N&W currency

[NW Mailing List]

Hi everyone,

A buddy of mine was at a flea market in Roanoke last weekend, and he found 
what appeared to be either currency or a bearer note issued by N&W 
Railroad.  He described the note as about an inch wide x four inches long. 
  A hole has been punched in the middle and the back has been stamped.


The text reads:


"The Norfolk And Western Railroad Company
Will pay to the Bearer ON THE FIRST DAY OF Jany [sic] 1895
at its Office or Agency in Philadelphia or New York,
TWO 50/100 DOLLARS in gold [illegible] Six months'
interest on its 100 YEAR [MORTGAGE] BOND"

What is this note and what was it for?

I have attached a scan of each side.

Thanks,

Ed Cake

[Moderator: scans at following two URLs:
http://nwhs.org/qna/photos/20080503-NWRR-250-1.jpg
http://nwhs.org/qna/photos/20080503-NWRR-250-2.jpg
]