VB ID: VB-TX-LTH-1920-02

Item: Leather Bank Coin Purse with Metal Clasp
Bank: First National Bank
Slogan: “The Old Reliable”
City/State: Honey Grove, Texas
Approx. Era: 1915–1925
Material: Smooth vegetable-tanned leather
Color: Dark brown with natural patina
Markings:

• FIRST NATIONAL BANK

• “The Old Reliable”

Honey Grove Texas (Stamped in gold ink — uncommon and more premium than the typical black ink used in early bank purses.)

Construction Details:

• Double-layer leather body

• Precision machine stitching along the bottom seam (see close-up image)

• Metal kiss-lock clasp with two rounded knobs

• Hinged steel frame with original rivets

• Interior lined with natural rough-out leather

Dimensions: 3 3/4″ wide by 3 5/8″ tall

Category: Early Bank Bags → Texas Banks
Condition: Used, with light scuffing to leather, metal oxidation on clasp, and minor surface wear typical for 100-year-old financial equipment
Internal Notes: Gold lettering is rare for early Texas bank purses — this is likely a promotional or customer-facing premium version.

Historical Background

This early 20th-century clasp purse was issued by the First National Bank of Honey Grove, Texas, an institution chartered in the late 1800s and known locally by its motto: “The Old Reliable.” Located in Fannin County, Honey Grove was an important commercial stop between Paris and the greater Dallas area, and the town’s banks served farmers, cotton merchants, and traveling businessmen.

Between 1915 and 1925, many Texas banks distributed small leather clasp purses just like this to customers as both promotional items and practical everyday tools. The kiss-lock metal frame with its dual rounded knobs reflects a design widely used in purses and coin carriers before the FDIC era standardized canvas bank bags.

This example is notable for its gold stamped lettering, a premium touch rarely seen in rural banking giveaways. Most early leather bank purses were marked with simple black ink or left completely unbranded. The gold imprint indicates either a special customer promotion or a limited-order print run.

The smooth dark-brown leather has developed a rich patina over the last century, and the metal clasp displays period-appropriate wear and oxidation, all typical signs of authentic use. The construction details, including the tight machine stitching along the bottom edge, match manufacturing patterns used by small leather-goods companies in Texas, Missouri, and Illinois that supplied rural banks during the era.

Today, very few Texas-stamped clasp purses survive, especially in readable condition. The unique slogan and strong imprint make this a standout artifact of early Texas banking history.