The First National Bank Of Ottumwa
The First National Bank Of Ottumwa in Iowa printed $2,262,700 dollars worth of national currency. Over $1,000,000 face value is a lot of money. However, some types and denominations of currency from this bank could still be rare. This national bank opened in 1863 and stopped printing money in 1931, which equals a 69 year printing period. That is considering a long operation period for a national bank. During its life, The First National Bank Of Ottumwa issued 12 different types and denominations of national currency. We have examples of the types listed below. Your bank note should look similar. Just the bank name will be different. For the record, The First National Bank Of Ottumwa was located in Wapello County. It was assigned charter number 107.
We buy all national currency. Please call or email us for a quote. Sales@AntiqueMoney.com
The First National Bank Of Ottumwa in Iowa printed 6,500 sheets of $5 original series national bank notes. Just because a print range is between 5,000 and 10,000 doesn’t mean that individual notes will be easy to buy. That number isn’t really high or low. Some notes are extremely rare and some could be from a hoard. Values are determined based on condition and the number of known survivors. Each five dollar original series bank note has a spiked red seal. That is pretty much the only design difference between it and later issues. These are really beautiful notes. One neat thing about these is that the back of each note has a vignette of the corresponding state seal. Some of the state seals are very imaginative. Collecting by state seal was very popular early on in the hobby. Today most collectors are more concerned about bank of issue and condition. Serial number one bank notes are also extremely popular.
Original Series $5 National Bank Note
The First National Bank Of Ottumwa printed 4,330 sheets of $5 series of 1875 national bank notes. Hundreds of banks had sheet outputs between 2,500 and 5,000. That is pretty typical for a medium sized national bank in the 1870s. Series of 1875 $5 bills are some of the most commonly encountered bank notes from the first charter series. Only the original series $1 bill is more available. Some banks exclusively issued five dollar bills. So if you want an example from one of those banks then you don’t have many options. These notes have a rounded red seal and red serial numbers. They also all have a red charter number.
Series of 1875 $5 National Bank Note
The First National Bank Of Ottumwa also printed 5,000 sheets of $10 1882 brown back national bank notes. A print range between 5,000 and 10,000 suggests that there should be at least a couple of notes known to exist. There were three $10 bills printed on a single sheet of 1882 brown backs. The design of the bill is similar to all earlier ten dollar national bank notes. The nickname comes from the fact that these bills have a brown seal and brown overprint. Despite saying series of 1882, these were actually printed by some banks up until 1908. The date you see in cursive relates to when the bank first started issuing brown back notes.
Series of 1882 $10 Brown Back
The First National Bank Of Ottumwa also printed 5,000 sheets of $20 1882 brown back national bank notes. As you can see, the sheet output is the same for $20 brown backs as it is for $10 brown backs. There was only one $20 brown back printed on a sheet. So the sheet output also equals the total note output. One neat thing about all brown backs is that they each have a different back design based on which state issued them. The back left hand side of the note shows the state seal of which ever state the national bank was located in. Generally speaking, 1882 $20 brown backs are pretty difficult to locate. They typically were printed in small numbers and they don’t have a great survival rate.
Series of 1882 $20 Brown Back
The First National Bank Of Ottumwa also printed 944 sheets of $50 1882 brown back national bank notes. Fifty dollar 1882 brown backs are few and far between. When the print number is under 1,000 like this bank then there is a great chance that you have a very rare bank note. The most common 1882 $50 brown backs are worth about $5,000. However, some can be worth more than $10,000 based on condition, serial number, and bank of issue.
Series of 1882 $50 Brown Back
The First National Bank Of Ottumwa also printed 944 sheets of $100 1882 brown back national bank notes. High denomination $50 and $100 brown backs were printed on the same sheet. So the number of sheets printed also equals the number bills printed for each denomination. You can see that $100 brown backs are extremely scarce on this bank. We are very interested in purchasing $100 1882 brown back national bank notes. We have paid more than $15,000 for some examples. Send us pictures of what you have and we will respond quickly with an appraisal and offer.
Series of 1882 $100 Brown Back
The First National Bank Of Ottumwa also printed 2,166 sheets of $50 1902 red seal national bank notes. That is also the exact number of $50 red seals printed by this bank. Each sheet contained one $50 bill and one $100 bill. They are all extremely rare. The value for a generic circulated example is usually around $4,000. Most are worth more and some can be worth considerably more. John Sherman is pictured on each note. Otherwise it has the same markings you would expect to find on any 1902 red seal.
1902 $50 Red Seal National Bank Note
The First National Bank Of Ottumwa also printed 2,166 sheets of $100 1902 red seal national bank notes. As we said above, all high denomination 1902 red seals are extremely rare. The number of notes printed really doesn’t matter to collectors. 1902 $100 red seals are rare to the point that they are always in demand. Of course the standard valuation rules still apply. Condition and bank of issue are of paramount importance. We have paid over $12,000 for some of the rarest specimens.
1902 $100 Red Seal National Bank Note
The First National Bank Of Ottumwa also printed 3,558 sheets of $50 1902 blue seal national bank notes. There is no trick to knowing which 1902 blue seals will be common and rare. Often times the number printed won’t tell you much information. The value still comes down to condition and demand. That is a surprise to most people. In fact, most 1902 $50 bills we see are worth between $750 and $1,250. The rarer ones can be worth more than $5,000. However, there isn’t much middle ground.
1902 $50 Blue Seal National Bank Note
The First National Bank Of Ottumwa also printed 3,558 sheets of $100 1902 blue seal national bank notes. It is no coincidence that the sheet numbers for $50 bills and $100 bills are the same. They were printed on the same sheets. Most $100 blue seals are at least scarce; others can be very rare. John J Knox is printed on the front of each bill. Most collectors like the back design a lot more though. It is really unique and different from most other national bank notes. Prices for 1902 $100 blue seals are pretty similar to $50 blue seals. They are both equally common or equally rare, depending on how you look at it.
1902 $100 Blue Seal National Bank Note
The First National Bank Of Ottumwa also printed 363 sheets of Type1 1929 $50 national bank notes. That may sound like a very small number, and it is. However, when it comes to small size notes, that print range usually allows for a handful of survivors. As is the case with all modern fifty dollar bills, Ulysses Grant is pictured on the front of 1929 $50 bills. This is a higher denomination that was only printed by 300 different national banks. Many examples are only worth around a few hundred dollars. Rarer specimens can sell for more than $1,000.
Series of 1929 Type1 $50 National Bank Note
The First National Bank Of Ottumwa also printed 102 sheets of Type1 1929 $100 national bank notes. That is an extremely small sheet printing number. Survivors are still likely but definitely not guaranteed. Despite saying series of 1929, all type1 national bank notes were actually printed between 1929 and 1933. Exactly 289 national banks printed $100 type1 notes. Most are relatively common. However, as with anything, there are always exceptions to that rule.
Series of 1929 Type1 $100 National Bank Note
