2016-08-20 Sat

A rare May 15, 1868 American Bank Note Co. stock certificate was sold for $14,400 at the Archives International auction in Fort Lee, N.J. on 26th July.

The certificate was punch cancelled and is black on red with a black border. The Liberty, an eagle, the flag and the U.S. shield are also featured. Portraits of Benjamin Franklin and George Washington are also depicted on the note.

Seven of security printers of the U.S merged and formed the nation’s largest firm dedicated to this business called American Bank Note Co. A few others merged again two years later to form the National Bank Note Co.

The stock was split between the seven founding firms based on factors like the amount of business that each controlled, business contacts etc.