Blockbuster Wyoming Discovery

Heritage Auctions is offering the monster discovery note illustrated from The First National Bank of Guernsey, Wyoming, in their 2020 FUN sale.

The First National Bank of Guernsey was organized April 10, 1900, chartered April 20, and liquidated May 1, 1901. It was the shortest-lived note-issuing bank in the state. The bank had no predecessor or successor.

During its short life of a year and a few days, the bankers received a total of 3,048 $5, $10 and $20 brown backs, to maintain a circulation of $25,000. The bank ranks as having received the fifth smallest number of notes for a Wyoming bank.

This amounted to 400 sheets of 5-5-5-5 and 362 sheets of 10-10-10-20s. These total $26,100 so $1,100 had been redeemed before the bank was liquidated proving that the notes were put into active circulation as indicated on their 1900 report of condition.

All 400 sheets, the total amount printed, of $5s were