1800s Canal Bank Uncut Sheet of Four Obsolete $20 Notes

1800s Uncut $20 Notes From The Canal Bank Of Louisiana!

Did you know until the end of the Civil War in the 1860s there was no national currency in America? Before that, each state and city printed its own, such as the four obsolete $20 notes on this large 8.625" x 14" uncut sheet from the Canal Bank in Louisiana. The most obvious drawback of no uniform currency system was that it was difficult to use money from another region in another because it would not be accepted. A big benefit for collectors, however, is that the wide variety of designs represented the culture and history of the area from which the note originated from—in this case the stunning central vignette features three maids, with a mermaid and merman appearing at the left.

Vintage Notes From The Antebellum South

Louisiana chartered three different types of banks in the antebellum period prior to the Civil War: commercial banks that serviced merchants and manufacturers; property banks that dealt in land and slave mortgages; and improvement banks. This last category included the Canal Bank. Originally organized as the New Orleans Canal and Banking Company in 1831, this financial institution was granted a charter by the Louisiana State Legislature for a new commercial waterway that provided a direct route to the American uptown side of New Orleans through Lake Pontchartrain.

The Canal Bank And The Great Depression

The Canal Bank & Trust Company went into liquidation in March of 1933 following the National Bank Holiday declared by President Franklin Roosevelt following a month-long run on the nation's banks. It was perhaps the lowest point of the Great Depressions and saw customers descending upon banks to withdraw their assets, only to be turned away because of a shortage of cash and credit. The National Bank Holiday began on March 6, 1933, and shut down the banking system for an entire week. When banks reopened on March 13, depositors stood in line to return their hoarded cash.

Ideal for framing and display anywhere in your home or office, this is an incredible piece of Americana from a bygone era. We only have 15 of these highly collectible sheets available, so act now to secure yours!