Lazy Deuce , 1863 Marine National Bank New York City, Contemporary Counterfeit

Description

Lazy Deuce 1865 – Marine National Bank of New York, NY
– Original Series Contemporary Counterfeit
The Marine Bank of New York City was chartered in February 1851 and was re-chartered as The Marine National Bank of New York City on 3 June 1865. All of it first notes were in the Original Series and signed by J. DeLamater, Cashier and James D. Fish, President.
The first notes of this bank to be counterfeited were and , which were reported associated with arrests in New England.
The New England Farmer of Boston, MA reported on 18 April 1868:
Counterfeiters Arrested. Col. Wood, chief of the Treasury Department detectives, has procured the arrest of Wm. Doran and Jacob Chatterton, keepers of saloons in New York whom he charges with dealing in counterfeit ten dollar notes on the Marine National Bank of New York…Col. Wood regards the arrest as the most important since that of Brockway, as it will nearly break up the business in New York. They were held to default of ,000 bail.
Also, the New England Farmer of Boston, MA reported on 7 Nov 1868:
Arrest of Counterfeiters. Three men, named Hector Auger, George St. Michael and Isaac Martieneau, were arrested by City Marshal Philbrick of Lawrence in that city Friday, 30th, for passing counterfeit bills of the Red Hook National Bank of New York and the Marine National Bank of New York….the prospects seem good for their conviction. They are now in jail at Lawrence, and will be brought before Commissioner Haltett of the United States Court in this city on the 5th of November for examination. The bills are very good counterfeits, and comprise tens on the Red Hook Bank and twos on the Marine Bank.
Later news articles published in the Buffalo Currier in May and July 1869 pointed out that on the counterfeits: t
he shading under the title of the bank is bad and the title of the bank reads Marine National Bank of New York. In the genuine it reads Marine National Bank on the city of New York. Otherwise the bill is very good and likely to deceive.
One of the techniques of early counterfeiters was to rough up the notes to show wear so that their poor engraving quality would be less noticeable. This note excelled in that subterfuge.
On last review of the Hickman-Kelly census, there were 12 large note survivors from the Original issue, with 3 known Lazy examples. Obviously there is no census on counterfeits.
This is an extremely worn contemporary counterfeit of the original series on The Marine National Bank of New York City (Charter # 1215) with serial number 2370 and Treasury number A75413. It has the now faded forged signatures of
J. DeLamater,
Cashier and
J. D. Fish
, President.  It has taped horizontal and vertical tears and has
Counterfeit
written in red across the front. This Lazy Deuce is of particular historic value with remarkable survivability.
Post script – The Marine National Bank of New York City closed its doors on 6 May 1884 ,and went into receivership on 13 May 1884. The President, James D. Fisk was arrested for embezzlement of ,141,000.