Uncover the financial legacy of the Bay State in Whitman Encyclopedia of Obsolete Paper Money Volume 3 and 4: Massachusetts, including all towns from Abington to Yarmouth. This installment delivers an in-depth study of Massachusetts banks, from bustling Boston institutions to rural outposts, and the obsolete currency they issued during the 19th century. Featuring vivid historical accounts, high-resolution note images, and full numismatic data, this volume is an indispensable resource for collectors and historians interested in one of America’s most economically influential states.

“Destined to become a landmark event in the unfolding history of U.S. paper-money collecting. These works should be on the shelves of our institutions of higher education and in historical societies of all the states covered.” — Fred Reed, editor, Paper Money Magazine

"This encyclopedic series is designed not just for specialists and collectors of paper currency, but also for all who enjoy learning more about various aspects of our nation's financial history." — Anne E. Bentley, curator of art and artifacts, Massachusetts Historical Society

2015 BEST SPECIALIZED BOOK (Numismatic Literary Guild)

The Whitman Encyclopedia of Obsolete Paper Money is a groundbreaking multi-volume reference that explores the rich and colorful history of American currency issued from 1782 to 1866—before the establishment of National Banks and the Federal Reserve. During this formative period, more than 3,000 state-chartered banks across the United States issued their own distinctive paper money. In this magisterial work, Q. David Bowers—the “Dean of American Numismatics”—draws on decades of research from 18th- and 19th-century bank reports, newspapers, and other primary sources to chronicle every state, town, and bank that participated in this uniquely American financial era. Thousands of notes are pictured in full color, with in-depth information on their history, grading, rarity, market values, and collecting guidance. More than just a numismatic catalog, the Encyclopedia is a sweeping narrative of America’s economic development, from the aftermath of the Revolutionary War to the upheaval of the Civil War—an essential resource for collectors, historians, and anyone interested in the story of our nation’s early money.

State-chartered American banks issued their own money from 1782 to 1866, before the modern era of National Banks and the Federal Reserve. These two volumes of the Whitman Encyclopedia of Obsolete Paper Money cover the entire state of Massachusetts, from Abington to Yarmouth.
Explore the history of every Massachusetts town and city, as well as of every bank in those towns that issued this uniquely American currency. Each note is studied, and hundreds are pictured in full color, with information on grading, rarity, values, significant auction results, advice for collectors, and more.
• 928 pages total • 1,500+ images • Covering 125 towns and cities, 331 banks, and 8,445 notes