Monticello Bank

By: Handini

The Monticello Bank of Charlottsville, Virginia had some beautiful notes. The $20 shown below has a beautiful vignette of Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's estate.

$2 Monticello Bank, Charlottesville, VA (1861)

Image Contribution: Handini 

$20 Monticello Bank, Charlottesville, VA (1860)

Image Contribution: Handini 

A close up of the front entrance of the vignette of Monticello, on the $20, reveals a couple of men standing there wearing top hats.

A closer look at the front entrance of the Monticello vignette

Image Contribution: Handini 

Farmers And Exchange Bank

By: Handini

The Farmers And Exchange Bank of Charleston, South Carolina had some interesting notes. Both, the $5 and the $10 notes from this bank, depict scenes of slavery in the antebellum South and have a rarity of 2.

The bank itself was chartered on December 16, 1852 (Source: Sheheen), but probably didn't begin operating until 1853 as that is the date listed in Haxby. Denominations ranged from $5 - $100. Unlike many banks which failed due to bankruptcy from the Civil War, this particular bank was destroyed by Union troops (Source: Haxby).

$5 Farmers And Exchange Bank, Charleston, SC (1854)

Sheheen 90

Image Contribution: Handini 

$10 Farmers And Exchange Bank, Charleston, SC (1853)

Sheheen 91

Image Contribution: Handini

         Sheheen ID                    Denomination                    Haxby ID                    Sheheen Rarities

                ---                                 $    5.00                       SC-15-G2                                --- 

                90                                 $    5.00                       SC-15-G2a                               2

                ---                                 $  10.00                       SC-15-G4                                --- 

                91                                 $  10.00                       SC-15-G4a                               2

                92                                 $  20.00                       SC-15-G6a                               3

                93                                 $  50.00                       SC-15-G8a                               9

                94                                 $  50.00                       SC-15-G8b                             10

                ---                                 $  50.00                       SC-15-R5                                --- 

                95                                 $100.00                       SC-15-G10a                           11

                96                                 $100.00                       SC-15-G10b                           11

                ---                                 $    5.00                       SC-15-A5                                ---


The following additional information is from Sheheen:

                                    Presidents:
                                                              1853 - 1860          William M. Martin
                                                              1860 - 1862          S. S. Farrar
                                                              1862 - 1863          J. S. Davies
                                                              1863 - 1865          William Whaley

                                    Cashiers:
                                                              1853 - 1859          William C. Breese
                                                              1859 - 1862          M. D. Strobel

Bank Of Lexington

By Handini

The Bank Of Lexington, North Carolina, issued currency in denominations of $5 and $10. Two varieties of each of these denominations had red ink, and were nearly identical, and the third had green ink. Among the notes with red ink, is a variety from their branch that operated in Graham, NC. The green $10 is the rarest of these notes.

$5 Bank Of Lexington, NC (1859)

Image Contribution: Handini

$5 Bank Of Lexington, NC (1861)

Image Contribution: Handini

State Bank Of South Carolina

By: Handini

The State Bank Of South Carolina, headquartered in Charleston, SC, was chartered on 12 - 19 - 1801 with a capital of $1 million (Source: South Carolina Obsolete Notes by: Austin M. Sheheen, JR.).

Shown below is a beautiful $10 proof note with a lovely shipping vignette in the center. Ceres, seen on the left side, is holding a sheaf over her shoulder. Sheheen assigns a rarity of 1 to this note meaning that it is a more commonly found note. I have two of these proofs in my collection. The pink ink bleeding through in the center of the note is characteristic of proof notes, where a rubber stamp left it's mark on the reverse.

$10 State Bank Of South Carolina, Charleston, SC (PROOF)

Sheheen 206

Image Contribution: Handini

Standard Catalog Of World Paper Money, Specialized Issues

By: Handini

The book Standard Catalog Of World Paper Money, Specialized Issues, Volume I, 7th edition by Albert Pick is a good source for those interested in colonial and continental currency. This book is also a suitable replacement for other books dealing with civil war issues as it lists state currency from the civil war era as well. It also lists odd issues from various other countries. Newer editions than the one mentioned here are also available. I happen to have the 7th edition however.

Pennsylvania Obsolete Notes And Scrip

By: Handini

The book Pennsylvania Obsolete Notes and Scrip by Richard T. Hoober was published in 1985 by The Society Of Paper Money Collectors. It consists of 390 pages and is well worth the purchase to a collector who is interested in obsolete notes from PA. It lists merchant's scrip, municipal notes such as the 1837 City of Philadelphia Loan, as well as banks. Rarity values on the 7 point scale are provided.

City Of Philadelphia Loan

By: Handini

Some notes were issued in 1837 by the City Of Philadelphia, PA. These notes were in denominations of 10c, 25c, 50c, $1, $2, and $3. Their rarities ranged from R4 - R7. Shown below is a 50 cent note dated June 23, 1837. It is an R7 note and although listed in Hoober, he does not list a description of this note in his book.

50 cents, City Of Philadelphia Loan, Pennsylvania (1837)

Hoober 305-658

Image Contribution: Handini

Colonial Rhode Island

By: Handini

Colonial currency was issued in Rhode Island as early as 1710. The pound sterling system was used until 1776 when it was switched to the dollar system. Although Rhode Island transitioned from a British colony to a US state in 1776, their first state notes used the pound sterling system. Notes dated 1 - 15 - 1776 were issued by the colony of Rhode Island while those issued 3 - 18 - 1776 were issued by the State of Rhode Island. The dollar system began being used on notes issued on 9 - 5 - 1776. All of the 1776 notes from RI were printed by John Carter. The dollar system persisted on 1777 notes but notes issued from 1778 - 1786 reverted to the pound system. This was most likely to the fact that the Continental Currency used the dollar system and at the time became worthless. (Source: Standard Catalog Of World Paper Money, Specialized Issues, Volume One, 7th edition)

Shown below is a 10 Shilling note from Rhode Islands dated 5 - 1786. Only the month and year are printed on the notes from 1786. The day of the month was neglected.

10 Shillings, Rhode Island (1786)

Image Contribution: Handini

Wallace Brothers

By: Handini

The Wallace Brothers, merchants from Statesville, NC, issued their own currency in 1882. They were "the largest dealers in medicinal herbs in the world", and were in business for 36 years before creditors took their toll (Source: New York Times 9 - 16 - 1895).

1 cent, Wallace Brothers, Statesville, North Carolina (1882)

Image Contribution: Handini

Shown above is one of 5 consecutive serial 1 cent notes in my collection. Denominations included 2c 10c, 25c, and there may be other denominations as well. These notes were probably used like coupons at their store.

Salem Glass Works

By: Handini

Notes from the Salem Glass Works, of Salem, NJ, range in rarities from 4 to 6. They came in denominations of 5c, 10c, 25c, 50c, $1, $2, and $3. (Source: New Jersey's Money). Shown below is a 10 cent remainder note of the Salem Glass Works, which has a rarity of 4.

10 cents, Salem Glass Works, Salem, New Jersey (1870)

Wait 2172

Image Contribution: Handini

Bank Of Augusta

By: Handini

The Bank Of Augusta, GA is one of my least favorite notes. It is easy to find notes from this bank and their price hasn't changed much in the past 10 years. Moreover, they are not the most visually appealing notes. Shown below are two different examples of $1 notes from this bank, both of which I sold.

$1 Bank Of Augusta (Remainder)

 Image Contribution: Handini 

The following $1 example was printed on the back of a sheet of fractional currency from the bank that was never issued. Instead of disposing of the paper that the fractional notes were printed on, they printed higher denominations on the back side, as the notes were one sided only. Thus, one can say that this note was printed on "recycled" paper.

$1 Bank Of Augusta, GA (Remainder)

Image Contribution: Handini

$4 Bank Of Augusta, GA (Remainder)

Image Contribution: Handini

Confederate States Of America $10

By: Handini

Shown below are 4 different $10 bills from the Confederate States Of America.

$10 Confederate States Of America (1861)

Image Contribution: Handini 

$10 Confederate States Of America (1861)

 Image Contribution: Handini 

The following 1862 Confederate States Of America $10 bill has a beautiful ornate reverse. The holes are there because this note was redeemed at one point. 

$10 Confederate States Of America (1862)

 Image Contribution: Handini 

Below is a beautiful example of an 1864 $10 Confederate Note. The beautiful vignette of a battle scene with horses and canon on the obverse makes this one of the most beautiful of Confederate notes. They are also one of the most common Confederate notes available to a collector and can still be purchased for under $100 in mint condition, although certified crisp uncirculated examples sell for considerably more.

$10 Confederate States Of America (1864)

Image Contribution: Handini