Could Plainfield use this $10?

A 1929 $10 bill issued by Plainfield's First National Bank.

From 1869 to 1935, nationally chartered banks could issue their own banknotes, as Plainfield's First National Bank did.

These notes, sometimes called 'hometown bank notes' were secured by bonds place by the local bank with the Federal government. They looked like U.S. government issued currency, except that they bore the name of the issuing bank (hence the 'hometown' monicker) and the signatures of the bank's President and Cashier.

The note pictured above is on sale on eBay (see here) for $95.

Would it make a nice addition to the Plainfield Public Library's collection of Plainfieldiana?

I think so.

Is there some generous reader who would purchase it as a gift to the Library?

That would be really nice.

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• eBay: "1929 $10 National Note, Plainfield, NJ"
• Wikipedia: "National bank notes"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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