1882 Plymouth MI $5 Brown Back Fr#472 Ch#4649 PMG 63 EPQ First National Exchange
Description:
This 1882 $5 Brown Back National Bank Note from Plymouth, Michigan (Charter #4649), certified PMG Choice Uncirculated 63 EPQ, represents a prized artifact of late 19th-century American banking history. Issued by The First National Exchange Bank of Plymouth, this note is cataloged as Friedberg #472, a well-known and highly collectible type featuring the engraved portraits of James Garfield and Abraham Lincoln flanking the ornate central design.
The term “Brown Back” refers to the elaborate brown ink used on the reverse, a feature specific to the Series of 1882 Nationals. This vibrant and original example boasts deeply inked design elements, full margins, and exceptional eye appeal. PMG’s Exceptional Paper Quality (EPQ) designation further emphasizes its originality and untouched condition, a trait especially valued by serious collectors.
More than 45 examples of $5 Brown Backs are known from this Wayne County bank, the result of a fortunate hoard preserved for decades. These notes have become staples in many collections, offering an opportunity to own a high-grade representative from a historic Michigan institution. Plymouth, a town with deep ties to the automotive and railroad industries of the early 20th century, adds an extra layer of regional significance to this already compelling issue.
Collector's Value:
For collectors of National Bank Notes, especially Michigan nationals or the coveted 1882 Brown Backs, this piece offers a rare opportunity. Its preservation in Uncirculated condition with EPQ makes it not only a historical artifact but also an investment-grade collectible that continues to gain esteem with time and scarcity.
