| Author |
 Replies: 13 / Views: 2,705 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5855 Posts |
 I recently picked this up from APMEX on a whim because it looked interesting, but now I'm wondering just what the heck it actually is. Is it actually a real note? Is it a prototype? A modern fantasy piece? Any information would be greatly appreciated. The paper is extremely thin, almost like onion paper, and the back is completely blank. It has somebody's portrait in the lower left corner, but no indication of who it is. It has "No." in the upper right corner, but no actual serial number. The small print beneath the portrait reads "National Bank Note Company, New York," and I understand that they printed out a number of official government bank notes in the mid 1860s. The bottom center says "Cash" and the bottom right has what appears to be "Pres!"
|
|
|
|
Moderator
 United States
14463 Posts |
it appears to be a note issued before or around the civil war. Troubling that it has no serial number.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
It is an unissued obsolete currency. Very nice design on these.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
652 Posts |
Edited by mackwork
06/19/2013 07:36 am
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
652 Posts |
|
|
Valued Member
United States
212 Posts |
I agree that this is an unissued piece of obsolete currency.
The thing that is got me totally confused is that this has the Bank of America on it. Here is why.
This note was designed and printed in the 1860's or so. Now the Bank of America was not established until the 1920's in California. How can that be? Anyone know the history and can enlighten me?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
652 Posts |
Very good question Jim! I have no answer, but hopefully someone will.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
239 Posts |
Haxby's obsolete reference book lists "Bank of America, 1851-90...Fate: Absorbed by the Bank of America Loan & Trust Co." for this Providence, RI note. It also mentions it is as a branch of the Bank of the United States in Philadelphia. The portrait is of Adnah Sackett, first president of this bank until he died in 1860(information from a Heritage Auctions lot).
|
|
Valued Member
United States
212 Posts |
BisonMatt, Thank you for that. I do not have a copy of Haxby and kinda knew the answer should be in there. Jim
|
|
Valued Member
United States
239 Posts |
Its old but is still good for a few things, ha!
|
|
Valued Member
United States
212 Posts |
Plenty good for my confusion. Thanks for taking the time to look it up. Jim
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
652 Posts |
BisonMatt - thanks for solving the question! I had a feeling that this may not have been the same Bank of America that exists today, but had no Haxby book to look it up, and the internet gave me no answers. Can I get partial credit for thinking the gentleman on the note may have been a bank president? LOL!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
5855 Posts |
Thanks for the responses!
So... what exactly is "obsolete" currency? Isn't any currency no longer being printed obsolete? Or does it have a special meaning?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
742 Posts |
The term "obsolete currency" is generally used to describe the notes issued by state chartered banks and state and local governments up to the Civil War.
|
| |
Replies: 13 / Views: 2,705 |
|
Posted 06/18/2013 10:26 pm
