United States National Bank of Los Angeles, California
large size $5, red seal
This specimen was lot 17861 in Heritage auction 354 (the Horwedel sale, Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $5,750. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, CA - $5 1902 Red Seal Fr. 587 The United States NB Ch. # (P)7632, The only Red Seal we have handled or can recall seeing from this tougher "Forbidden Title" bank. Interestingly, it, along with the $10 Date Back from here offered below, appears to have a printed Vice Presidential title, the first one of its kind we've seen on any large National save for those with Treasury engraved signatures. Fine." Wikipedia comments, "The Galveston bank would be the last to be chartered using this name, as in 1926 the United States Congress banned the use of the words 'Reserve', 'United States' and 'Federal' in bank titles. Under a grandfather clause, banks that already had titles incorporating those words were allowed to keep them."
large size $5, blue seal, plain back
This specimen was lot 91234 in Stack's Bowers July 2023 Collectors Choice Online Auction - U.S. Currency (Costa Mesa, CA, July 2023), where it sold for $240. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, California. $5 1902 Plain Back. Fr. 598. The United States NB. Charter #7632. PMG Very Fine 20. A must-have charter for anyone looking to acquire a national from California."
large size $10, date back
This specimen was lot 17863 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 1902 Date Back Fr. 616 The United States NB Ch. # (P)7632. One of only two $10 Date Backs reported from here, and bearing the same printed Vice Presidential title as the $5 Red Seal offered above. About Fine, with clear signatures."
large size $10, plain back
This specimen was lot 17864 in Heritage auction 354 (the Horwedel sale, Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $316.25. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, CA - $10 1902 Plain Back Fr. 624 The United States NB Ch. # (P)7632. A nice high grade example from this "Forbidden Title" bank. Very Fine, with the top margin trimmed just a bit into the design."
large size $20
This specimen was lot 17865 in Heritage auction 354 (the Horwedel sale, Long Beach, CA, September 2004), where it sold for $690. The catalog description[1] noted, "Los Angeles, CA - $20 1902 Plain Back Fr. 650 The United States NB Ch. # (P)7632. A most attractive piece that is easily the finest of the handful of $20 Plain Backs recorded from here. Very Fine+. Ex-Currency Auctions of America's June 1994 Memphis sale, lot 2149."
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