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Hessler /1499e $10 National Bank Note Face Design

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
Hessler /1499e $10 National Bank Note Face Design
<B>Hessler /1499e $10 National Bank Note Face Design Very Choice New.</B></I> This 1863 Proof Note is of incredible importance to both National Bank Note collectors and Fractional Currency collectors. This lovely design, which was never adopted, was intended to be used for the original series $10 Nationals. This is the plate note from Gene Hessler's <I>U. S. Essay, Proof and Specimen Notes</B></I> which appears on page 147. To our best knowledge, this note is unique. Although this design was changed considerably before it was used, both vignettes are the same theme as on the adopted design: Ben Franklin and his kite at the left and America riding an eagle seizing a lighting bolt at the right. The connection between the development of this note and second issue fractional currency is a tight bond. This note is not printed on the thin proofing paper or the light card that is almost universal for large size proofs. It is printed on fiber paper, identical to that used for many of the Second Issue Experimental Notes. This $10 National also is overprinted with the bank name in bronze, "FIRST WASHINGTON, D.C." which was intended to be used as an anti-counterfeiting device. This bronze was never adopted for use on Nationals, but was used on Second Issue Fractional Notes. The bronzing experiment on Nationals was done with two different banks, this one and the Second NB of Baltimore, Md. Paper that had already been bronzed with the names of these two banks was used to print experimental and developmental notes for Second Issue Fractional Currency. That is the origin of the "Baltimore and Washington" pieces that follow. This National Essay has also been punched with the "pie wedge" cancels and stamped with the blue "SPECIMEN" stamp that Fractional collectors are familiar with. In tonight's competition to acquire this great piece, it will be interesting to see if it stays in the hands of the Fractional collecting community or leaves to reside in a National Bank Note collection.