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5 Dollars The Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank
| Issuer | Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank, Savannah, Georgia |
|---|---|
| Year | 1860 |
| Type | Local banknote |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | THE FARMERS AND MECHANICS BANK Will pay to Bearer FIVE DOLLARS ON DEMAND Savannah, June 1st, 1860 FIVE GEORGIA |
| Reverse description | The reverse is unprinted, presenting plain aged paper with show-through ghosting of the obverse design visible under raking light. The surface bears the wear and toning consistent with circulation, with no intentional printed design elements. |
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| Comments |
The Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Savannah operated under a Georgia state charter and was among the Southern institutions that continued issuing notes printed by the American Bank Note Company in New York right up to the secession crisis — a geographical irony that went unresolved until war made the relationship impossible. ABNC's Atlanta and Southern business evaporated almost entirely by 1861 as Confederate printers scrambled to fill the gap.
Georgia state law at the time required specie redemption on demand, but enforcement was inconsistent, and most Savannah banks suspended specie payments during the panic of 1857. Whether this bank fully resumed by 1860 is not clearly documented.