A Unique Rarity from Virginia: Type 2 $100 National Bank Note Issued by the Citizens National Bank of Hampton (Charter# 13775) to be Offered in March 2026 Showcase Auction

While some may see a well-circulated note that should have been redeemed long ago in the 1930s, this lot is actually one of the rarest National Bank Notes representing the Commonwealth of Virginia in the National Bank Note Census.

At left, is the imprint of the Citizens National Bank of Hampton (Charter# 13775) alongside a familiar portrait of Benjamin Franklin. However, seen at the end of the serial numbers overprinted in brownish ink is “13775,” which underscores the reason why this note is special.

This distinction is unique to the Type 2 National Bank Notes issued under the Series of 1929 at the height of the Great Depression between 1933 and 1935. Issuance during such hard times combined with a lack of demand, create the perfect storm for a future rarity, as today only 454 pieces are recorded by the National Bank Note Census for the entire United States. That figure is deceptive as most survivors are notes from two banks based out of Chicago and San Francisco.

For the entire state of Virginia just two pieces are recorded. The first is an example recorded on the First National Bank of Ferrum (Charter# 12311), a piece that has never publicly traded hands. By contrast, this example from Hampton is a relatively recent discovery that first traded hands in 2018 when it sold for $14,400 in our March 2018 Baltimore Auction (Session 7 – lot 20485).

Next March, we anticipate a similar realization at auction. Type 2 $100s are among the most popular issues of the period even with collectors who don’t specialize in a particular state. Here is a significant and rare opportunity for collectors, as notes like this are typically traded after years or even decades.

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