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5 Dollars Large-Size National Bank Note
| Issuer | United States (National Banking System) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1902-1927 |
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| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | 188 x 79 mm |
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| Obverse description | The obverse carries an intaglio-printed portrait vignette of President Benjamin Harrison at left, set against an intricate guilloche underprint in green and black. The issuing bank name, city, state, and charter details appear in letterpress across the face, with the denomination numeral and series date prominently inscribed. Ornate lathe-work borders frame the composition on all sides, characteristic of the large-size National Currency format. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The reverse is printed entirely in green and centers on a large circular intaglio vignette of the Landing of the Pilgrims, captioned accordingly at the base of the medallion. Flanking the central scene are cornucopia motifs and interlocking scrollwork, with bold numeral 5 counters at each corner. The inscriptions NATIONAL CURRENCY appear in banner-style lettering below the vignette, and a full legal-tender clause runs along the lower margin in fine letterpress text. |
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| Comments |
The 1902 Series nationals came in three distinct subtypes — with a back date (1902–1908), without a back date but with "1902" on the face (1902–1915), and the plain-back variety that carried through to 1927 — and distinguishing them matters enormously for valuation. The plain-back issues are the most common, though rarity shifts dramatically by charter: a plain-back $5 from a small Nebraska agricultural town may be rarer than a date-back from a major New York issuer simply because that bank printed fewer notes before closing.
Each note was technically an obligation of the individual chartered bank, not the federal government, though the U.S. Treasury held a corresponding bond deposit as collateral. The issuing bank's name, charter number, and officers' signatures were applied locally before notes entered circulation. Charter numbers above roughly 10,000 are almost exclusively plain-back issues.