1929 Ty.1 notes in the Track&Price census. No other notes are currently listed in a higher grade than this one.

Signatures of cashier W.L. Yowell and president I.H. Nakdimen. Now I own at least one note from each of the 4 issuing Arkansas charters which have the signature of I.H. Nakdimen as president. I really wanted to get this note and ended up paying more than double what I expected to; someone else evidently really wanted it, as well!


The Exchange National Bank of Little Rock, AR, was chartered on January 24, 1885 and was liquidated in February 1930. It was one of 6 issuing charters for the city. The bank issued $10 and $20 denomination 1882BB and 1902 RS/DB/PB notes. This example is one of 8 $20 1902PB notes listed in the T&P census.
Signatures of cashier E.M. Harrington and president John M. Davis.


The First National Bank of Paris, AR, was chartered on January 20, 1920 and was liquidated in August 1934. It was the only issuing charter in Paris. The bank issued $10 denomination 1902PB and 1929 T1/T2 notes. This is one of 12 $10 1902 PB notes listed in the T&P census, and though this is the highest graded note listed in the census, the holder has an annotation of "Ink" which is visible on the face of the note.

Signatures of cashier Lewis C. Sadler and president L.B. Crenshaw, the only signature combination used for this charter.

Because of your rabbit hole, I seriously considered NJ Notes but there are too many collectors chasing too few notes which really adds to the price so this rabbit hole for me will stay unexplored.

I'm only 2 payments left to get my new DSLR, then I'm going back to try and finish the sets I still have coins/notes missing from.

I am living vicariously through your collection. It's very impressive!