1913 New York Central & Hudson River Railroad 100-Year Century Gold Bond Uncut Strip of 5 Coupons – Nos. 191–195 (Maturity 2009–2011) – American Bank Note Co. – Choice Crisp Uncirculated (CU)

Technical Breakdown & Attribution

• Issuer: The New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company (New York, New York)

• Loan Issue: Refunding and Improvement Mortgage Bond, Series A (100-Year Century Bond issued October 1913, maturing October 2013)

• Format: Vertically Uncut Strip of 5 Sequential Coupons (Nos. 191, 192, 193, 194, and 195)

• Denomination: $22.50 / TWENTY-TWO AND 50/100THS DOLLARS each ($112.50 face redemption value across the 5 coupons)

• Gold Clause: Payable "in gold coin of the United States, being six months' interest then due on its Refunding and Improvement Mortgage Bond"

• Interest Terms: Semi-annual interest at 4.5% Per Annum on a $1,000 Bond ($22.50 semi-annually = $45.00/year)

• Due Dates & Sequence:

  • Coupon No. 191: Due April 1, 2009

  • Coupon No. 192: Due October 1, 2009

  • Coupon No. 193: Due April 1, 2010

  • Coupon No. 194: Due October 1, 2010

  • Coupon No. 195: Due April 1, 2011

• Bond Number Attribution: Overprinted in orange-red ink: Bond No. 18038

  • Inventory Tail (Bond Number): 8038

• Engraver / Printer: American Bank Note Company, New York (ABNCo) (Imprint on both obverse and reverse borders)

• Signature: Facsimile signature of corporate Treasurer

• Obverse Vignette: Finely engraved neoclassical allegorical female bust portrait in an arched frame on each coupon.

• Reverse Face: Intricate forest-green intaglio security lathework with large reverse counter numerals 191 through 195 and ABNCo micro-lettering.

Historical Significance: The 100-Year "Century Bond"

1. The Vanderbilt Rail Empire: The New York Central and Hudson River Railroad was the flagship line of the Vanderbilt rail network, running the famed "Water Level Route" between New York City, Albany, and Chicago.

2. The 100-Year Maturity Window (1913–2013): Century bonds were monumental corporate debt instruments issued during the height of American industrial expansion. Spanning 200 semi-annual coupons across a full century, these five coupons represent the 96th, 97th, and 98th years of the bond's lifespan.

3. The Pre-1933 Gold Standard Clause: Issued in 1913, the coupons explicitly promised payment in physical U.S. gold coin in the 21st century—a promise voided domestically by Executive Order 6102 and Congressional Resolution in 1933.

4. Intact Uncut Strip: Finding modern-era remnants intact in original multi-coupon vertical sheets produced by the American Bank Note Company is far more desirable than loose, single clipped coupons.

Condition & Visual Grade Assessment

• Assigned Technical Grade: Choice Crisp Uncirculated Details (CU Details – Minor Ink Scrape / Paper Flaw on Coupon #191)

• Preservation Highlights & Physical Profile:

  • Sheet Margins: Full, wide sheet margin along the left side, intact top and bottom cut edges, and complete outer borderlines on all five coupons.

  • Paper Fabric & Body: Factory pack-fresh, bright original banknote rag paper with stiff body, sharp tactile intaglio plate impressions, and crisp white surfaces.

  • Inks & Embossing: Deep black intaglio portrait engraving, bright orange-red bond numbers 18038, and rich emerald/forest-green lathework on the reverse.

  • Specific Flaw Note: Coupon No. 191 exhibits a small dark ink scrape / localized surface abrasion on the obverse green underprint (visible as a dark mark through the reverse numeral 191), likely from binder contact or clip friction during storage. Coupons 192 through 195 are completely pristine.

Ready-to-Use Listing Description (eBay / Whatnot / Shopify)

1913 New York Central Railroad 100-Year Century Gold Bond – Uncut Strip of 5 (ABNCo)

Issuer: The New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company

Format: Vertically Uncut Sheet Strip of 5 Consecutive Coupons (Nos. 191–195)

Denomination: $22.50 Each ($112.50 Total Face Value)

Maturity Dates: April 2009 through April 2011 (Payable in U.S. Gold Coin)

Printer: American Bank Note Company, New York (ABNCo)

Bond Identification: Bond No. 18038

Grade Assessment: Choice Crisp Uncirculated Details (Pack-Fresh with minor mark on #191)

A scarce, uncut vertical strip of five (5) consecutive gold bond coupons from the historic New York Central & Hudson River Railroad 100-Year Century Bond, engraved and printed by the renowned American Bank Note Company.

Collector & Historical Highlights:

• 100-Year Century Bond: Issued in October 1913, this 100-year bond carried 200 semi-annual coupons maturing through October 2013. This strip contains Coupons #191, #192, #193, #194, and #195, spanning due dates from April 2009 to April 2011.

• Gold Coin Clause: Explicitly payable in physical United States gold coin at the company's Manhattan office.

• American Bank Note Co. Master Engraving: Features neoclassical allegorical bust vignettes on the face and intricate geometric green lathework on the reverse.

• Condition: Crisp uncirculated paper body with sharp margins and bright two-color printing. Note #191 has a localized surface mark/rub; notes #192–#195 are pack-fresh.

Ships flat and securely housed in an oversized archival-grade protective currency sleeve.