V697873 was the last Treasury SN used on a Value Back; in this case the bank receiving that sheet wasn't recorded by Huntoon.  Your note is rather low in the V numbers, so likely it was sent off to Port Arthur late in 1919, or maybe 1920 before the need for the First to renew its charter and issue Plain Back of series 1902 (my wife would like the charter date as it's her birthday--guess I should like it too :-).  With only T U and V used for 10-10-10-20 Series of 1882 Value Backs, it's surprising how under appreciated TEN is on the back of a note when compared to the Date Backs and Brown Backs of series 1882 Nationals.  Sadly, I don't have any Arthurs in my First name signature set.  I'll keep my eye out for that $20 VB!  

She's all yours. It has been languishing for quite some time here. Check the price and you might see why. I'd love to have the mate for my $10 but I can't seem to pull the trigger here. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/20-1882-Value-Back-First-National-Bank-Port-Arthur-Texas-CH-5485-UNIQUE-TYPE/182582292528?hash=item2a82c0b030:g:XrMAAOSwK6RZHlNi

I have had my eye out for my bday charter date. I found one that is one day before my bday:

I agree that I haven't seen major problems with crooked notes in the newer holders / more recently graded notes with cert numbers starting with "80XXXXX-". It's nice to see.

On 7/19/2020 at 6:31 PM, Sheik Sheck said:

She's all yours. It has been languishing for quite some time here. Check the price and you might see why. I'd love to have the mate for my $10 but I can't seem to pull the trigger here. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/20-1882-Value-Back-First-National-Bank-Port-Arthur-Texas-CH-5485-UNIQUE-TYPE/182582292528?hash=item2a82c0b030:g:XrMAAOSwK6RZHlNi

I have had my eye out for my bday charter date. I found one that is one day before my bday:

 

Zowie! That's absurd.  Wait for the Kagins auction and it might start more reasonably.  Nice Richmond DB.  My VA set is in sad shape.  

On 7/21/2020 at 7:34 PM, ddr70 said:

Zowie! That's absurd.  Wait for the Kagins auction and it might start more reasonably.  Nice Richmond DB.  My VA set is in sad shape.  

eBay is full of absurd listings though. It's good for entertainment though. Recently, just for a laugh, I put in a "Best Offer" on a pair of items that has been listed at $79 each for years now. I offered $24 each because I honestly don't  think they'd get much more than that for them if they decided to put them in auction. The response was crickets. I may come back in another month or two and offer more like $35 each on them, just because I'd love to fill those holes in my set.

In keeping with the Texas theme here, I'll share my series of 1902 TX set in it's current state (which would be more like Delaware in Size than Texas).  

I do have a Houston, TX The First NB Ch. # (S)1644 $10PB on the way to PMG.  Basically it needs PMG to give it a grade about 3 levels too high for it to displace my PMG 30 Victoria NB $10 PB, but the numbers are just cool... 220361/X16961 pp Q/111 

On 7/22/2020 at 8:18 PM, Revenant said:

eBay is full of absurd listings though. It's good for entertainment though. Recently, just for a laugh, I put in a "Best Offer" on a pair of items that has been listed at $79 each for years now. I offered $24 each because I honestly don't  think they'd get much more than that for them if they decided to put them in auction. The response was crickets. I may come back in another month or two and offer more like $35 each on them, just because I'd love to fill those holes in my set.

It is incredible the hundreds of listings that are incredibly overpriced and sit for years with no buyers. Obviously these are not businesses but hobbyist that think "if they are willing to pay out the nose, I'll part ways with these notes" There are a few serious sellers but us folks in the know know that auction is the only place to get most notes that aren't over the top retail. I did pick up a GC for my set off a true auction on Ebay not too long ago and the gavel was right in line for what I expected. Most NBN's i look at on Ebay are far above the gray sheet retail. The $10 Port Arthur value back in this thread was also picked off Ebay. I offered the seller 40% less than the price, that was my final so I was going to decline any counters and I was shocked but he accepted! So if you are doggedly patient sometimes Ebay can work. 

8 hours ago, ddr70 said:

In keeping with the Texas theme here, I'll share my series of 1902 TX set in it's current state (which would be more like Delaware in Size than Texas).  

I do have a Houston, TX The First NB Ch. # (S)1644 $10PB on the way to PMG.  Basically it needs PMG to give it a grade about 3 levels too high for it to displace my PMG 30 Victoria NB $10 PB, but the numbers are just cool... 220361/X16961 pp Q/111 

 

Hey!!! When did you sneak that Texas collection under my nose! I was just in Bryan, TX about 30 minutes ago. It's the city connected to College Station where we live. You are the radar master. You were obviously a math nerd in school. with your eye on those numbers. How many radar notes grace your sets? 

Here's another Texas note that came back EPQ unexpectedly. Love the sigs...

I've had that note on Bryan, TX for quite some time--5 years.  Five years ago is about when I really got into nationals and I've bought next to no coins since.  It's in my first name signature set too (along with Victoria and Clarksville, TX of course).  Seems like I only buy banks from towns that are first names on Texas. I had PMG certify it about 2 years ago and was happy with the VF 25.  No EPQ for Bryan :-(  I didn't know where Bryan was...   We could always do a trade one day.   I've been close to Victoria driving to S. Padre Isl.  My collecting goals are shifting more towards series of 1882 and if I can afford them original series notes.  Fancy SNs have been an interest for decades--I've never found one in circulation.  But I looked!  I have about 2 dozen with 5 digits and a few more if you count 4 or less digits--on large size nationals.  About a dozen are in Sarasota for grading right now.  

The Dallas note has the eye appeal.  Interesting 'flag' or pennant above the President's signature.Looks like JE Waggoner maybe.  Good name for a Texan.  Glad the paper got you an EPQ--those are nice and I like to get $20s when I can...

  I wonder why PMG went with scales for their newly designed holders?  What do scales have to do with paper currency?  Something like Electricity riding an eagle, maybe more appropriately covered with a draped flag, from a $10 Series of 1882 would have been nice.  Probably wouldn't go over as well in Asia though, not with the flag anyway.

My coin collection has gone stagnant. I bought a couple of coins three or four years ago but none since. Now I find coins terribly boring. I look at every note I get in my change hoping for a great serial number find. I have picked a few interesting numbers but nothing worth much. I picked a few star notes during the pandemic but the condition is so poor they are worth face value. I squirrel them away anyway. That collecting bug is strong! I thought the scales on the labels of the new PMG holders is strange as well! Like they felt compelled to add something to distinguish the previous labels. Here is a note I love. T&P reports hundreds of these notes. I see them quite often but at $90 I couldn't pass up. And then it comes back a GEM. Makes it all worth it.  

Good eye, hard to beat that for a 65EPQ.  That should be about $200 on an Heritage auction; $500 on a LK auction :-)

The upcoming HA Dallas auction is starting to post pics.  It's got a ton of Texas notes!!

The wife and I drove in downtown Bryan, TX. Here is a photo of the FNB bank building. 

Hi, I am a first timer to PMG. Can anyone give me some help on seeing the population reports for National notes?  

On 8/4/2020 at 5:24 PM, G paper said:

Hi, I am a first timer to PMG. Can anyone give me some help on seeing the population reports for National notes?  

Kelly's 6th edition of national bank notes is a good entry level book on populations.  It's about 60-70 dollars.  Maybe you can find one used.  The census data is dated, but it doesn't change that much.  Track and Price subscription which is a yearly charge gets you auction prices and updated census data, but you miss out on data elements like treasury serial numbers.  Maybe the NBN census is the top of the line--not sure what the subscription is but I know they take paypal :-)

I just have Kelly--census comes on a CD.  So for example, the Security NB of Dallas shows 12 other $10 PBs not including David's with a number of CUs available.  Looks like it didn't issue any Smalls.  So not a ton of notes for the Big D, but not a though note to find.  For Bryan, TX (3446), I show 18 Lg, 23 Sm. and the database shows 3 other $20 PBs (and one DB), not including my note (in my TX set, link posted above).

Hi ddr70, I just got back to find your response. I really appreciate you taking the time to provide so much good information. It looks like there are a lot of intricacies' to paper collecting. This forum looks like a good place to tag along and learn and enjoy. Thanks again, G.