First National Bank of Los Angeles, California
large size $5, brown back
This specimen was lot 17811 in Heritage auction 354 (the Horwedel sale, Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $747.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, CA - $5 1882 Brown Back Fr. 477 The First NB Ch. # (P)2491. One of only a literal handful of $5 Brown Backs reported from this otherwise common bank. About Fine."
large size $5, date back
This specimen was lot 17813 in Heritage auction 354 (the Horwedel sale, Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $977.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, CA - $5 1882 Date Back Fr. 537 The First NB Ch. # (P)2491. A much above average example of this by no means common California type and denomination. Nice Very Fine, with unusually nice margins and signatures for an 1882 Date Back."
large size $5, value back
This specimen was lot 20184 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $780. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, California. $5 1882 Value Back. Fr. 574. First NB. Charter #2491. PMG Very Fine 25. The fact that a National Gold Bank was never established in Los Angeles may be somewhat surprising. However, it is not all that unexpected owing to the historical context in which they circulated and the fact that Los Angeles was nothing but a rural outpost and small farming community when the National Gold Notes circulated. First chartered in 1880, the First National Bank was one of the earliest banks in California that did not begin life as a National Gold Bank. With a consistent circulation often below $50,000, the bank would see its fortunes rise with the city growing to heights likely unthought of by its founders. By 1900, $232,900 in National Currency was being circulated, a figure which grew in excess of $1 million by the time the first Value Backs entered circulation. Although such a note is not rare by any measure, it remains a representative of a type scarcely encountered in any capacity from any of the thousands of National Banks spread throughout the United States. From the Eric Agnew Collection."
large size $10, first charter
This specimen was lot 17810 in Heritage sale 354 (Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $4,887.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, CA - $10 1875 Fr. 419 The First NB Ch. # 2491. An exceptionally rare California type and denomination. Although you would not know it from the price, $10 National Gold Bank Notes outnumber $10 First Charters by over a five to one ratio, with over one hundred $10 Gold Bank Notes to under twenty First Charter tens. Six of that number come from this bank, with this example from the Horwedel collection having been off the market for several decades. Very Good, likely to see bidding reach or exceed... Ex-Philip Krakover collection sale, lot 154."
large size $10, brown back
This specimen was lot 17812 in Heritage auction 354 (the Horwedel sale, Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $517.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, CA - $10 1882 Brown Back Fr. 490 The First NB Ch. # (P)2491. Despite being well-worn and a trifle soiled, this Brown Back has not lost its signatures and it is one of just seven $10 Brown Backs from this bank. Very Good, with a tiny chip from the top margin, a small internal hole, and an edge split in the right margin. Ex-Philip Krakover collection sale, lot 155."
large size $10, date back
This specimen was lot 92413 in Stack's Bowers October 26, 2023 Collectors Choice Online Auction - U.S. Currency (Costa Mesa, CA, October 2023), where it sold for $690. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, California. $10 1882 Date Back. Fr. 545. The First NB. Charter #2491. PMG Very Fine 25 EPQ. A lovely mid-grade example from Southern California complete with selvage. Noted for Exceptional Paper Quality by PMG."
large size $10, value back
This specimen was lot 20670 in Heritage auction 3567 (Long Beach, CA, September 2018), where it sold for $870. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Los Angeles, CA - $10 1882 Value Back Fr. 577 The First NB Ch. # (P)2491. An attractive example of a very tough type and denomination from any California bank. Excellent color, bold signatures, and deep, original embossing are seen on this pretty PCGS About New 53 specimen that just has a couple of insignificant paper clip rust specks on the back."
large size $10, plain back
This specimen was lot 92308 in Stack's Bowers January 25, 2024 Collectors Choice Online Auction - U.S. Currency (Costa Mesa, CA, January 2024), where it sold for $192. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, California. $10 1902 Plain Back. Fr. 633. The First NB. Charter #2491. Very Fine. A pleasing $10 Plain Back from Southern California displaying even circulation and strong eye appeal. Indeed a perfect example for one's type set."
This specimen was lot 17820 in Heritage auction 354 (the Horwedel sale, Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $431.25. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, CA - $10 1902 Plain Back Fr. 633 Los Angeles-First National Trust & Savings Bank Ch. # 2491. A pretty Extremely Fine example from this bank's second title, one of the higher grade $10s in the census on this title."
large size $20, first charter
This specimen was lot 3478 in Stack's Bowers ANA Auction (Chicago, August 2013), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "Elusive California Series of 1875 $20, National Bank Note. Los Angeles, California. $20 1875. Fr. 434. The First NB. Charter #2491. PMG Fine 12. Net. Internal Tear, PVC. A note which is new to the current NBN Census and a welcomed addition. These $20 non-National Gold Bank first charter notes are rare when considering the state of California. This note becomes just the ninth known Series of 1875 piece with all Original Series $20 pieces being under their National Gold Bank titles. Over half of the now nine known pieces are from this Los Angeles charter with two Very Fines, a Good and Very Good note mentioned. This Fine note fills a void in quality of that previous four and shows here with still pleasing detail of the important face and back vignettes. Some light PVC damage and an internal tear at lower center are both observed although the note otherwise is fairly sound for the grade. This bank was chartered in September 1880 and succeeded the Commercial Bank (not part of the National banking system). It assumed Charter 293 by consolidation on October 21, 1905, and consumed the Pacific-Southwest Trust & Savings Bank of Los Angeles by consolidation on September 1, 1927, at which time the title was changed to the Los Angeles-First National Trust & Savings Bank. For the Series of 1875 notes, as here, these were printed to the extent of 8,451 sheets of the denominations of $10, $10, $10, and $20, the $20 being necessarily three times rarer than the $10." This note was subsequently lot 20271 in Heritage auction 3557 (Long Beach, CA, September 2017), where it sold for $5,400.
This specimen was lot 21049 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice Online Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2025), where it sold for $840. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, California. $20 1882 Brown Back. Fr. 504. First NB. Charter #2491. PMG Very Fine 20. Issued at some point in the early 1900s. This note circulated in an environment far different than the Los Angeles of the present or even a few decades after it was first issued. A total of 10 Series of 1882 $20 Brown Backs are recorded on the First National Bank (Charter# 2491) at present. From the Eric Agnew Collection Part III."
large size $20, date back
This specimen was lot 17815 in Heritage auction 354 (the Horwedel sale, Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $1,150. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, CA - $20 1882 Date Back Fr. 555 The First NB Ch. # (P)2491, Not a common type or denomination from any California bank, with a total of just over fifty examples reported from all banks in the state combined. We've been preaching for years that type Nationals have been grossly undervalued, and this note bears us out. Estimated at $150-300 when Lowell obtained it in 1992 for $198, it now has a "Green Sheet" bid price of $900 in Fine as just a type, regardless of state or bank. Nice Fine. Ex- Currency Auctions of America's November, 1992 sale, lot 2045."
large size $20, value back
This specimen was lot 17817 in Heritage auction 354 (the Horwedel sale, Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $546.25. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, CA - $20 1882 Value Back Fr. 581 The First NB Ch. # (P)2491. This has proven to be an exceptionally rare type and denomination from California, with either twelve or thirteen (depending on which census you consult) examples known from all banks in the state combined. This $20 Value Back has the appearance of a note grading Fine or thereabouts, but also comes with some rather well executed repairs which are included at no additional charge."
large size $20, plain back
This specimen was lot 17819 in Heritage auction 354 (the Horwedel sale, Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $632.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, CA - $20 1902 Plain Back Fr. 659 The First NB Ch. # (P)2491, An attractive example from a small run of very high grade pieces. About Uncirculated, the top a trifle close."
This specimen was lot 92309 in Stack's Bowers January 25, 2024 Collectors Choice Online Auction - U.S. Currency (Costa Mesa, CA, January 2024), where it sold for $240. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, California. $20 1902 Plain Back. Fr. 659. Los Angeles-First NT & SB. Charter #2491. PMG Very Fine 25. An evenly circulated $20 Plain Back from this prolific Southern California charter."
This specimen was lot 3557 in Stack's Bowers Baltimore Auction (Baltimore, June 2011), where it sold for $747.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "National Bank Notes. Los Angeles, California. $20 1902 PB. Fr. 659. Los Angeles-First National Trust & Savings Bank of Los Angeles. Charter #2491.2. PMG Very Fine 25. A pleasing second title for the bank which is quite a bit more elusive than the first and third nameplates. This note also benefits from even circulation and fully original paper. Bright signatures and sure to please. A small hole at the upper right is mentioned for complete accuracy."
large size $50
This specimen was lot 20185 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $3,120. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, California. $50 1902 Plain Back. Fr. 683. Los Angeles-First National Trust & Savings Bank. Charter #2491. PMG Very Fine 30. Serial Number 5. An uncommon denomination for National Bank Notes regardless of size or issuing bank, this evenly circulated example is representative of what one may consider a "common" bank, but is anything but common thanks to one key distinction. Bearing a single digit serial number of 5, this note came from the fifth sheet of this denomination ever issuing by the individual bank. Likely saved through a convoluted twist of fate as the $50 denomination was not often saved as souvenirs by bank officers, this example represents the lowest surviving serial number for this series and denomination on this institution per the National Bank Note Census. The next lowest surviving serial number happens to be from several hundred sheets after the one this note came from and bears a serial number of 336. Considering the interest for California Nationals as a whole, spirited bidding is sure to await this exceptional piece from Los Angeles that stands ready to complement an established collection." The serial number 336 mentioned above was sold by Stack's Bowers for $780 in October 2023.
large size $100
This specimen was lot 17823 in Heritage auction 354 (the Horwedel sale, Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $2,185. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, CA - $100 1902 Plain Back Fr. 705 Los Angeles-First NT&SB Ch. # 2491. A major Los Angeles rarity, as this is one of only two large size hundreds known from this bank, with this considerably the nicer of the pair. Attractive Fine-Very Fine, with the emphasis on the higher rather than the lower grade."
small size $10, type I
This specimen was lot 95329 in Stack's Bowers June 2023 Collectors Choice Online Auction - U.S. Currency (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2023), where it sold for $80. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, California. $10 1929 Ty. 1. Fr. 1801-1. The Security-First NB. Charter #2491. Fine. Paper clip stain."
small size $10, type II
This specimen was lot 17825 in Heritage auction 354 (the Horwedel sale, Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $184. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, CA - $10 1929 Ty. 2 Security-First NB Ch. # 2491. This beautiful Type 2 $10 has just a single light vertical fold. Choice About Uncirculated."
small size $20
This specimen was lot 95469 in Stack's Bowers July 25, 2024 Collectors Choice Online Auction - U.S. Currency (Costa Mesa, CA, July 2024), where it sold for $168. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, California. $20 1929 Ty. 1. Fr. 1802-1. Security-First NB. Charter #2491. PMG About Uncirculated 55. First chartered in 1880 under a different title, the Security-First National Bank was the first National Bank from Los Angeles to receive a federal charter and one of the earliest banks in California whose circulation did not consist solely of National Gold Bank Notes. A solid representative displaying only the lightest evidence of circulation; this note will do well to represent the Golden State."
small size $50
This specimen was lot 17826 in Heritage auction 354 (the Horwedel sale, Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $258.75. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, CA - $50 1929 Ty. 1 Security-First NB Ch. # 2491. One of the more commonly available $50s from anywhere in the country, but always popular. Bright Very Fine-Extremely Fine."
small size $100
This specimen was lot 90120 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice Online Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, April 2017), where it sold for $493.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, California. $100 1929 Ty.1. Fr. 1804-1. The First NB. Charter #2491. Choice About Uncirculated 58 EPQ."
Link to:
- return to National Bank Notes of Los Angeles County, California
- see National Bank Notes of California for a complete list by charter number
- Selections from Heritage sale 354
- Selections from the Stack's Bowers 2017 Collector's Choice sale
- Selections from the Stack's Bowers 2023 Collector's Choice sale
- Selections from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale
- Selections from the Stack's Bowers 2024 Collector's Choice sale
- Selections from the Stack's Bowers 2025 Collectors Choice sale