A copy of the original Share Certificate states: "We the undersigned, Directors of the Montagu Bank, do hereby certify that xxx is the proprietor of the share No. xxx amounting to Five Pounds, in the Capital Stock of the Montagu Bank, established under and by virtue of the Company's Deed of Settlement and subject thereto, dated 2nd day of September 1861".
The owner of this building which was earmarked to house the bank, a Mr Danie van der Merwe, was adamant and insisted that he would only sell the building to the bank on condition that he was appointed the Bank Manager. This, despite the fact that he had no experience nor any knowledge of the Banking Industry. His only claim to fame was that he was a wealthy, trusted and well-respected man in the Montagu community. He was duly appointed and soon earned the nickname 'Danie Bank'.
In the December 1997 issue of The Montagu Mail, Michael Wigmore reported that by 1891 there were more than 30 such local banks in the Cape Colony who also printed their own bank notes.
Sadly, the Montagu Bank did not fare too well and had to close its doors in 1868 (just 5 years later). Very likely as a result of the inexperienced bank manager! The African Banking Corporation (ABC) was the next owners, followed by Standard Bank which acquired the ABC Bank’s assets. Around 1949, there was also a Volkskas Bank in Montagu.
The £5 Montagu Bank Note, printed on a steel plate, is a fine example of delicate engraving and the art of printing. It was printed on special 'rijksdaaler' paper which became available in the country in 1782. In 1861 and 1862, £1000 worth of notes was in circulation which was reduced to £150 in 1864 and by 1866 no notes were in circulation. Liquidation was in 1868. This is a uniface note! This design, printed in London but with an agent in Cape Town, is known largely as remainders. Directly adjoining the image of John Montagu on the bank note, there is a fairly complex design - for security purposes it would seem. From a southerly view of Montagu, a good few landmarks are discernible, among them the NG Church, the Orphanage (now Jordaan Woonstelle), 20 Bath Street (built in 1854) St Mildred's Anglican Church, Barry's Trading Store on the c/o Bath & Barry Streets, the Parsonage and Jouberthuis Museum. These notes catalog at R1 500 + in XF condition , Just think about it ...this note is a 160 years old ...old paper indeed !
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Images to Bezt Coins .
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