Obsolete note fans: Post your cool counters

gsalex

I came across an interesting obsolete note online (not mine) that inspired this thread. It's from Piscataqua Exchange Bank in NH and what caught my eye was the central vignette. I've never seen a counter used in an engraving in quite this way. Typically counters are "open" -- not within the frame of picture. But it got me wondering what other intriguing kinds of counters exist.


"Counters," as I define them, are large numerals (sometimes Roman numerals) or letters spelling out the number, which are either integrated into a vignette or become the frame of a vignette. Most often they are accompanied by a woman. I'll post some examples.

What eye-catching counters do you have in your collection? Please share!

cinch

What a cool topic! I love that $4!





Niantic Bank, Westerly RI $10:







Producers Bank, Woonsocket RI $10:





Detail:







Mechanics & Manufacturers, Providence RI $5:





Detail:



(The whole composition is a subtle "5")





Warwick Bank, RI $5:



(An early one! C. 1818-1820s)

Berny

numbersman

Just wonderful vignettes.

techwriter

North Carolina note with interesting vignette:

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techwriter

A few more counter vignettes:

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Steve_in_Tampa

Awesome thread Greg....love these vignettes.

Jim61

This is a great variation of the study of vignettes. I am learning something new again about obsoletes which I know nothing. Nice displays!

Tookybandit

I agree awesome thread! I now want to look through my obsoletes again

MAM0912

Here's two of the vignettes in use:



Justice sitting in 5







Municipality No 1 1842 $100 back:

techwriter

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cinch

It would be interesting to see some high denomination versions of this counter style.



A few more of mine:



Railroad Bank, Woonsocket RI $5



(Spurious note from 1863)



Detail:







Mechanics & Manufacturers Bank, Providence RI $3





Detail:







Bank of North America, Providence RI $1





Back:





Detail:







Hamilton Bank, North Scituate RI $2



(From February 14, 1849)

STLNATS

Wonderful examples of the theme. I really like the 5 at right on the Bank of the Commonwealth of NY. I don't recall encountering these before so I also appreciate the education!

gsalex

Originally posted by: cinch
It would be interesting to see some high denomination versions of this counter style.

Hamilton Bank, North Scituate RI $2

(From February 14, 1849)

I didn't get a chance to check-in again until this evening -- what an impressive turnout! I'm just loving some of these unusual variations. Cinch, I happen to have a proof of that lazy deuce counter, although it didn't fall under my criteria by itself, since it wasn't integrated into a vignette.

I would also like to see some higher denomination counters. I wonder if there are any usages of the Roman numerals L or C.

luckybucks

It would be nice to see those designs on our currency again.



Lots of hard work and creativity went into those early notes.

Berny

Here is a set of $100 notes from The Bank of Columbus, GA-105. I have never been able to snag any of these; so these images are mostly from the Heritage archives.

techwriter

A few examples of counters and anti-counterfeiting techniques:

== lower right figure holding counter "5"



== figure leaning against the "1' counter



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notes from recent Lyn Knight auction (not mine unfortunately)

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Edit: remove incorrect note type

gsalex

Nice examples, although I'd have to argue that the last one doesn't show a counter in the sense we're illustrating here, since the L and numerals aren't part of the vignettes.

Berny, those Bank of Columbus "C" notes are fantastic! Thanks for sharing.

techwriter

Fixed the "ooops"; here's one from Heritage archives (used to have one of these)

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cinch

That's a beautiful lazy deuce proof, gsalex. You didn't happen to find it on eBay? I'm just curious because it's so cool.

Berny

Here is an interesting $500 counterfeit note - probably unique. There was a single proof of this note in the 1990 ABNCo archive sale.





Not mine but from the Heritage archive.

techwriter

And let us not forget the CSA Type 37:

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== this one currently on eBay

eBay link

Berny

Canada also has obsolete (called chartered) notes.

Heywood

My Avatar is one.

My first obsolete, with the red 2s around the counter



These 2s are cool- 2 mosaic 2s



The ones that have TWO and 2 in the same design are neat.












Two Coins













Very FRN-like










2 large 2s



Less common mosaic design



Two girls under the sheath

techwriter

Really nice note from Lyn Knight archives, didn't bid and should have.

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cinch

Heywood, what an interesting set! It's so obvious yet so subtle at the same time that they could use sets of two -- like the two girls -- to represent the denomination. I'll have to look for that in other denominations.

gsalex

Originally posted by: cinch
That's a beautiful lazy deuce proof, gsalex. You didn't happen to find it on eBay? I'm just curious because it's so cool.

I got it from Archives International. As it happens they had a full set up for bid las October, but it didn't sell.


While combing through Heritage's archives I happened on the Lazy 3 counter on a proof:

gsalex

Originally posted by: Berny
Canada also has obsolete (called chartered) notes.

Thank you for posting that $4 dollar Canadian note, Berny! I was hoping we might get some other foreign examples.

sellitstore

The Bank of NY lazy "3"is actually different than the die proof version, so there's at least two different designs and two different colors, grey and red.

techwriter

Here's a nice one from the Lyn Knight archives; almost wish I still collected obsoletes.

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== very prominent Roman numeral counter in the left edge panel



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cinch

Inspired by Heywood, I've gone back and looked for vignettes that reflect the denomination of the note. (The $3 note I posted earlier also has 3 figures near the counter.)



National Bank $5, Providence, RI:



(Altered from a $5 note from the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Memphis, Tennessee)



Five coins and five figures:







Mount Vernon Bank $10, Providence RI:





10 figures (9 babies, 1 woman) and 10 coins:

gsalex

Really like the Mt. Vernon note, Cinch! I hadn't thought to use human figures as counters, but it's very apparent on that 10 and now I'm seeing it on many other notes previously posted.

Here's another ornate 10 counter, this one from my souvenir card collection. Has anyone seen it used on a note?

techwriter

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== lots of fives on this note

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== more TWENTYs than I can count

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Tookybandit

Just picked this one up. I like the red!

cinch

Here's a higher denomination with an interesting counter:











(December 6, 1864. RI-280 G12)

gsalex

That's a winner!

gsalex

There's another note from the Piscataqua Exchange Bank -- the same bank that started this thread -- that I fully expected someone to post here eventually. It's one of my favorites and so it's time to include it. I believe this "V" has shown up on other obsoletes, as well.

gsalex

As it turns out, a friend on another forum posted a great example of this same V counter. He was kind enough to permit me to repost here. This obsolete has two variations on the V, along with several other types of counters. As he pointed out, this was an effective deterrent to counterfeiters looking to raise the note. The more spots a note-raiser had to alter, the less interested he would be. This one has fives in more than a dozen places.