Obsolete note fans: Post your cool counters

gsalex · April 7, 2016 5:55AM

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 · April 7, 2016 6:47AM

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 · April 7, 2016 7:10AM

numbersman · April 7, 2016 7:33AM

Just wonderful vignettes.

techwriter · April 7, 2016 7:48AM

North Carolina note with interesting vignette:

==

==

techwriter · April 7, 2016 8:43AM

A few more counter vignettes:

==

==

Steve_in_Tampa · April 7, 2016 9:01AM

Awesome thread Greg....love these vignettes.

Jim61 · April 7, 2016 9:12AM

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 · April 7, 2016 9:12AM

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

MAM0912 · April 7, 2016 9:18AM

Here's two of the vignettes in use:

Justice sitting in 5

Municipality No 1 1842 $100 back:

techwriter · April 7, 2016 11:54AM

==

cinch · April 7, 2016 12:39PM

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 · April 7, 2016 1:20PM

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 · April 7, 2016 3:33PM

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 · April 7, 2016 9:43PM

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

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

Berny · April 8, 2016 1:35AM

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 · April 8, 2016 3:08AM

A few examples of counters and anti-counterfeiting techniques:

== lower right figure holding counter "5"

== figure leaning against the "1' counter

==

notes from recent Lyn Knight auction (not mine unfortunately)

==

Edit: remove incorrect note type

gsalex · April 8, 2016 3:51AM

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 · April 8, 2016 8:02AM

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

==

==

cinch · April 8, 2016 10:17AM

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 · April 8, 2016 10:50AM

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 · April 8, 2016 1:40PM

And let us not forget the CSA Type 37:

==

==

== this one currently on eBay

eBay link

Berny · April 8, 2016 11:46PM

Canada also has obsolete (called chartered) notes.

Heywood · April 9, 2016 12:51AM

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 · April 9, 2016 4:00AM

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

==

==

cinch · April 9, 2016 4:43AM

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 · April 9, 2016 9:35AM

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 · April 9, 2016 9:59AM

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 · April 10, 2016 6:07AM

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 · April 10, 2016 10:34PM

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

==

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

==

cinch · April 11, 2016 12:27PM

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 · April 11, 2016 1:45PM

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 · April 11, 2016 1:47PM

==

== lots of fives on this note

==

==

== more TWENTYs than I can count

==

==

Tookybandit · April 12, 2016 12:22PM

Just picked this one up. I like the red!

cinch · April 15, 2016 2:23AM

Here's a higher denomination with an interesting counter:

(December 6, 1864. RI-280 G12)

gsalex · April 15, 2016 4:24AM

That's a winner!

gsalex · April 16, 2016 3:16PM

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 · April 28, 2016 7:10AM

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.

Obsolete note fans: Post your cool counters

Comments