I just came into owership of the two fractionals mentioned above. Both are straight edge first issue notes with the monogram ABCo on their reverses. They have never ber folded. I'd like to know if they are genuine and are there diagnostics that exist. What about measurments I can to which I can refer. I'd like to know before having tgo submit the to a TPG. I see there are scads of them of the on ebay and many beig handle by dealers on-line. So the more I know the better. I'm not selling them anytime soon but with a very generous offer I could or might. I just found out that BSW sells currency sheets so storage may not be a problem. Please fire away the questions. I want to learn more. Oh I appoligize for the pics. I fogot to lay them flat and it shows. I think I cropped them but do't remember. I'll submit better flatter ones if any of you like. Feel like a jerk. Coins don't bend or bow li9ke paper. Help and opinions needed. Thanks zeke. Oh the 5 cent note is cut crookedly and shows. Could that have been done at the mint or did someone have a sheet/s and shear by hand?
I'm not an expert, but the detail on these would lead me to think they are genuine. I know postage currency was issued in sheets and sometimes cut up with scissors when issued at the bank or post office. So miscuts aren't unusual. Really pretty notes, btw.
myfractionalnotes.com There is a lot of info on this site. Look down the left column / Table of Contents for the section on Counterfeits and how to spot varieties in the different issues of fractional notes.
Thanks krispy, I read that whole site. Lots of good info. Saw the 5 cent and 10 cent counterfeits. I guess I'll join PCGS and submit them. I just want to get them authenticated and store them away for the daughter and grand kids. It will be at least two weeks if I do it before Sunday, April 10, 2011. I'll post them again on their return. zeke
Nice notes. I see that on the face of each is "National Bank Note Co." and on the reverse "ABCo". I vaguely remember a bunch of mergers, purchases and names changing, but it was kind of surprising to see two names on one note. Anyone have the story for this? Dave
As I understand it, The National Bank of New York was consigned as the printer of these ' First Issue ' Postage currency notes. I guess security issues were encountered. This led to The American Bank Note Company being cosigned as the printer of the reverse side. This is why there are 'First Issue ' notes with and without the ABCo monogram. The most common notes are the straight edge notes with the ABCo monogram. Some books refer to the reverse monogram ABN. tHAT CAN TO VERY CONFUSING TO SOME PEOPLE. . Read this: http://books.google.com/books?id=l7Qund5xP7gC&pg=PA153&lpg=PA153&dq=OLD+U.S.+POSTAGE+FRACTIONAL+CURRENCY&source=bl&ots=QqzxBFLSb-&sig=RGtGg5x3i8COZ_6LLdoIO9YoGys&hl=en&ei=2dWVTa_IFYK_0QG50cj2Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDUQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=OLD%20U.S.%20POSTAGE%20FRACTIONAL%20CURRENCY&f=false Wow that's a long one. I'd truly love to read about the 'First Issue ' notes in Robert J. Kravitz's book: " A Collector's Guide to Postage and Fractional Currency ". He is considered by many to be an EXPERT in this field. Reallistically though, I can't see how I will/can persue this area of collecting. I'm spread way too thin in coins. But this histiry is very intriguing and interesting.
Except perhaps in this instance, National Bank Note and American Bank Note were competitors through most of the 1870s. National and Continental merged with American on Dec. 27, 1878.
