By Peter Huntoon

This is a rare Detroit bank, charter 2365, with a great title that operated between 1877 and 1894 when it merged with The Preston National Bank. It succeeded a state bank with the same name.

Modest numbers of $5, $10 and $20 Series of 1875 notes were issued from it, and currently one of each is reported.

The layout on the $5s is rather busy but represents a real prize.

This bank is an example of how if you pass up the scarcer big city banks, you are making a serious mistake because they add depth, interest and color to good collections.

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More Collecting Resources

• Order the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, General Issues to learn about circulating paper money from 14th century China to the mid 20th century.

• Any coin collector can tell you that a close look is necessary for accurate grading. Check out this USB microscope today!