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ddr70

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Journal Entries posted by ddr70

  1. ddr70

    Replacement signature set and nary a star

    By ddr70,


    Nationals
    You won't find stars on National bank notes to signify a replacement.  This set has a few large and a few small examples.  It's all about paged serial numbers and detecting them from normal production numbering.  See if you can see what makes these notes replacements. 
     
  2. ddr70
    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/
  3. ddr70

    Clearfield County National Bank Robbed

    By ddr70,


    Nationals
    Incorporated in 1840, Clearfield is a borough in and the county seat of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census the population was 6,215 people making it the second most populous community in Clearfield County behind DuBois.
    On the night of May 12, 1869, the County National Bank of Clearfield was broken into, the door of the safe ripped open, and $15,000 in currency and $4,500 in U.S. Bonds taken.  This story is pieced together from newspaper articles of the time. Note that some reports mistakenly have the bank robbed as the First National Bank. A sizeable reward of $1,000, or possibly $5,000 was reported.  Two men were arrested near Centerville on the 19th by Deputy Sheriff Huzzard and John Defibaugh.  They took passage on the stage some distance from Bedford, and the driver being suspicious of them sent word to the Deputy Sheriff and drove slowly until he was overtaken by the official. The two were taken to Bedford and jailed and the officers of the bank were notified. Cashier D.W. Moore, Esq., arrived the next day. A third robber with over $15,000 was still at large. In the meantime, D.R. Anderson and John B. Whip of Centerville found a package containing $4,500 in U.S. Bonds and $60 in new postal currency [known better now as Fractional Currency, issued from 1862-1876] hidden in the hollow of a stump near where the two men were arrested.  A preliminary hearing was held before Justice Nicodemus and the parties gave their names as J.M. Newman and Jacob [possibly James] Wilson. District Attorney Kerr made an application to have them removed to Clearfield County for trial and Sheriff Steckman was directed to convey them to the county jail in Clearfield.  It would come out that one of the two robbers was the notorious safe-blower known as Jack Nelson, alias "California Jack" and the third man named Jeddie E. Lamoine had made his way to St. Louis.
    Governor Geary of Pennsylvania made requisition to Governor McClurg of Missouri for return of Lamoine to Clearfield for trial.  Cashier D.M. Moore was dispatched to Jefferson City and with this document was able to procure an arrest warrant.  Lamoine was arrested by officers in his residence on Franklin near Garrison Ave., making no resistance.  Officers Harrigan and Tracy made the arrest.  Lamoine had previously been arrested on suspicion of having been connected with the safe robbery of the Franklin County, Missouri treasury of some $10,000, but was acquitted.  He had since been engaged in the liquor business under the firm of Lamoine & Co.  He was about 35 years of age with a wife and children.  Mr. Moore, accompanied by Officer Tracy departed St. Louis for Clearfield with the prisoner.
    By July 16, 1869, two of the Clearfield bank robbers were found guilty and sentenced to four years in the penitentiary.  The third party, "California Jack," turned States evidence and escaped punishment.
    Altoona Tribune, Altoona, PA, Mon. Apr. 4, 1892.
    Clearfield bank robbery The Daily Evening Express, Lancaster, PA, Thu., June 10, 1869.
    Bedford Inquirer, Bedford, PA, Fri., June 25, 1869.
    Bedford Gazette, Bedford, PA, Fri., July 16, 1869.
    The Clarion , Clarion, PA, Sat., June 5, 1869.
    Clearfield , Clearfield, PA, Wed., June 2, 1869.
    Valley Spirit, Chambersburg, PA, Wed., May 19, 1869.
    In December of 1869, perhaps tiring of his duties as cashier, Daniel W. Moore purchased the Altoona Vindicator and changed the name to the Altoona Sun.  He had been associated from 1838-1865 with the Clearfield as sole or part owner.  He would become best known as a prominent citizen of Clearfield County and veteran Democratic Editor.
    About a day ago I submitted this on the bank wiki here:  County National Bank, Clearfield, PA (Charter 855) - Bank Note History
  4. ddr70
    A recent Replacement note find by a friend at the Higgins Museum located in Okoboji, IA on Fall River, MA Series 1902 $50 Date Back SN 247/A147633 pp C prompted this work.  Stars of course were NOT used on national bank notes.  You have to find notes produced with old paging machine numbering technology to identify these large size national bank note replacements.  For some examples see my signature set: 
    My goal was to narrow down on the production date for this, and any Series of 1902 $50 DB and then I added Plain Back and Red Seals for good measure.  The real motivation was because the numbering showed the typical old font used for numerals from paging machines that dated pre-1903—except for the A.  The A was a short legged (I call stubby) modern A.  Mixing of modern font with old font numbering wheels occurs, particularly for 4s.  Mixed font replacements are known as hybrids and for 4s, the earliest known was ~1915.  When was this hybrid note produced?  For $5s, $10s, and $20s, you can use the Treasury SN and data from Huntoon to narrow down to the production year.  Like data for $50-$100s wasn’t available due to the much lower quantities of high denomination notes produced. 
    The assumption I started with is that the notes with Nap|Thomp or Nap|Burke plates, first produced in years of most interest, with low bank SNs are from the 1st production run, so the Treasury SN production use ought to be shortly after the plate date on those notes.  I searched Heritage’s archives by Fr. # for $50s and $100s and recorded plate date and SNs. This to me was much easier and quicker than looking through ledgers from Comptroller of the Currency for deliveries of notes.  Basically I found consistent data for my method and expanded as much as possible to get a good coverage of what year a given Treasury SN was produced from 1908-1925.  Table 1 has the $50-$100 Series of 1902 DB and PB data and Table 2 has the data for high denomination Series of 1902 Red Seals.   Using the table below I think Fall River's Treasury SN A147633 was from production in 1912 which is the earliest known hybrid Replacement (known to me). Fall River's DBs were replacing red seals, so the quantity not as great as if replacing series of 1882 notes. Nevertheless, quite likely this note is from the first production run, quite possibly only of 250 sheets, for Fall River and near the June 26, 1912 certification date for the CDEC plate and proof.  SN 247 is a survivor; how it ended up at the Higgins is likely a great story.  I could confirm delivery date of the Fall River note with a trip to the National Archives and someday I hope to do so.
    Table 1.  50-50-50-100 Series of 1902 DB and PB Treasury SN approx. date of production.
    SN       Plate date   Bank (Charter)        Bank SN
    A1       Nov 2, 1910            1744            1* [Burlington, IA Merchants NB]
    A1125    Nov 20, 1910           4507           25  [La Junta, CO FNB]
    A3926    Jan. 8, 1911           1799           52  [Albia, IA FNB]
    A28651   Aug. 26, 1911          4676          321 [New Castle, PA  CNB 3x$50-$100 SN 834 in same run]
    A30743  Aug. 27, 1911           1881          233 [Dixon, IL The Dixon NB]
    A33766  ?Sep-Oct 1911           1889          156 [Rock Island, IL The Rock Island NB]
    A45384   Oct. 11, 1911          4653          254 [Longmont, CO The Farmers NB]
    A79213 %  Sep. 16, 1911          1896           82 [Sycamore, IL The Sycamore NB] %Same SN entered as BB
    A113464  May 21, 1912           4742          216
    A193021  Jan 15, 1913           2093          143
    A204260  Mar. 14, 1913          2098          422
    A221630  Mar 31, 1913          10360          482
    A251524  Aug 8, 1913             906          490++ 
    A243914  Sept. 1, 1913          2128          401
    A258068  Dec. 23, 1913          2132           64
    A275968  July 11, 1914          2158          280
    A380962  Aug. 24, 1914          2176          324 [series of 1902 50s and 100s only]
    A654733  Sept. 7, 1914          2189          155
    A704904  Oct. 20, 1914          2205           10 [SN 309 in same run]
    A726412  May 15, 1915           2300          158 [SN 240 in same run]
    A729571  June 4, 1915           5002          417 [SN 619 in same run]
    A733557  Aug 5, 1915            1080            1 [Huntoon, estimate 1st PB]
    A735802  Sept. 8, 1915         10778          316 [Chatham and Phenix NYC $100; SN 1918 in same run]
    A736955 Oct 9, 1915            10793            9 [San Antonio, TX $100]
    A738528  Jan. 21, 1916          5033          142 [Mayfield, KY $100]
    A741868  Apr 7, 1916            5038          102 [50s and 100s only]
    A755894  Jan. 16, 1917          2349          264
    A768941  June 25, 1917         11037            1 [Kansas City, MO $100; SN 1074 in same run]
    A777143  ~Feb. 15, 1918          2377            9
    A790441  Dec. 9, 1918           5161          131
    A792176  ~Feb. 20, 1919         2412           26
    A798118  May 31, 1919           2428           28
    A850793   Feb. 2, 1920          11596          151
    A852295  May 10, 1920           5491           33
    A859698  Apr. 11, 1920          5303          126
    A860269  June 26, 1920          5498           77
    A863457  Feb. 19, 1920          2456           45++       
    A864601  July 25, 1920          5525           46
    A864547  Aug. 6, 1920           5547           95
    A869361  Jan 18, 1921           5716          219 [SN 39 in census]
    A874772  Mar. 15, 1921          2511          370
    A916633  Jun. 18, 1921          5716          536 [Oklahoma City $50]
    A919784  Sept. 12, 1921         2566          292 [SN 522 in same run]
    A921600  Sept. 17, 1921         2576           28
    A932092  Nov. 1, 1921           2584          190 [SN 588 in same run]
    A938277  Dec. 14, 1921          2604          103
    A942618  Feb. 4, 1922           2637           74 [SN 200 in same run]
    A963517  Mar. 26, 1922          6186          523 so called 4th charter
    B67214  Dec. 15, 1923          12475          380 [Galveston, TX Fr. 685]
    B67241  Dec. 15, 1923          12475          541 [Galveston, TX Fr. 685]
    B67375  Dec. 15, 1923          12475          541 [Galveston, TX Fr. 707]
    B67820  Dec. 15, 1923          12475          986 [Galveston, TX Fr. 707]
    B132649 Apr. 24, 1925          12707          525 [Dallas, TX Fr. 707]
    B141584  issued Aug 25, 1925    8409          340*
    B141504  issued Aug 25, 1925   11603          390**
    *Huntoon, first/last DB issued by CoC w/treasuy SN amd **Huntoon, last PB issued by CoC w/treasury SN
    Table 2.  50-100 Series of 1902 red seals Treasury SN approx. date of production.
    SN       Plate date   Bank (Ch. #) Bank Sn
    A1      Sep 9, 1902   2670           1  [Huntoon; Chicago FNB]
    A1424   May 3, 1902*  2719           69 [Geneva, OH]
    A26642  Feb 25, 1903   283          746
    A27526  Feb 25, 1903   170         2630
    A41762  May 20, 1903  2999            1 [Bridgeton, NJ]
    A92661  Jun 8, 1904   3206         1240 [Minneapolis, MN]
    A94975  ~Aug 1904     7384            1 [Sargent, NE REPLACEMENT]
    A132625 Mar 11?, 1905 1016         1380 [Denver, CO]
    A146972 Mar. 22, 1905 7709            1 [Petersburg, VA $50]
    A113992 Jan 24, 1905   819           43  [Bloomington, IL]
    A178288 June 13, 1905 1365          784 [Elgin, IL]
    A190228 Nov 14, 1905  3413          259 [Richmond, IN]
    A242708 Dec. 4, 1905  8026            1 [Rochester, NY]
    A253945 Mar. 10, 1906 3471            8 [Boise City, ID]
    A312302 Jan 16, 1907  3632           49 [Stroudsburg, PA Fr. 666R REPLACEMENT!]
    A351269 Aug 9, 1907   3777          138 [Abilene, KS]
    A424681 Oct 20, 1908  6484           847 [Huntoon; San Juan, Porto Rico]
    *Appears Chicago's order was placed first ahead of others
  5. ddr70
    What do you call the right delimiter on the treasury SN for a series of 1902 Date Back or Plain Back?  They look like right-looking eyes to me or I've also heard chicken foot.  Here's my latest collage on the variability of those eyes (or feet), basically from about 1908 through to 1925.  Oh, a useful piece of info is that series of 1902 red seals used a different delimiter and the highest treasury SN on a 4x$10 plate was Y608545... my Warren note shown last in the collage has Y576088.
    Most of these notes can be seen in my signature set where I track treasury SN by the back plate number.  Look for the notes from sheets of 4x$10s at the end.  The Warren, PA notes are fun as the delimiter is very different on each (the V-block awaits the next PMG submission).

    Hopefully you noted the two replacement notes included in the collage.  Those may be found in a different signature set:   
    I'm not sure, but I don't think paging machines needed the 'chicken foot/eye looking R or L' delimiter until after rotary number machines were introduced in 1903. Someone better at type currency can correct me, but I know that delimiter exists on 1905 $20, and 1907 $10, and 1922 series Gold Certificates, but not on anything earlier?? Before 1903 when numbers were paged??  So when was the first use of a paged chicken foot? I'm thinking it was on a NBN Replacement. Maybe this one: https://currency.ha.com/itm/national-bank-notes/cincinnati-oh-5-1902-date-back-fr-592-the-fifth-third-national-bank-ch-m-2798-pmg-choice-very/a/3581-20433.s?ic4=ListView-Thumbnail-071515#

  6. ddr70
    The use of prefixes actually predates their recognition as security enhancements implemented in 1869 on original series notes. Here's the story created with much help from Huntoon... The treasury sheet SNs and seals were overprinted on Original Series notes at the forerunner to the BEP at the Treasury Dept. Building in Washington. Bank sheet SNs were printed by the bank note companies prior to delivery to the Treasury Dept. Once the first million serials were consumed, treasury switched from red to blue numbers. A prefix letter was used beginning with the 3rd million, or as early as January 1865 for $5-$5-$5-$5 sheets. Treasury sheet SNs as security devices was examined in April 1869 and there were 3 changes implemented. (1) In most cases, prefix letters were added to the numbers if they were not already in use for that plate combination. [exceptions were 50-100 (see pic), 4x$500 and 4x$1000] (2) numbers were terminated with brackets (but see pic--I would call it a parenthesis) (3) spaces between prefix letters and numbers were eliminated. Estimated 1st secured numbers: 5-5-5-5 E225978, 10-10-10-20 A61264, 50-100 245090, 1-1-1-2 B556082. I collected a few examples for the sheets listed above, both before and after implementation of the security enhancements. The interesting one to me is for the 10-10-10-20 for Raleigh (1682) $10 SN A77519 (that's the earliest note with an A prefix that I could find). It's a great note with a rare Jeffries-Spinner Treasury signature combination found on original series notes.  It sports those security enhancements although that number is just a bit crooked if I'm allowed to be critical of this awesome note!   

  7. ddr70
    It's been awhile since I've created any new sets for Nationals.  I'd like to say, I need room to post at least one more picture.  I have tried to standardize in the past decade or so to post a front and a back in their proper slots.  It makes for a neat looking collection.  So here's that new collection--not terribly impressive and that's why I haven't had a MA set in the past.  
    I just recently added the note on The Second NB of Malden, MA (11014) because it's a fairly tough to find variety produced with early plates from the Government Printing Office (GPO).  GPO plates produced a better product than BBS, the BEP's contractor whose logotypes lacked serifs on charter numbers and did not do justice to the Caslon font used for town names.  I need that space for a 3rd picture to highlight the differences.  So follow the link to see the front and back of the Malden note and check out the picture here comparing the GPO and BBS produced notes.  The GPO produced plates for about 20% of the banks that issued series of 1929 in an effort to meet demand that overwhelmed BBS.  However BBS plates were more durable, so the GPO plate for a bank was destroyed once BBS was able to deliver.  Additionally, the Serial numbers for GPO plates are lower and the notes suffered more circulation and attrition being the earlier ones to circulate as the country switched from large to small sized currency, NOTE:  the GPO plate is on the left.
    The PMG 64EPQ note on Easthampton I've had for many years.  I bought it before I knew about its status as a hoard note; I just wanted a nice Type 2 $10.  I value the Malden note more.  But I do appreciate George Wait's effort, saving a thousand of these notes from Easthampton.  Someday I want to catalog the front and back plates used over that production run.  I do like the bp on my note which is 321. 
    I'm fairly sure I'll swap out the back on Malden note for the comparison shot one day soon.  I wonder if it would be easy to increase the number of pics here from 2 to 3?  It would make variety collectors' collections glow a little brighter!

  8. ddr70
    I just sent a good chunk of my NBNs to PMG to grade.  The post office sure took it's time, but got my package there in 8 days instead of 4.  PMG listed as received about a week after it arrived in Sarasota.  
    Here's one of the notes awaiting scrutiny.  I can't wait to add it to one of my series of 1882 collections here.  Connellsville, PA The First NB (E)2329 Radar Treasury SN on a $10 1882 VB Fr. 576 Tillman | Morgan SN 9076/T493394 pp F/118.  Love that SN especially on an early value back.
    Chartered 4/8/1876, Liquidated 6/22/1928.  Assumed circulation of 4861, Yough NB of Connellsville which liquidated in 3/3/1913.  Bank officers' signatures are from (Geo W.) Stauffer, Cashier and E.T. Norton stamped in blue ink and remain legible, albeit light, to this day.  For 52 years, 3x10-20 sheets only and only a 193 of them VBs (SN 9001-9193).  Finding the $20 VB to go along with my $10 would be an awesome score!

  9. ddr70

    Citizens United

    By ddr70,


    Nationals
    What do Ontario, CA and Glasgow, KY and Warren, PA have in common?  Those are three towns of many that had National Banks with "Citizens" in their titles.  David Wooster, a general in the American Revolutionary War has at least one municipality named in his honor.  What state is it in?  By the way, it had a Citizens NB and the note I have posted there happens to have a nice radar serial number.  Keene, right?  Yep, it had a Citizens NB and was one of the first banks to have BEP produced plates which was a reason for Series of 1875 National Bank Notes!   
  10. ddr70

    Reconvening the 252 club

    By ddr70,


    Nationals
    Last journal entry was about my two submissions sent the end of July.  The Economy submission I've rec'd and have been posting notes to my various sets.  The bulk submission is still sitting in Sarasota since August 3rd.  It has my $5 Series of 1902 Plain Back on Pittsburgh, PA The First NB at Ch. # 252 (along with 49 other notes :-(.  I added this small size NBN on 252 yesterday.  Great SN (D060000A) and a small size replacement note to boot!  Signatures are those of long-serving cashier C.C. Taylor and relatively new president F.F. Brooks who replaced Lawrence E. Sands in 1928.  Let me know if you want the details on replacements.  Or just enjoy a small 252 while I wait for its large forefather to be graded by PMG.
     

  11. ddr70

    Christmas Tree National

    By ddr70,


    Nationals
    Here's my card to all here on collectors society.  Indiana, PA The FNB Ch. # 313 J.R. Daugherty and J.P. Blain Strong stamped signatures PMG 30EPQ $10 1902 PB Fr. 624 SN 44344 pp J/995 dtd. Feb. 25, 1903 radar SN and Charter #. Earliest of 3 National banks located here. Indiana is a borough in and the county seat of Indiana County. The borough and the region as a whole promotes itself as the "Christmas Tree Capital of the World" because the national Christmas Tree Grower's Association was founded there. There are still a large number of Christmas tree farms in the area. The largest employer in the borough today is Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  Two state note, two radars, too good not to share!

  12. ddr70

    Disney sets need more collectors

    By ddr70,


    Nationals
    There are 18 Disney dollar competitive sets, only 3 of which are in use for a total of 25 registered sets.  For Large Size National Bank Notes there are 6 competitive sets, all are used for a total of 176 registered sets.  For Small Size National Bank Notes, there are two competitive sets, both are used with a total of 141 registered sets.  Can't NBN collectors get as many competitive sets as the Disney dollar collector?  Or at least a few type sets like the Wavin' Mickey or Proud Goofy?  Disney Dollars get denomination sets ($1, $5, $10, $50).  That would be neat for NBNs; I'd prefer the $20 NBN denomination set myself.
  13. ddr70
    Marietta, OH The Central NB Ch. # 5212 VF+ $10 1902 PB Fr. 632 SN 27286 pp D/992 May 29, 1919. A number of Second Charter notes survive bearing the bank's original German NB title. The title was changed due to World War I with the second title "The Central NB" found on Third Charter notes and those notes are somewhat tough to find with prices reflecting this fact. This pristine Very Fine example has wide margins and nice embossing.
    Philadelphia, PA The Quaker City NB Ch. # 4050 Fine $10 1902 PB Fr. 626 SN 124088 pp I/992 May 30, 1909.  This $10 from the City of Brotherly Love is not too common a find.
    Notice that these two notes are both $10 plain backs and have the same back plate (bp) number of 992.  That shouldn't garner much interest except the plates that made these two backs are different!  Check out the insert of the two back plate numbers and it's fairly easy to see that the engraver(s) made these numbers differently.  I thought once a bp number was used, it would not be reused on another plate.  Am I wrong in that assumption?  I've illustrated that the bp number has a different position and style.  The different styles and positions are much more easily seen with a loop.  Sorry, I don't have a scope to take better pictures.  I also have heard that experts could distinguish different engravers by how they cut the designs (I think that was best done by examining plates). I look, but can see no differences in design elements. 
    The other oddity I notice on the front of the Marietta note is that the t's are not crossed in the scrpit version of 'Marietta, OHIO'.  This is on Marietta's D plate, but is true of $5s and other $10 plates, either with Lyons | Roberts signatures OR Teehee | Burke signatures (see Heritage's archives).  Now I have to get into charter dates for Marietta 5212 because this gets interesting (to me anyway :-).  Lyons | Roberts notes are dated Sept. 17, 1909 and the t in Sept. is also NOT crossed!  So, from 2d charter date of May 29, 1899, the name change (Value Backs dated Feb. 21, 1918 [sporting a scarce Friedberg number] and then PBs dated Sept. 17, 1909) and the required start of their new charter at the 20 year mark (May 29, 1899), the t's were not crossed.  I see the Citizen's NB of Marietta, Ch. # 4164 also doesn't have t's crossed.  I'm saddened to report that Marietta, PA, Ch. # 25, also didn't get its t's crossed.
    So, who's t's are crossed?
    The First NB of Marietta, Ch. 142, the earliest of 5 banks calling Marietta, OH home, whose 3rd charter started Feb. 25, 1903 and notes issued with Lyons | Roberts signatures, have the t's crossed.  Note, the 'i' are dotted in all cases.  
    My conclusion is that clearly some bp numbers were reused AND there were engravers who would dot the i's, but not necessarily cross the t's!
     



  14. ddr70
    OK, I'm bored with 20 odd 'series of 1902 type' sets for my Nationals.  I've asked for some more sets, but the response was 'no sets for you...'  So, bored as I might be, I created my Series of 1902 Lowball Set.  Check it out: 
    See if you can get lower than my score of 1082 for 3 notes, or an average of 360.67 pts/note.  You know the sad thing is my Tennessee set beats my Lowball set with 3 notes, 763 pts and an ave. of 254.33 pts/note, but that's because of net grades receiving just half point values.  See some awesome TN notes here: 
    Reply with a link to your best of the worst--notes that did their service and then some!  And then you had the courage (and spare cash) to sent them to PMG for grading.  Please have at least one note preferably with a picture.
    I'm not sure Net graded notes are fair in Lowball sets??  What do you think?  Would you like to see some more competitive sets for Nationals?  I know I would!      
  15. ddr70
    I found an odd block letter combo on the treasury serial number when compared to the back plate number and Fr. number for my Paris, AR The First NB Ch. # (S)11592 PMG 20 $10 1902 PB Fr. 633 SN 2200/U55355 pp B/96 dated Jan. 20, 1920.  That BP # could be a 98, but definitely just two digits.  The back plate number and U- Block SN seemed way too low for a Fr. 633 plain back.  Of my other Eliott | Burke notes, the lowest BP was 651 with an RE Block combo.  So I checked my Kelly reference for Arkansas banks that issued 4x$10 sheets and sure enough, Paris was one of a baker's dozen that shunned the $20 that came with the 3x$10-$20 sheets.  The key is that serial numbers for sheets of 4-$10s were run separately from sheets of 3x$10-$20 and apparently sheets of backs were similarly lower in number than their heterogeneous counterparts.  With less banks issuing the 4X$10s the Block Letter seems to have advanced much more slowly.  Notably, the 10-10-10-10 plate combination was introduced for Brown backs and red Seals in 1906.  I guess there was demand from those with a dislike of Hugh McCulloch?  
    To see my competitive set of Arkansas notes (I have three notes on two banks), see: 
    My other note is a Newark, AR The First NB Ch. # (S)9022 PMG 25 $10 1902 DB Fr. 618 SN 1334/N84247 pp H/51 dated Jan. 25, 1908.  BP of 51 is rather low for an Fr. 618 and is indicative of the bank choosing the 4x$10 option (See #12 below).
    To see my Series of 1902 Date Backs and Plain Backs that features block letters and BP numbers, check out my signature set here:  
    You can see the notes in the gallery, but go to set listing to easily see the Block combo vs. BP number.
    Below are the Arkansas banks that chose sheets of 4x$10; I didn't find any that issued Brown Backs (or series 1882 DB or VB) in this format--not many issued brown backs period.  Surprisingly, of those that did issue brown backs, many issued $50s and $100s only.
    Maxfield 8864 RS DB FNB Clarksville 9633 DB PB FNB Earle 9324 DB  American NB of Fort Smith 3634 RS DB PB City NB of Fort Smith 10609 DB PB City NB of Greenwood 10983 PB of 1st AND 2d title Hope NB 8594 RS DB PB City NB of Hope 10579  DB PB FNB Lake Village 11262 PB FNB Marshall 10794 PB FNB Morrilton 10434 DB PB FNB Newark 9022 RS DB PB FNB Paris 11592 PB *RS=Red Seal, DB=Date Back, PB = Plain Back all series 1902
    **Don't worry, I'm not doing this for the rest of the states.  Hey PMG, please start tracking and annotating black plates! Just my 
  16. ddr70

    A Keene National

    By ddr70,

    I recently added this note, Keene, NH The Citizens NB Ch. # 2299 PMG 25 Net, $10 1875 Fr. 416 Allison | New SN 2690/K296099 pp A. dtd. Sept. 25th, 1875, from the Sept. 2019 Long Beach Expo.  It was Net grade for a repair and minor discoloration. It features a fancy title layout seen on few First Charter examples from all banks combined.  It's a great looking addition [however, not so great for points :-( ] to my type set of 1875 (see:  https://notes.www.collectors-society.com/registry/notes/SetGallery.aspx?PeopleSetID=23251&SelectedTab=Gallery) and I've made it the first note in my signature set of "Citizens" National Banks (see:  https://notes.www.collectors-society.com/registry/notes/ViewPersonalCollection.aspx?UserCollectionID=1289&Tab=list).  It became a post auction buy after my desired California red seal #1 went for about $24k or twice low estimate.  Looking forward to seeing other sets with their recent additions!
     
  17. ddr70
    Pi Day #piday is of course March 14th (or 3.14 [3/14], or “π”) followed shortly by the Whitman Coin Show in Baltimore and Spring!  I've been busy making a sub type signature set of my series 1882 Nationals.  
    My 1882 sub types set is a work in progress.  Ever seen the Circus Poster variety on a $5 Brown Back??  Take a look.  If I'm missing a better way to designate these notes, please let me know.
    OK, back to Pi Day.  Check out this Elk City note from Oklahoma with a charter date of... you guessed it, Pi Day!  It sports a nice 4 digit radar serial number as well and was previously in the Douglas Knight Collection.  Then there's my Bangor, PA note, also a Pi Day charter and a solid 8 Serial Number.
    Perhaps I'll see ya in Charm City.


  18. ddr70
    Tis the season to share a national.  My first thought was to post a pic on one with a 25 December charter date, but alas, I don't have one.  So let me know if this one makes for a good seasonal journal entry.  I think it might even with a December 10, 1908 charter.  And feel free to add on.  Happy Holidays!


  19. ddr70

    Oswego County, NY Nationals

    By ddr70,

    By accident, I've become of fan of these small towns along I-81!
    Just added an 1882 Value Back $20 from Mexico, NY. It joins my Albion, NY notes. Albion is England and Mexico is typically known for its beaches and sun, not so much for its lakes. Look for these town names when you are on I-81, but don't blink! Notes are in my Signature set of Nationals along with a few better PA notes. I'd love to add other Mexico NY (and other states) nationals to my collection. Happy Collecting!

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  20. ddr70

    A PMG Grading Kanban

    By ddr70,

    In Japanese, a Kanban (看板)  is a signboard or billboard, but in lean manufacturing a Kanban is a scheduling system.  Submissions at PMG start out in a Received Status.  Then your notes move into a dreaded state, "scheduled for grading"; a purgatory for notes. You you eagerly await a status of Quality Control--if you're like me, you start checking every day after about 30 days.  Where are my notes submitted last October?  Purgatory.  Quality control means the notes made it to the end of the queue and were graded by PMG.  In my experience, notes move fairly quickly to Finalized/Imaged/Shipped and you can actually see your grades posted.  So what's the point of a Kanban? On the production floor workers and managers can see how progress is going.  And if a customer shows up on the production line, they have an idea of when they might receive product.  At a show, a customer submitting notes has an idea when the notes will return graded.  I think we need a Kanban for grading!  The metric could be by tier (economy is my tier), 'how long (on average of course) is it taking from Scheduled for Grading to Quality Control.'  Then, let me get a bit crazy here, send me an email (or let me subscribe to receive an email) so I know when the note emerges from scheduled for grading.  (Note:  I did receive an email when I was charged back in October which is good to know.)  If there was a Kanban, I'd have an idea whether or not I might see my notes before the new year.  Speaking of the new year, here's what the Union NB of New Castle, PA was doing in 1906--getting it's charter from the Registry of the Treasury.  You can just make out the date above the president's signature (Dec. 31, 1906).  My $20 is currently in purgatory and not in my Large Type Nationals series 1902 set :-(.  You can see all the sets competing in Lg Type Nat'ls of 1902 here:  https://notes.www.collectors-society.com/registry/notes/public_sets.aspx?CategoryID=950&SetTypeID=3316  (my PA notes are #7)...  Happy holidays :-)!

  21. ddr70
    I've managed to reunite an interesting pair of $20 Plain Backs from Salem, OH, Charter 43.  Both were acquired in Baltimore from different dealers about 6 months apart.  So far these are the only two PBs with Lyons | Roberts signature combinations or Fr. 650 and dated Apr. 11, 1902 just like charter 43 date backs.  Other $20 PBs that I can find have Speelman | White signatures or Fr. 635 and are dated Apr 10, 1922 (note:  Track and Price doesn't identify the Fr. #).  The Serial numbers are 5226/V967960B (back plate 325) and 5227/V967961B (back plate 315).  Both are from A plates as are all $20s on Ch. 43 notes.  Now, why would the back plates differ?  A prior owner submitted these two notes together to PMG.  I like these notes because of the low charter number, interesting Fr. # possibilities (rarities), pretty penned signatures of bank officers W.F. Church and Z.R. Pow, sequential serial numbers (of course) and in the exact same grade of 30EPQ.  Let me know if you owned these before, or if you have any insight into why the back plate numbers would differ.


  22. ddr70
    Two first name PA notes, one with the tougher Napier-Thompson signatures. Two tough 1929 $5 notes from my parents and one $10 I accidentally won at auction.
    The accidental auction win was one of those internet delays and my bid was stacked on top of a number of others and mine came out on top--a couple hundred more that I expected to pay. Still it's a tough National out of Albion, New York where small size notes are outnumbered by the known large size notes (any West Bromwich fans?). The First name notes are Warren and Chester--PA notes as I mentioned. The Warren note is an Fr. 603 and should grade closer to 40 than 20... I hope. Chester is a $20 Date Back, one of two in the census. It's going to get a net grade for pinholes, but I wanted it in a PMG holder for my competitive set. I'll post the notes in a set when they are finished.

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