Massachusetts Currency
Extremely Rare October 1, 1792 "The Union Bank" Boston $100 Contemporary Counterfeit Haxby MA-385 C240 SENC Newman page 216
Boston, MA. The Union Bank, $100, October 1, 1792-Dated Federal Period, Contemporary Counterfeit, Bank Issue as Listed in Newman, The Early Paper Money of America, 5th Edition Page 220. Very Fine.
Rarity-6. Haxby MA-385 C240 SENC. An extremely important early note, even as a contemporary counterfeit. Notes dated in the early 1790's are rarely seen. This bank itself was the Second Chartered in Massachusetts and its ten year charter began on June 22, 1792. This note is from the Boyd Collection and has certainly been off the market for multiple decades and subsequent until now since sold in the Stack's Boyd/Ford Sale in 2005. This early American Bank is listed in the (2008) current 5th Edition by Newman on page 220, no values provided. This note is hand-dated "October 1, 1792". No imprint. (Signed) by Alex. Hodgdon and Moses Gill. Printed on a quality wove period paper. A Contemporary Counterfeit, printed from a well executed engraved plate. At the upper left is the Massachusetts Seal, on the left end a panel with "Hundred" flanked by two small vignettes, a Plow at the top and a Ship at the bottom. Denomination reads: "ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS" along the top and "100" at the right. Fully signed and (falsely) issued. A tiny body pencil point size hole in the body at the right, and two small right end water stains are noted. The blank back with a light brown contemporary endorsement "Counterfeit". Exceedingly rare. The Newman plate is a remainder (unaccomplished) Counterfeit $10 note. This may be the earliest known example on The Union Bank and of its highest $100 denomination. A remarkable museum quality note on one of the earliest United States banks, that circulated. Ex: Stack's Boyd/Ford Collection Sale, Part VIII, January 2005, Lot 1271 (with its sale holder tag).