National Currency and National Bank History - Currency from the National Banking Era

National Banking History

Wildcat Era, Pre 1863

Wildcat banks were state-licensed financial institutions that operated in the United States during the early 1800s prior to the Civil War (1861–65). Each bank issued its own paper money, which could be exchanged for gold or silver coin. But because the banks loaned money too freely, they issued more paper currency than they could back with coin. Counterfeit (fake) bills were also a problem. No one could tell the difference between actual bank currency and the product of a skilled counterfeiter. In 1836 U.S. President Andrew Jackson (1767–1845) required that people pay for land with coin. Many wildcat banks, particularly in the western United States, went bankrupt when customers tried to exchange the paper money for coin. (e-Notes.com)

The note below isn't a wildcat note per se. Idaho wasn't settled enough to really take part in the bank scandals of the era. This note was printed prior to the First Charter Period so I am using it here. This institution would go on to be the biggest bank in Idaho and was granted the first charter.

First Charter Period (February 1863 to July 1882)

In order to promote confidence in the banking system Congress passed The National Banking Act of 1863. This act established a system of Nationally chartered banks. A bank could be started with the purchase of U.S. Government bonds. A group of citizens in a town could apply for a Federal charter, buy say, $10,000 in U.S. Bonds. The Fed would hold the bonds as security and issue 90% of that amount in National currency for the bank to operate. This mechanism gave the populace some comfort that the paper money was actually backed by something tangible. It also gave us the hometown nationals that we collect today.

Notes of the first charter period are extremely hard to come by. The $20.00 note below was discovered in 2009 and was the highlight note of the year for Idaho collectors. I believe this one makes 7 territorial notes known from Idaho.

Second Charter Period (July 1882 to April 1902)

Notes from the second charter period are somewhat more available. They came in three main types all from the series 1882. First the Brownback, known for their varied and richly ornate layouts the Brownback is about the pinnacle of real collectibility for Idaho notes. Next came the 1882 Datebacks and finally the Valuebacks. These notes had either the Dates 1882 - 1908 or the Value of the notes in large type on the back. They have a blue seal and two vignettes at the ends.

Third Charter Period (April 1902 to April 1922)

The notes from the third charter period are the most readily collected large size notes. (they are 30% larger than our current notes) These notes circulated from 1902 through the 20's. There are three main varieties for this period. First is the Red Seal (pictured) These notes are most desirable of the charter period. They were only used briefly before a switch to blue ink was instituted. Second type is the Dateback blue seal and finally a Plainback blue seal. There is really not much difference in collectibility between the Dateback and the Plainback.

Series of 1929

In 1929 the Federal government, in a bit of rare cost consciousness decided to shrink the size of the dollar to the current size. The notes of 1929 reflect that smaller size. Also, sadly it seems that the prior emphasis on beautiful artwork and fine aesthetics was gone. These notes are relatively plain with a brown seal. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of charters that I would love to have in a 1929 small. In fact, some banks only issued small notes.

For more Information check out this National Currency page: Antique Bank Notes - Nationals

Chartered National Banks

Choose a state to filter on:

Charter	Bank Name	City	County	Year Chartered
8869	First National Bank of American Falls	American Falls	Power	1907
10269	First National Bank of Ashton	Ashton	Fremont	1912
7419	First National Bank of Blackfoot	Blackfoot	Bingham	1904
8346	Idaho National Bank of Boise	Boise	Ada	1906
10083	Pacific National Bank of Boise	Boise	Ada	1911
1668	First National Bank of Idaho, Boise	Boise	Ada	1867
3471	Boise City National Bank, Boise	Boise	Ada	1886
10751	Overland National Bank of Boise	Boise	Ada	1915
1668	First National Bank of Idaho, Boise City	Boise City	Ada	1867
3471	Boise City National Bank, Boise City	Boise City	Ada	1886
10727	First National Bank of Bonners Ferry	Bonners Ferry	Boundary	1915
11065	First National Bank of Buhl	Buhl	Twin Falls	1917
10341	First National Bank of Burley	Burley	Cassia	1913
12256	Cassia National Bank of Burley	Burley	Cassia	1922
4690	First National Bank of Caldwell	Caldwell	Canyon	1892
9333	American National Bank of Caldwell	Caldwell	Canyon	1909
8225	Western National Bank of Caldwell	Caldwell	Canyon	1906
9477	First National Bank of Challis	Challis	Custer	1909
13288	First National Bank of Coeur D'Alene	Coeur D'Alene	Kootenai	1929
6793	First National Bank of Coeur D'Alene	Coeur D'Alene	Kootenai	1903
7120	Exchange National Bank of Coeur D'Alene	Coeur D'Alene	Kootenai	1904
7120	First-Exchange National Bank of Coeur D'Alene	Coeur D'Alene	Kootenai	1904
7923	First National Bank of Cottonwood	Cottonwood	Idaho	1905
10278	First National Bank of Driggs	Driggs	Teton	1912
11508	First National Bank of Dubois	Dubois	Clark	1919
6145	First National Bank of Emmett	Emmett	Gem	1902
10162	First National Bank of Fairfield	Fairfield	Camas	1912
11198	First National Bank of Firth	Firth	Bingham	1918
4808	First National Bank of Genesee	Genesee	Latah	1892
9371	First National Bank of Gooding	Gooding	Gooding	1909
6927	First National Bank of Grangeville	Grangeville	Idaho	1903
10294	First National Bank of Hagerman	Hagerman	Gooding	1912
9145	Hailey National Bank, Hailey	Hailey	Blaine	1908
3895	First National Bank of Hailey	Hailey	Blaine	1888
11053	Blaine County National Bank of Hailey	Hailey	Blaine	1917
11278	Idaho Falls National Bank, Idaho Falls	Idaho Falls	Bonneville	1918
6982	American National Bank of Idaho Falls	Idaho Falls	Bonneville	1903
5820	First National Bank of Idaho Falls	Idaho Falls	Bonneville	1901
9680	First National Bank of Jerome	Jerome	Jerome	1910
9566	First National Bank of Kellogg	Kellogg	Shoshone	1909
4790	First National Bank of Kendrick	Kendrick	Latah	1892
3142	First National Bank of Ketchum	Ketchum	Blaine	1884
13819	Lewiston National Bank, Lewiston	Lewiston	Nez Perce	1933
2972	First National Bank of Lewiston	Lewiston	Nez Perce	1883
3023	Lewiston National Bank, Lewiston	Lewiston	Nez Perce	1884
5600	Idaho National Bank of Lewiston	Lewiston	Nez Perce	1900
10212	Empire National Bank of Lewiston	Lewiston	Nez Perce	1912
11745	American National Bank of Lewiston	Lewiston	Nez Perce	1920
8822	First National Bank of Malad City	Malad City	Oneida	1907
10221	First National Bank of Meridian	Meridian	Ada	1912
7381	First National Bank of Montpelier	Montpelier	Bear Lake	1904
3408	First National Bank of Moscow	Moscow	Latah	1885
4584	Moscow National Bank, Moscow	Moscow	Latah	1891
6521	First National Bank of Mountainhome	Mountainhome	Elmore	1902
8906	First National Bank of Mullan	Mullan	Shoshone	1907
8370	First National Bank of Nampa	Nampa	Canyon	1906
10693	Citizens National Bank of Nampa	Nampa	Canyon	1915
10916	Farmers & Merchants National Bank of Nampa	Nampa	Canyon	1916
10975	First National Bank of Newdale	Newdale	Fremont	1917
6697	First National Bank of Nezperce	Nezperce	Lewis	1903
11496	First National Bank of Parma	Parma	Canyon	1919
5906	First National Bank of Payette	Payette	Payette	1901
8075	Payette National Bank, Payette	Payette	Payette	1906
6347	Bannock National Bank of Pocatello	Pocatello	Bannock	1902
4827	Idaho National Bank of Pocatello	Pocatello	Bannock	1892
4023	First National Bank of Pocatello	Pocatello	Bannock	1889
7526	First National Bank of Preston	Preston	Franklin	1904
7133	First National Bank of Rexburg	Rexburg	Madison	1904
11458	Jefferson County National Bank of Rigby	Rigby	Jefferson	1919
10920	First National Bank of Ririe	Ririe	Jefferson	1916
10429	First National Bank of Rupert	Rupert	Minidoka	1913
10517	Rupert National Bank, Rupert	Rupert	Minidoka	1914
7230	Commercial National Bank of Saint Anthony	Saint Anthony	Fremont	1904
5764	First National Bank of Saint Anthony	Saint Anthony	Fremont	1901
10771	First National Bank of Saint Maries	Saint Maries	Benewah	1915
9432	Citizens National Bank of Salmon	Salmon	Lemhi	1909
8080	First National Bank of Salmon	Salmon	Lemhi	1906
8341	First National Bank of Sandpoint	Sandpoint	Bonner	1906
9263	Bonner County National Bank of Sandpoint	Sandpoint	Bonner	1908
11434	First National Bank of Shelley	Shelley	Bingham	1919
9272	Lincoln County National Bank of Shoshone	Shoshone	Lincoln	1908
6577	First National Bank of Shoshone	Shoshone	Lincoln	1903
10162	First National Bank of Soldier	Soldier	Camas	1912
7608	First National Bank of Twin Falls	Twin Falls	Twin Falls	1905
11274	Twin Falls National Bank, Twin Falls	Twin Falls	Twin Falls	1918
9134	Wallace National Bank, Wallace	Wallace	Shoshone	1908
4773	First National Bank of Wallace	Wallace	Shoshone	1892
6754	First National Bank of Weiser	Weiser	Washington	1903
8139	Weiser National Bank, Weiser	Weiser	Washington	1906
9491	First National Bank of Wendell	Wendell	Gooding	1909

National Currency And Banking History