"Bank of Florence" "Wildcat Currency"

Located at 8502 N. 30th (30th & Willit) ()

When the bank was built, Nebraska was not to become a state for another decade so the bank issued its own money in denominations of $1, $2, $3, and $5.  The bank notes became known as "wildcat currency."  The bank funds were secured by loans, which worked fine until the Financial Panic of 1857.  The bank made it for a while longer but finally had to close its doors somewhere between 1858 and 1860 at which time its owners returned to Iowa.  Mr. Parker also ran a 600 acre farm just south of town in the area of Miller Park.  When he returned to Iowa, his son stayed in Florence to manage the farm.

The term "wildcat currency" was coined because the banks that issued money in this fashion were often way off the beaten path, so much that one person frustrated in how difficult it was to redeem the printed bill for silver or gold, quoted that it was easier for a wildcat to get access to the banks than it was for humans.  At least that is how the legend goes.

The Bank of Florence has xeroxed copies of individual pieces of the money that is handed out to school children tour groups. The quality is such that they cannot be confused as originals.

The Bank of Florence also has several uncut sheets of the money as it was originally printed, and some are on display. The uncut sheets are quite common, and many out there may be fake ones, especially since there are people that recalled that when Florence and the bank celebrated one of its past birthdays (100th or 125th anniversary), that the money sheets were reprinted as giveaways. Apparently, the printing was an excellent job as the keepsakes keep turning up now by new owners that presume they are original.