Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Bank of North America. ND (18xx). $50. Uncirculated. Archival Specimen.(PA-465 G250b). Toppan, Carpenter & Co. with "ABC" monogram. Archival Specimen printed on banknote bond paper with small POC at signatures and serial numeral space. Light vermillion protector FIFTY, American shield in vignette, left and right vignette surrounds. Top center, America seated with bounty and eagle, flags to left. Left end, Lafayette with color surround. Right end, seated Justice with color surround. The Haxby Plate Note. Just stunning to sum it up. This is from the 1850s and one of the last series printed for this historic bank prior to becoming a National Bank (but not Charter 1). The historic bank was THE BANK, chartered by Congress and whose initial depositors were the elite and heroic figures from the Revolution among many luminaries. A light overall tone is soft and pensively handsome on this specially prepared and saved archival specimen note. The vermillion is still rich and favoring the overall the beauty of this bill. Top notch bank, rarity and of course, artistic merits from this handsome imprint. This example realized $4,993.75 in our June 2014 Baltimore auction against an estimate of $2,500-$3,500.
