P008
$10 Paper Note, UNC
18.5 cm x 7.5 cm (7-1/4” x 2-7/8”)
HISTORY: Before the U.S. federal government began issuing national currency, local banks issued their own currency. Many of those financial institutions failed, and it seems that the Morris County Bank was among them. Somewhere — in county or library records of Morristown — is an historical accounting of this banking institution, but I can find any. It is possible that their currency was printed in anticipation of opening such a bank, but the bank was never realized. This bill, printed by the American Bank Note Company, was never issued.
OBVERSE: This unissued bill for “TEN DOLLARS” is beautifully engraved. Lavishing this paper currency are Justice, with her sword and scales, to the left of the bill; a stone mason, to the right, chipping stone from an architectural cornice piece; and a pastoral scene in the upper center illustrating sheep and cattle resting and grazing along the shoreline of Lake Pocahontas.
The uneven cutting of this bill implies that some person hand cut the printed sheet with a box knife (or similar tool) without the use of a straight edge.
REVERSE: Blank
