Format Updated 12-12-2022 Revised for Notes Added

Vern Potter

Paper Money Archives

California Obsolete Paper Money Reference Archives

These Archives were formed to preserve the research performed to cross reference the various publications that catalog these notes.  The prices noted are contemporary and subject to change with the market fluctuations.  To identify the notes that formed the foundation of these Archives, the ID numbers are color coded BROWN or RED; subsequently added notes are coded GREEN.  To view an enlarged image, click on the thumbnail image; to return to this table, click on the enlarged front or back image.  There are no Specialty (Spec.) listings published for California, therefore not applicable (N/A).  The Whitman #'s will be added when the volume becomes available.

Image

ID

City

Bank

Date

Den.

Cr.

Spec.

Haxby

Whitman

Description

Grade

Price

CA40539

Benton

Wells, Fargo & Co., S.F.

1874

$92

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

Printed in blue on white paper by Bacon & Company's Print, San Francisco, this hammer cancelled draft has the centering offset to the left as the result of the left margin being trimmed to the frame line; the surfaces are quite clean and presents an imprinted Revenue stamp

VF+

$40

CA40459

Downieville (sic)

Sight Draft

1852

$221.15

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

Payable to Adams & Co., this sight draft, printed entirely in blue on blue banking paper,  was drawn on Craycraft & Co. of Downieville (sic)

VF

$185

CA98374

El Dorado

Bank of El Dorado

ca1920

$10

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

Gold Dust Currency Scrip redeemable day of issue at '49 Camp with large uniform full margins and very good centering

VF

$295

CA40549

Independ-ence

Wells, Fargo & Co., S.F.B

1891

$25.40

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

This hammer cancelled example prepared by Bacon & Company Printers, San Francisco and was printed entirely in blue; the date line is from a particularly tough remote mining location and is very well centered within large full margins with very clean surfaces

Ch AU

$50

CA40449

Mokelumne Hill

Auditor's Warrant, Calaveras Co.

1865

$36

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

This County Warrant was issued for services rendered as "School Marshall"; A standing female is seen at the left with bow and quiver of arrows and an instrument that is well centered within irregular full margins---although a bit ragged at top left

XF/AU

$45

CA44880

Oakland

W. Wilson Commission Scrip

ca1875

$5

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

This Scrip was issued by a dealer in clocks, watches, jewelry and silver ware; "The object of the Scrip was to do away with promiscuous advertising, and to divide the expense of the same among many customers."

Gem AU

$175

CA40499

San Francisco

Adams & Co., Bankers

1852

$400

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

This draft, prepared by Nesbitt, Printers, New York, was printed on blue banker's paper for use in the early West by Adams & Co.; this draft was drawn on the account of Freeman & Co., an early California rival Express & Banking company to Adams & Co.

Ch AU+

$150

CA40519

San Francisco

Burgoyne & Co., Bankers

1850 $250 Unl N/A Unl Unl

This spindled Pre-Statehood rarity was printed on blue bank paper and exhibits full varying size margins with good centering and very clean surfaces

XF $250

CA88811

San Francisco

Banking House of Burgoyne & Co.

1850

$300

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

A Promissory Note, dated a little more than a month after California Statehood

XF

$225

CA39589

San Francisco

CA, NY & European Steamship Co.

1871

$50

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

This Second Class Cabin ticket between New York and San Francisco or Europe was also redeemable in gold at face value or accepted for payment of freight at face value

VF

$425

CA40479

San Francisco

Demand Promissory Note

1861

$106.95

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

This Demand Promissory Note, with Demand noted as waived, is printed on blue banking paper with margins trimmed to and through the frame lines

VF

$50

CA39569

San Francisco

Ivanpah Cons. Mill & Miming Co.

ca1877

$1

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

This Mining Scrip was issued out of San Francisco with its mines located in San Bernardino, California; mining operations were active in the late 1870's and continued for only a brief period; a scarce Southern California mining region and Scrip issue

Ch VF

POR

CA40469

San Francisco

Lucas, Turner & Co., Bankers

1856

$319.21

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

Lithographed by Britton & Rey of San Francisco and printed on blue banking paper, this cut cancelled and spindled draft is trimmed close at the left with the remaining margins full and varying in size resulting in the centering being offset to the bottom left

Ch VF+

$95

CA40509

San Francisco

Wells, Fargo & Co.

1855

$100

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

Printed entirely in red with a light overall background, this repaired example was issued out of the Wells, Fargo office in Columbia, CA

VF

$250

CA40439

San Jose

State Comptroller's Warrant

1851

$55.88

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

This Comptroller's Warrant was used to pay for lumber was used to construct items for state use, approximately 6 months after California became a state

Ch VF++

$450

CA90931

Seat of Government

Treasurers Warrant

1853

$3000

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

During 1853 the State Capital was moved several times resulting in the dateline "Seat of Government" being used; issued for building and stocking the Insane Asylum

VF+

$295

CA39599

Santa Rosa

Sonoma Co. Clearing House

1907

$1

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

This is a scarce origin for Scrip issued during the financial crisis of 1907; surface soil is noted as are the three full margins, the top being trimmed right to the frame pattern and underprinted with a large light red panel at the center of the face and verso outlining a large "1"

VF

$275

CA40489

Shasta

Sacramento City Bank

1853

$2200

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

This multiply spindaled Sight Draft, printed on blue banking paper, was drawn by Pierce & Delass on their own account at their remote location in Shasta, CA

XF+

$75

CA90946

Sonora

Tuolumne Hydraulic Assoc.

1853

$500

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

Water Scrip; payable in water or redeemable in Money at the option of the Association sixty days after date of issue

AU

$795

CA91946

Sonora

Tuolumne Hydraulic Assoc.

1853

$164

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

Water Scrip; payable in water or redeemable in Money at the option of the Association sixty days after date of issue

VF+

$695

CA90975

Vallejo

Comptrollers/ Treasurers Warrant

1852

$108

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

Payment for Military service for Defense of the (California) Eastern Frontier against attacks of the Indians

VF

$695

CO40559

Pueblo

Miners Supply Co. Scrip

ca1880

$0.05

Unl

N/A

Unl

Unl

This is the only Colorado Mining Scrip that I have seen---there have been infrequent notes turn up from this period, but no scrip.  This example has seen it's share of circulation but is all there with very large uniform full margins and excellent centering

Ch F

$650


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