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Wells Fargo. Does not the name alone conjure up images of the old west? Perhaps that is why Norwest bought it and took over the name. Be that as it may, the bank has a long and storied history and I hope to show part of it through these National Bank Notes that it issued. Charter 5105 actually started out as The Nevada National Bank of San Francisco, successor to the Nevada Bank founded in 1875. It was chartered Dec. 27, 1897 and issued Second Charter, Brown Backs in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. One $50 note is known to have survived but no $100 notes are known. This note is the first variety of $10 notes and was issued between 1897 and 1902. They were printed in sheets of 10-10-10-20 and do not have the red P for Pacific region on them. This particular note was delivered from the BEP to the Treasury in 1902. There were 256,821 $10 notes with this title printed and between 15 and 20 are known to have survived. This note is the second variety for this charter issued between 1902 and 1905. They were printed in sheets of 10-10-10-20 and it does have the red P for Pacific region, which was added after March 17, 1902 as an aid to sorting notes by the Treasury. This particular note was delivered from the BEP to the Treasury in 1903. In 1905 Wells Fargo separated its banking and express operations and an agreement was reached to merge Wells Fargo bank with the Nevada National Bank, to form the Wells Fargo Nevada National Bank. The name change was reflected in the charter granted April 19, 1905 and National Bank Notes with the new title were issued. Technically all of the series 1882 notes with this title are error notes as the chartered title of the bank did not include the word "The". Probably due to the expense of engraving new plates, the title was not changed on the notes until the series of 1902 was issued. Under this title the bank issued Second Charter, Brown Backs in denominations of $5, $10, and $20, Second Charter, Date Backs in denominations of $5, $10, $20, Second Charter, Value Backs in denominations of $5 and $10 and Third Charter Plain Backs in denominations of $5, $10, $20. The Brown Backs for Well Fargo Nevada National Bank were printed in sheets of 10-10-10-10 and 10-10-10-20. As can be determined by the Treasury serial number this note is from a sheet of 10-10-10-20 and was delivered from the BEP to the Treasury in 1906. Whether or not it survived the earthquake is open to speculation. There were 378,000 of these $10 notes printed and perhaps 30 have survived to this day. On May 30 of 1908 the Aldrich-Vreeland Act was passed which allowed national banks to use bonds other than United States Treasury bonds to secure their circulation. If you look at the notes above the securities clause reads, "This note is secured by Bonds of the United States of America deposited with the U.S. Treasurer at Washington," while on this note it reads. "This note is secured by Bonds of the United States of America or other securities." The Treasury registers for this period are unknown and presumed lost and we only know that this particular note was issued between 1908 and 1916.

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