First National Bank in Riverside, California
large size $5, date back
This specimen was lot 14548 in Stack's Bowers Spring 2019 Baltimore - Session 13 - U.S. Currency Auction (Baltimore, March 2019), where it sold for $504. The catalog description[1] noted, "Riverside, California. $5 1902 Date Back. Fr. 590. The First NB. Charter #3348. Fine. A more difficult Riverside charter with this note being a new addition to the census to make an even 10 known. None of that total grade beyond the Very Fine level with a Fine grade like this offering being the average. Nice signatures and just a small notch at the bottom margin and mounting remnants/minor pulls at back to mention."
large size $5, plain back
This specimen was lot 10019 in Stack's Bowers August 2019 ANA - Session 4 - U.S. Currency (Chicago, August 2019), where it sold for $2,160. The catalog description[1] noted, "Riverside, California. $5 1902 Plain Back. Fr. 600. The First NB. Charter #8377. PMG Choice Uncirculated 64. According to Track and Price, this is the finest note known from the First National Bank in Riverside, California. This note also brings the number of Large Size Plain Back $5 notes from three, to four now known, according to Track and Price. Lovely blue inking is vibrant on the face of the note, as well as bright and appealing paper quality as well as imagery on the note."
large size $10, red seal
This specimen was lot 21142 in Heritage auction 3576 (Orlando, FL, January 2020), where it sold for $2,880. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Unique Riverside Red Seal, Riverside, CA - $10 1902 Red Seal Fr. 615 The NB of Riverside Ch. # (P)8377 PMG Very Fine 25. The sole Red Seal reported from this Riverside bank which also bears its much scarcer first title which was only used by this issuer until 1923. Once part of the Philip Krakover collection sold by John Hickman in 1990, it is a most attractive piece with even color, a bold red overprint, and dark signatures. From the Norris Turner Collection."
large size $10, plain back
This specimen was lot 18063 in Heritage auction 354 (the Horwedel sale, Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $690. The catalog description[1] noted, "Riverside, CA - $10 1902 Plain Back Fr. 626 First NB Ch. # 8377. A by no means common bank in large size even with the second title. About Fine, with clear signatures."
large size $20, date back
This specimen was lot 18061 in Heritage auction 354 (the Horwedel sale, Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $1,725. The catalog description[1] noted, "Riverside, CA - $20 1902 Date Back Fr. 642 The First NB Ch. # (P)3348. Riverside had five issuing banks, one of which is unknown and another represented by a single serial number 1 Brown Back. This is by far the scarcest of the remaining three, having issued only until 1916. The Horwedel example was formerly the Colver specimen, and grades a nice Fine with bold blue signatures of Stanley J. Castleman and E.S. Moulton. Ex-Charles Colver collection sale, lot 1974." This specimen was offered again as lot 98169 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $384.
large size $20, plain back
This specimen was lot 18062 in Heritage auction 354 (the Horwedel sale, Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $1,725. The catalog description[1] noted, "Riverside, CA - $20 1902 Plain Back Fr. 652 The NB of Riverside Ch. # (P)8377. Two titles were used by this bank, with this the rare first title, employed by the bank only until 1923. Just five notes are listed in the census, with this appearing to be the nicest. Nice Fine-Very Fine, with sharp pen signatures."
small size $5
This specimen was lot 20362 in Heritage auction 3574 (Long Beach, CA, September 2019), where it sold for $5,280. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Riverside $5 Type 2 Serial 1-6 Uncut Sheet Riverside, CA - $5 1929 Ty. 2 First NB Ch. # 8377 Uncut Sheet PMG Choice About Unc 58. An uncut sheet with serial numbers 1-6 obtained by our consignor at our October, 1995 St. Louis auction where the Doovas Collection of California Nationals went under the gavel. This sheet can be traced further back to the historic Lester Merkin auction of February 12-13, 1971 as lot 191. That sale saw 166 uncut sheets of Series 1929 Nationals being offered. This and the following lot were the only two sheets known on this bank in 1971 and the same is true today. The back label cites an annotation which is a penciled "E" in the margin between serial numbers 1 and 2. Nonetheless, it remains exceptionally nice in appearance with each note exhibiting embossing. From the Norris Turner Collection."
small size $10, type I
This specimen was lot 18064 in Heritage auction 354 (the Horwedel sale, Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $316.25. The catalog description[1] noted, "Riverside, CA - $10 1929 Ty. 1 First NB Ch. # 8377. Evenly circulated Fine."
small size $10, type II
This specimen was lot 18065 in Heritage auction 354 (the Horwedel sale, Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $431.25. The catalog description[1] noted, "Riverside, CA - $10 1929 Ty. 2 First NB Ch. # 8377. Considerably scarcer as a Type 2 from here. Fine+. Ex-Philip Krakover collection sale, lot 399."
small size $20, type I
This specimen was lot 18066 in Heritage auction 354 (the Horwedel sale, Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $1,006.25. The catalog description[1] noted, "Riverside, CA - $20 1929 Ty. 1 First NB Ch. # 8377. As nice a small note as we've ever seen from this bank. Extremely Fine."
small size $20, type II
This specimen was lot 20363 in Heritage auction 3574 (Long Beach, CA, September 2019), where it sold for $7,800. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Riverside $20 Type 2 Serial 1-6 Uncut Sheet Riverside, CA - $20 1929 Ty. 2 First NB Ch. # 8377 Uncut Sheet PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 EPQ. The second known uncut sheet on charter number 8377 is in this lot. This $20 serial number 1-6 sheet has the same provenance as the $5 sheet in the previous lot as it participated in both the Lester Merkin 1971 auction and our Doovas Collection 1995 sale. It is a beautiful nicely centered embossed sheet with dark inks and white paper. From the Norris Turner Collection."
Link to:
- return to National Bank Notes of Riverside County, California
- see National Bank Notes of California for a complete list by charter number