CVC & Collectables presents a classic small-size National Bank Note issued by the First National Bank of Oakland, California. This 1929 Type 1 $5 note represents the transition era of U.S. currency, when large-size National Bank Notes were phased out in favor of the smaller format still used today.
Currency Highlights:
- Issuer: First National Bank of Oakland
- City / State: Oakland
- Charter Number: 12665
- Denomination: $5
- Series: 1929 Type 1 (Small Size)
- Friedberg Number: Fr. 1800-1
- Grade: PMG Very Fine 30
- Signatures: Jones / Woods
- Obverse Vignette: Abraham Lincoln portrait at center
- Reverse Vignette: Lincoln Memorial
- Paper Type: Small-size National Currency
- Circulation Status: Obsolete
Time Period Context:
This note was issued during the late 1920s, a period of dramatic economic change in the United States. Just months after these notes entered circulation, the stock market crash of 1929 triggered the Great Depression. National Bank Notes like this one were still circulating as banks struggled to survive widespread failures, making surviving examples tangible artifacts from the brink of America’s greatest financial crisis.
Collectibility:
Small-size National Bank Notes from California remain highly collectible, particularly those from major economic centers like Oakland. Charter #12665 pieces are sought after by collectors building city, state, or charter-specific sets, and higher-grade examples such as this PMG VF 30 note offer strong eye appeal with clear design details and historical resonance. Find more alike here!
