Saint Paul, MN The National German American Bank of St. Paul, Ch. # 2943 VAR 2 Battle of Lexington vignette (On Holder) PMG 15 $20 1882 BB Fr. 494 SN 2302/E512790 pp A/2 dtd. May 9th, 1883 Proof certified May 21, 1883. Large only bank with two $10BBs and this $20BB.  Paper with 2 continuous horizontal threads and Variety 2 vignette.  Vertical charter numbers were used up until September of 1890 and the mid way point of the E-block SN indicates an 1891 production date consistent with signatures of John W. Krapfel, Cashier (1890-1892) and J. Lockey, President.  Lockey served as cashier from 1884-1889, President from 1890-1892, and back to cashier by 1894-1902.  The cashier's signature is fantastic, but the president's has faded as is often the case with a penned signature from the cashier and a stamped signature of the president.  The bank liquidated 11/27/1912 and circulation was assumed by The Merchants NB (Ch2020).  The Treasury SN is consistent with 1890-91 and the last use of paper with two horizontal threads and the Variety 1 State Seal with bp 2 (best observed on the proof of the back from the Smithsonian).  I had PMG record the paper variety and the vignette variety.  I should have had them add the cashier's name...

Krapfl translates as donut in Google translator, but my wife tells me its a cookie in her Austrian cookbook.  Krapfel was from Bavaria and has an extensive banking bio.  He was a banker in Waterloo, Iowa and he took the job as cashier of the N German American Bank in St. Paul, but was convinced to return to Waterloo.

Variety: 1) Battle of Lexington Vignette, 2) State seal variety (bp 2), 3) paper (with two continuous horizontal threads) 4) bank officer signatures, 5) probably something I overlooked :-)

You can find that note here:  https://www.pmgnotes.com/certlookup/8090100-019/15/