Glasgow Bank Notes
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Glasgow Museums has a collection of 13 Glaswegian bank notes which date from the 18th - 19th century. This collection is supported by associated collections of documents, cheques, safes, money boxes, trade tokens and medals as well as art works showing what bank buildings, and bankers looked like. Often merchants and bankers contributed to Scottish political and economic management. The oldest banks represented in the collection include the Ship Bank, and the Glasgow Arms Bank Company which cover the city’s development from the 18th century and indicate that wealth was developed through the city’s links with merchant trade and the development and settlement of colonies. Further, the Ship Bank was Scotland’s first provincial bank and the note represents Glasgow’s prominence in Scotland’s economic welfare and management as well as status in its economic history. More modern merchant banks are also represented in the collection. These include 19th century banks such as the Glasgow Banking Company, the City of Glasgow Bank and the Western Bank of Scotland. Of these the Glasgow Banking Company was known as the Glasgow Union Banking Company which later became the Union Bank. In some cases the collection also holds examples of notes that were made in Glasgow and used elsewhere, such as the note made for the Banking Company of Aberdeen, or made and designed elsewhere but used by Glaswegian banks such as a note produced in Belfast, or designed by the engraver, William.H. Lizars of Edinburgh. Moreover, these details also indicate the importance of the banks not only to Glasgow, but also in banking provision for Scotland and indicate the importance of merchant banking alongside chartered banks known today like the Bank of Scotland and Royal Bank of Scotland. Glasgow has long been one of Scotland’s largest and wealthiest cities. This wealth has been reflected by Glaswegian merchants who became bankers and civic leaders.
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