The Bank Of Cape Fear, NC (headquartered in Wilmington) is one of the more popular banks from which to collect banknotes. It operated from 1804 to 1866 and had branches throughout the state of North Carolina. It was one of the first banks to have branch banking.
There are many options with regards to collecting notes from this bank. Many of the earlier notes are hard to find and contemporary counterfeits do exist. The later notes from the 1850's and 1860's are beautiful and many contain red ink as well. Some also contain the intricate lace work as seen in the $6 note listed below. A more challenging option when collecting is to develop a set of notes from an individual branch or from all of the branches. One could even collect a specific denomination from all branches if desired. Either way, notes from this bank have a lot going for them and their prices have soared in the past few years. To sum up the investment potential from this bank, the bank has a desired name, (most likely due to the movie Cape Fear), it offers many beautiful varieties and vignettes, it is one of the most popular broken banks from which collectors seek out currency.
$3 Bank Of Cape Fear, branch at Salem NC (1859)
Haxby NC-90-G388
The dealer I bought this note from had it advertised: "As
Good As This Note Gets" and I haven't seen a nicer one yet.
Image Contribution: Handini
$3 Bank Of Cape Fear, branch at Wilmington (1860)
Haxby NC-90-G588
Image Contribution: Handini
$4 Bank Of Cape Fear branch at Salem (1859)
Haxby NC-90-G392
Image Contribution: Handini
$5 Bank Of Cape Fear (1817 - Counterfeit)
Haxby NC-90-C80
Image Contribution: Handini
$5 Bank Of Cape Fear branch at Washington (1851)
Haxby NC-90-G506
Image Contribution: Handini
$6 Bank Of Cape Fear branch at Salisbury (1858)
Haxby NC-90-G459b
Image Contribution: Handini
$7 Bank Of Cape Fear (Proof)
Image Contribution: Handini
$8 Bank Of Cape Fear (Proof)
Image Contribution: Handini
$9 Bank Of Cape Fear (Proof)
Note: Due to the mutilated condition of this note,
I kept it in it's sleeve and took a photo rather than a scan.
Image Contribution: Handini
$10 Bank Of Cape Fear branch at Washington (1851)
Haxby NC-90-G518
Image Contribution: Handini
$10 Bank Of Cape Fear branch at Washington (1853)
Haxby NC-90-G520
Image Contribution: Handini
$50 Bank Of Cape Fear (1817 - Counterfeit)
Image Contribution: Handini
I find the Salem branch intriguing but that will be another entry at a later date. I also have a couple more Cape Fear notes to scan so check back and I should eventually have them uploaded.
Hi - What a wonderful collection --- I could tell you the entire history of the Salem branch as well history behind some of the names on the notes and their influence to the South. This bank of course was closed during the Civil War under Israel George Lash (aka Loesch). He re-opened the Bank and later was re-named Wachovia - soon to be re-named Wells Fargo. The history is really as interesting as the notes and I touch upon it in my book.
ReplyDeleteWhat's interesting is how Lash was elected congressman for two terms, despite the fact that there was resentment that he never gave the money back to the citizens of Salem after the bank closed.
ReplyDeleteAre these bills worth anything? I found an old one.
ReplyDeleteThese bills are worth money. Of course it depends on denomination and condition. What denomination is the note, and what year?
Deletei have 2 of the (1953) $10.00 notes in good condition... what do you think the value of them are?
ReplyDeleteIt really depends on their conditions. Do you have scans of the notes?
DeleteI have a four dollar note in mint condition, but do not see a year on it front or back.
ReplyDeleteIs it signed?
DeleteI have a four dollar note from Wilmington in good condition and it's signed on the back
ReplyDelete