| Author |
 Replies: 9 / Views: 2,462 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1984 Posts |
The attached appears to be a cutout from a Bank of Ottawa $20 bill. I am going to guess that it passed into a relative's hands after the bank closed and its money was demonitized. I tried to find a match for it on line and did not have any luck. Judging by the appearance of the design versus other Bank of Otawa notes, I am going to guess that it comes from a note that was issued near the end of the bank's life. However, the only match that I don't have a photo of is the 1891 $20. Any thoughts?   Edited by Smallcentguy
09/05/2015 10:32 am
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 Canada
1984 Posts |
OK, I am going to give a reply to my own topic.
I find this item to be very odd. I have to assume that no one in the late 18th century would do this to a $20 bill that was still worth $20. So I think it is likely that this occurred after or at the time of the merger of the Bank of Ottawa in 1919. If it is an 1891 $20 bill, that certainly seems like a long length of time for a bill to hang around before being defaced.
I see two possibilities.....one is that this note was intentionally defaced as part a "demonitization" process when the bank ceased operations. Perhaps when notes were turned in for redemption the tellers did this to the old ones. The other possibility is that a child got hold of an old $20 bill and cut it up for fun. In the latter case, though, the natural outcome would be for the child or the parents to get out the tape and try to put it together. In that case I would expect to find both pieces together.
The cutting is obviously very roughly done, which could tie to either of these explanations.
Anyone out there know anything about the Bank of Ottawa story? It sounds like a lot of notes were destroyed when the bank closed. Maybe this one was a straggler?
Can anyone confirm if this is an 1891 $20 fragment? If so, the image should be an effigy of John McLaren and would look similar to his picture on a $5, $10 or $50. Anyone have an image of any of these other notes?
Edited by Smallcentguy
09/06/2015 3:01 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
2845 Posts |
Smallcentguy, as you mention, the Bank of Ottawa merged with the Bank of *Nova Scotia in 1919. Here's a link to ScotiaBank's Archives in Toronto. It might be helpful to contact them for information on the 1891 $20 banknote because in my experience the archives departments of major banks generally hold a wealth of historical information pertaining to that of the old banks of different names that were involved in various mergers as well. http://www.scotiabank.com/ca/en/0,,473,00.html*edited opps Edited by wildflowerAB
09/06/2015 11:55 am
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 Canada
9864 Posts |
The note the portrait came from is from 1903 and was never issued. Never had any cash value.
"Dipping" is not considered cleaning...
-from PCGS website
Edited by DBM
09/06/2015 2:06 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1984 Posts |
I have seen a picture of the issued 1903 note and it has a similar border around the effigy. However, the issued note features a different individual.
So this one was not issued then? I guess someone save part of a destroyed unissued note as a souvenir.
Has anyone seen something like this before?
Edited by Smallcentguy
09/06/2015 2:13 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1222 Posts |
This may be the picture your after. It look's as if they may have had a circulation issue also, to bad you don;t have the whole note. Cheers, Bill   |
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
9864 Posts |
None with that portrait were issued for circulation.
"Dipping" is not considered cleaning...
-from PCGS website
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1984 Posts |
Yup that's it!! I guess it was probably a specimen type note that was heading for the scrap heap when someone took a piece for a souvenir.
Many thanks. I think I will tuck this one back into the family history files.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
2425 Posts |
I know this sounds silly as the piece you have is almost centred perfectly for being a cut out... however, is it possible that the note was set on fire at some point in time?
Cutting with scissors would surely give it cleaner cut lines and from the pictures you posted there seems to be almost a brown burnt edge around some of the remaining note.
Just a thought.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1984 Posts |
DD
I think what you are seeing is a colour distortion in the photo. The actual fragment is a full green with a couple of little brown stains. I don't think it has been burnt.
|
| |
Replies: 9 / Views: 2,462 |
|
Posted 09/06/2015 11:02 am
