A few months ago my friend bought a large collection of small size, new to the census, Nationals. He sent me a picture of the pile on his desk to highlight a few Iowa notes. In the background I spied this note. He knew since it was Tennessee there had to be something about it. After about 2 seconds he noticed the serial. We made a deal and it was thrown in my pile. Fancy serial Nationals are still pretty niche at this time, but this kind of serial is sought after in all types. The NBNC records 18 ascending ladder serials with bank serial "12345". Only 2 examples are 1929 T-2: this one and a $5 from Little Rock, AR. I was also excited to get this note because it pairs well with my descending ladder serial also pictured below. The Park National Bank of Knoxville, Tennessee is better bank from this large city with 31 examples recorded in the NBNC. Starting life in 1872 as The East Tennessee National Bank, the title was changed to the Park National Bank on December 21, 1933. The bank continued in operation until 1983 when it merged into First American NB of Knoxville, TN. Cashier, Ernest Charles Dovat (1905-1990) and President, Jo Harris Anderson (1891-1963)

Sioux County Iowa was home to 7 National Banks located in Hawarden, Ireton, Rock Valley, Orange City, Hull, and Sioux Center. However, Ireton and Orange City are currently unreported (despite being some strong whispers that there are some Orange City notes out there). Only Rock Valley would be considered "common" in large and small with 20L and 27S currently recorded in the NBNC. The other banks are available in small, but large is a different story. Of the remaining reported banks, The First National Bank of Sioux Center, Iowa is the scarcest in large. Only 4 examples are recorded in the NBNC with 1 in the Higgins. This example was the 4th recorded after it turned up at the FUN show this year. I could care less that it is missing a corner. It is the second finest reported after a peach Lyn sold about 20 years ago. The plate date is one day after my birthday as well...so close! The bank opened in 1904 and lasted until 2013 when it merged and became part of Northwest Bank in Spencer, Iowa. During the issuing era they pushed out 21.936 large size in 1902 Red Seals, Date and Plain Backs. In small 4,486 1929 T-1 and T-2 notes cross the counter. Currently 4 large and 17 small are recorded in the NBNC. The sigs have faded, but the note is presentable nonetheless.

The Live Stock National Bank of Sioux City, Iowa opened for business in 1895 and lasted past the issuing era. During that time they were a prolific issuer of notes. 190,586 large and 95,178 smalls were passed over the counter. Today, 73 large and 261 small are recorded in the NBNC. This $5 Plain Back is one of 69.400 issued of the type and denom. 22 are reported as of this writing. While notes from this bank are far from rare, they are avidly collected. This note popped on eBay a few months back for a very reasonable BIN I couldn't pass up. Well circulated, but solid. The purple stamped sig of Cashier, Carl Leonard Fredricksen (1892-1977) has held up better than the one of President, Adolph Godfred Sam (1882-1962)

A couple of years ago a few notes from The First National Bank of Klemme, Iowa were posted on the Paper Money Forum. I reached out to them and asked if they were for sale. They explained they belonged to their parents and weren't available at the time. A few months ago they reached out to me out of the blue asking if I was still interested in the notes. Their parents had passed away in the previous years and the son who was offering the notes had no connection to Klemme. We came to a deal and I was able to acquire 3 notes from the bank. While it was great to get the two peachy small size notes, I was ecstatic to get a large. The FNB of Klemme opened in 1903 and lasted until 1974 when it merged and became part of State Savings Bank in Goodell, IA. Not many notes were issued from this small bank in the bow and arrow part of Iowa - Bow and arrow refers to the numerous railroad branch lines that served these tiny towns - only 22,604 large in the form of 02 Red Seals, Date Backs, and Plain Backs and 4,923 smalls in the form of 1929 T-1 and T-2s were issued. Currently there are 9 large and 21 small recorded in the NBNC for this charter. While the large has a little bit of rust damage, it still faces up well with it's bright, purple sigs. The large features the sigs of Cashier, Frederick Alfred Arnold (1874-1950) and President, Casper Henry Wiegmann (1846-1923) The smalls feature Cashier, Clarence George Waterman (1897-1961) with Frederick promoted to President. Read more about the bank here: https://banknotehistory.spmc.org/wiki/First_National_Bank,_Klemme,_IA_(Charter_6659)

A large example from The Peoples National Bank of Albia, Iowa. Albia, Iowa was home to 3 issuing charters: The First National, The Albia National, and The Peoples National. The Peoples National is the most available with 19 large and 15 small reported in the NBNC. The Albia National Bank is currently unreported. Opened on April Fools Day 1907 the bank enjoyed a long life until it was failed and was closed with government assistance in February of 1986. The bank had a healthy issuance of 67,984 large notes in the 1902 Red Seal, Date Back, and Plain Back types as well as 6,601 1929 T-1 and T-2 small size notes. Many of the survivors fall into the same grade range as this example. The Cashier's sig has faded, but I can still make out the sig of President, John Albert Canning (1874-1944)

The First National Bank of Floyd, Iowa was a very rare bank in small size. Until a few years ago only ONE small size note was reported and that was in the Higgins Museum. In 2016 another small turned up on Heritage (coincidentally from the same sheet as the Higgins example, both low grade). It's performance scared a few large notes out of hiding and they were auctioned with the next two years. Over the last few years the number of smalls has increased to 6 in the NBNC. While still scarce, time has erased the extreme rarity of smalls on the charter. This note is the second $10 to come forward. The first $10 showed up in the holdings of the Floyd County Iowa Museum in 2022. That makes this the only $10 in private hands.....for now. The bank was never a big player in north central Iowa. In business from 1910-1933 it only issued a combined 4711 sheets of 02 DB and PB $10s and $20s as well as 349 sheets of 1929 $10s and $20s. Cashier, Henry James Thompson (1891-1946) and President, Dennis Holland (1876-1956)

Of the two issuing charters in town, The Union National Bank of Ames, Iowa is the most "common" in large size with 22 recorded in the NBNC. Don't let that census figure make you think that these notes are available. Notes from Ames are snapped up quickly with lots of competition. This may be due to the fact the city is home to Iowa State University. One member of this group has a phenomenal Ames, Iowa collection. More info on the bank is located here: https://banknotehistory.spmc.org/wiki/Union_National_Bank,_Ames,_IA_(Charter_3017) The pen sigs of Cashier, Clyde Llewellyn Siverly (1878-1918) and President, Wallace M. Greeley (1840-1917) have held up tremendously to the extensive circulation this note experienced.

There were 3 issuing charters in Spirit Lake, Iowa. When looking at total numbers reported on each charter, all are readily available. Due to the town name they seem to sell for a little better than a common note. However, the First National Bank in Spirit Lake, Iowa was the only charter to make it to the small size era. 26 small notes are recorded in the NBNC. These small notes show up frequently and are common even in high grade. The bank was chartered in late December, 1926 and was open past the issuing era. 9,199 small notes were issued in the $10 and $20 denominations. A Type-2 $20 would be a fun find as only 45 were issued. Cashier, Lloyd Arthur Price (1888-1953) and President, Marcus Snyder (1849-1933)

Any progress/news on the ability to add currency/make currency sets?

The First National Bank of Nora Springs, Iowa currently has 21 reported small size survivors in the NBNC. The bank opened in 1892 and liquidated just a month after it's 50th anniversary in July of 1942. They were never a prolific issuer pushing out 23,812 large and 4,428 small size notes. Despite being in operation during the 1929 T-2 era, the bank only issued T-1 notes in the $10 and $20 denominations. Notes from this bank are also hoarded by a local. I was lucky to snag this off eBay a few months back as my small size representative on the charter. Cashier, John Rankin Adams Sr. (1895-1973) and President, Herman Fredrick Schnedler (1866-1941)

The Sheldon National Bank, Sheldon, Iowa was one of two issuing banks in town. Opening in 1905 and lasting past the issuing era, 40,240 large and 8.490 small size notes passed over the counter. Currently 23 large and 20 small are recorded in the NBNC. While well circulated and the signatures lost to time, it is one of only 4 large $20s reported from this institution.

Despite 37 small notes (and 34 large) in the NBNC, notes from The First National Bank of Buffalo Center, Iowa are tightly held. I know of two individuals that hold many of the examples. This is a nice mate for my $20 small and is one of the nicest smalls reported on the charter. Cashier, John J. Guyer (1872-1962) and President, Clarence William Gadd (1871-1949) Read more about the bank at the link below: https://banknotehistory.spmc.org/wiki/First_National_Bank,_Buffalo_Center,_IA_(Charter_5154)

Charter# 10237 The Bowmanville National Bank of Chicago, Illinois is one of most difficult Chicago banks to get an example of. Despite 17 small size recorded in the NBNC, 6 are in the form of an uncut sheet of $10s not seen since the Bluestone sale of the Grinnell Collection in 1946! $10s are also the scarcer denom as well. If you take away the sheet there are only 4 other $10s recorded. The bank was located at 4806 N. Western Ave. in Chicago and went under in June of 1932. The building has been replaced with a modern 5/3 Bank structure. Only one signature pair appears on small size notes: Cashier, Elmer August Suckow (1895-1978) and President, Emil Michael Heidkamp (1865-1934)

If you want a note from The First National Bank of Sheffield, Iowa, your best bet is a small size note. Currently only 2 large (1 in the Higgins) and 18 small are recorded in the NBNC. The bank was a short lived venture. Opened from 1923 until receivership in 1932 only 12,584 notes entered North-Central Iowa commerce. The bank was fond of the $10 and $20 denominations. Issuing 1847 sheets of $10-$10-$10-$20 1902 Plain Backs, 677 sheets of 1929 T-1 $10s, and 189 sheets of 1929 T-1 $20s. This low issuance probably accounts for the survival rates of large size notes. However, we've learned time and time again to never say never to more showing up. This is a nice circulated example with just some minor edge damage mentioned. Cashier, Kurt Herman Weltner (1894-1955) and President, Reuben Guy Wolf (1886-1954)