I would have to say that Date Backs (both 1882 and 1902) are my favorite types of large size replacement nationals.  That’s because as replacements they’re scarcer than most other types, yet they’re less expensively priced compared to other types when they come up for sale.  Further, there is no ambiguity about when you find one with the old style font.  Recall that for Red Seals and Brown Backs, the earliest of those used the old style serial number fonts, and you need to do a little homework to determine the date of printing.  By contrast, any Date Back with the old st

Brown Backs are among the more difficult types to be found as replacement notes.  Here is why.  Recall that #1 notes by far constitute the largest percentage of surviving replacement notes.  They were the most apt to be misprinted or damaged, and needed to be replaced before shipping to their destination banks.  While #1 Brown Backs are plentiful from the pre-1902 era, very few exist from 1903 to 1908, when they were discontinued.  Any new banks that formed after 1902 (which would require notes starting with #1) would be of the third charter style, namely Red Seals.

This is the first in a series of weekly blogs I will be writing about Large Size Replacement Nationals.  Peter Huntoon and I wrote an article ("Identification of Series of 1882 and 1902 National Bank Replacement Notes Printed in the 1903-1915 Period") in late June that is published in the September-October edition of Paper Money, which is viewable to registered members.  SPMC members who have not yet set up their online accounts can do so here