First National Bank of Monrovia, California
large size $5, brown back
This specimen was lot 295 in Stack's Bowers August 2020 Auction - Session 1 - U.S. Currency (Costa Mesa, CA, August 2020), where it sold for $10,800. The catalog description[1] noted, "Breathtaking and Rare Monrovia $5 Brown Back, Monrovia, California. $5 1882 Brown Back. Fr. 470. The First NB. Charter #3743. PMG About Uncirculated 53 EPQ. Despite issuing more than 3600 sheets of $5 Brown Backs today just three such examples are known from this rare Los Angeles County bank. The First National Bank of Monrovia was charted in July of 1887 and issued $5, $10 and $20 Brown Backs in the Second Charter period. In the Third Charter period they issued Red Seals, Date Backs and Plain Backs in the same denominations. In all $512,710 in National Currency was issued from the bank by the time it liquidated in April of 1924 with $35,000 remaining outstanding at close. The $5 Brown Back offered here is truly exceptional for the assigned grade. Gem caliber margins, vividly printed design elements and beautifully penned signatures are all offered. The paper is bright and displays only a couple of light folds. This example was well deserving of its assigned EPQ designation. Furthermore, it is the finest of the three known examples of the type known on the bank."
large size $5, date back
This specimen was lot 17907 in Heritage auction 354 (the Horwedel sale, Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $3,680. The catalog description[1] noted, "Monrovia, CA - $5 1902 Date Back Fr. 592 The First NB Ch. # (P)3743, A just plain rare Los Angeles County bank which has just five notes reported. Two are Brown Backs and two are Plain Backs, with this lone recorded Date Back. It's a most attractive piece with bright white paper and bright purple signatures, with its only minor defect a tiny bit of very light wallet staining on less than a quarter of the reverse. Very Fine, several grades superior to the Colver example which realized over $1600 five years ago. Purchased from I. Nelson Clark." This specimen was lot 20367 in Heritage auction 3563 (Chicago, April 2018), where it sold for $1,500.
large size $5, plain back
This specimen was lot 20674 in Heritage auction 3567 (Long Beach, CA, September 2018), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Monrovia, CA - $5 1902 Plain Back Fr. 600 The First NB Ch. # (P)3743. A just plain rare Los Angeles County bank which issued large notes only. Just six notes comprise the entire census, with even the massive Colver collection, assembled over four decades, containing only a low grade Blue Seal. Evenly circulated and problem free PMG Choice Fine 15."
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