Civil War Obsolete Currency Nashawannuck Co. East Hampton MA Holyoke Bank Scrip For Sale

Historic 4-Piece Civil War Merchant Scrip Lot – Nashawannuck Co. (East Hampton, MA) / Holyoke Bank (Northampton, MA) Item Specifics:
• Type: Obsolete Paper Currency / Fractional Merchant Scrip• Era: Civil War Era (c. 1861–1865)• Issuer: Nashawannuck Manufacturing Company (East Hampton, MA)• Redeemable At: Holyoke Bank (Northampton, MA)• Denominations Included: 10 Cents (x3), 15 Cents (x1), 50 Cents (x1)
Highly narrative 4-piece collection of Civil War-era merchant scrip issued by the famous Nashawannuck Manufacturing Company of East Hampton, Massachusetts, redeemable through the Holyoke Bank in nearby Northampton.
During the coin shortages of the early 1860s, local New England textile mills issued their own fractional currency to pay workers and keep local economies moving. This specific archive beautifully illustrates the entire lifecycle of wartime obsolete currency—from printing house mishaps to official institutional retirement. All notes feature the classic blank verso (back), characteristic of localized fractional scrip printing of the era.
The 4-Piece Archive Includes:
1. 10-Cent Uncut Sheet Segment (2 Notes): An incredible production-phase curiosity. This is an uncut vertical pair of 10-cent notes. The paper remains crisp and in excellent condition, but it features a dramatic, contemporary clerical cutting error—a sharp diagonal shear cut slicing halfway through the words "Holyoke Bank" on the top note. A fantastic piece for collectors who appreciate the production history of obsolete paper.
2. 10-Cent Individual Note (Cancelled): A beautifully preserved standalone note in Excellent Condition. The paper is crisp with sharp corners, clean surfaces, and strong ink contrast. It features a clean, official "X" cancellation mark, documenting its successful return and retirement at the bank.
3. 15-Cent Individual Note (Rare Denomination): An intact, highly unusual 15-cent odd-ball denomination explicitly bearing the "Nashawannuck Co. East Hampton, MASS" branding. While the federal government experimented with 15-cent fractional notes later in the war, private merchant notes in this denomination are scarce and highly sought after by regional specialists.
4. 50-Cent Individual Note (Cancelled - High Grade): The highest denomination typically issued in this series. This note is in Excellent Condition with remarkably crisp paper body, outstanding text clarity, and sharp edges, despite having completed its circulation cycle. It features 5 crisp boundary cancellation clips along the edges, serving as a textbook institutional example of Civil War fiscal cancellation.
Condition Note:
Aside from the deliberate historical cancellation marks (the "X" punch and edge clips) and the contemporary printing-era shear cut on the uncut pair, the paper throughout this entire lot is in high-grade collector condition. No modern tears, severe staining, or heavy circulation folds.
This is a premium, cohesive micro-collection that tells a complete story.
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