Important Fr. 440 $50 Original First Charter

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National Bank Notes > Ohio

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Geneva, First NB, 153
Fr. 440 $50 Original
Grade: PCGS VF 20 Apparent    

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Only 27 Original Series $50 First Charters are known for the entire country. Six of the 27 are listed as grading Good or worse on the census. At least three are permanently institutionalized. Those 27 notes are divided among three different Treasury signature combinations. Some have charter numbers and some do not. Some have red Treasury numbers and some are blue. There are variations in seal varieties and positioning. Only 4 of the 27 are from Ohio, this being the sole example not on a Cincinnati bank. This is easily the finest of the four. Very Fine is the highest grade ever assigned any Original Series $50 and two of the five other notes that have been called VF are among the institutionalized. This location is arguably the least likely to exist among the 27 survivors. Only Provincetown and Conway, Massachusetts have lower residential populations, but both were more populated at the time of issue, as this town claimed 900 residents. Three 1902 Plain Backs and this note are known on this charter, and a single note on the other rechartered charter number. This type has several survivors with the infamous New England trim but this note has no such issue. A few margin tears outside the detail and scattered pinholes are found. This note has never seen restoration of any kind which is rare among this key type. Everything adds up here, and it's an attractive sum. This is my favorite type note because the $20, $50 and $100 Original Series are just plain rare. Listen to the figures listed here. PCGS notes: pinholes, small edge tears.

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