US Paper Money

Updated:
04/30/2004

General Info:

Did you know that before the 1928 series, our currency was roughly 2/3's larger than the size it is today? According to the Treasury, it was reduced after production was increased to use 12-subject plates. Also, the portraits and back designs that we know of were established. Most of us know of $500 and $1,000 bills made, but did you know about the $5,000, $10,000, and $100,000? Yes, it's true. The $5000 and $10,000 notes were actually released into circulation, but the $100,000 notes were only used among Federal Reserve Banks.

As you may have read on my main page, there were notes produced with Red, Yellow, Blue, and Brown seals. The 'Red' Seal Notes are known as U.S. Notes or Legal Tender Notes. The 'Yellow' Seal Notes were used on both Gold Certificates and North African Silver Certificates. The 'Blue' Seal Notes are known as Silver Certificates. The 'Brown' Seal Notes were used on National Bank Notes, Federal Reserve Bank Notes, and Hawaiian Silver Certificates.

How come there were so many different types of notes produced? You'll find out about each type of note and why it was produced a little further down.

Images and Currency Information (since 1928):

Click on the 'F' for the Front image of the selected bill.
Click on the 'R' for the Reserve image of the selected bill.

Fun Facts:

The BEP produces 38 million notes a day. That's a face value of $541 million!

95% of the notes produced are used to replace those already in circulation.

Out of that 95%, 48% of them are $1 notes!

It would take over 14½ million notes to make a stack that is one mile high.

There are 490 notes in a pound.

It would take 317 years to spend 10 billion $1 bills, if you spent one per second per day.

The $100 note is the largest produced since 1969.

Martha Washington is the only female to be on US currency notes.

Her portrait appears on the 1881 & 1891 $1 S.C. and the back of a 1896 $1 S.C.

These facts are taken from a list of Fun Facts composed by the U.S. Treasury.

Uncut Currency:

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing started offering uncut sheets of money in October of 1981. You can order uncut sheets of $1, $2, $5, and $10 notes. These sheets can be purchased in either 4, 16, or 32 bills. I personally own a '32' uncut sheet of $1 bills... it's hanging on my wall, framed. Obviously, these sheets of money are real, you could actually cut them up and spend them; however, why in the world would you do that? The $10 sheets are new and currently available in star notes!

You can order these sheets in an informational folder, have it rolled in a tube, or have it shipped in a cardboard frame. For more ordering information and prices, click here.

Links:

Here are some other links that may interest you:

The U.S. Bureau of Printing and Engraving... tons of information!
Ron's Currency, Stocks, and Bonds... a great source for currency information!
eBay's AuctionWeb... direct link to the 'US Currency: Small Notes' category.

Federal Reserve Notes:

Federal Reserve Notes were first authorized by the Federal Reserve Act of December 23, 1913. Small size FRNs were first issued in 1929. Today, FRNs comprise over 99% of US paper money. After July 14, 1969, bills over $500 were discontinued, although some are still held in banks today.

These notes can be distinguished by their 'Green' seal.

Federal Reserve Notes are available in $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, $500, $1,000, $5,000, & $10,000 denominations.

United States Notes:

United States Notes, also known as Legal Tender or Greenbacks, were first authorized by the Act of Congress of February 25, 1862. $2 USN's were discontinued in 1965 and the $5 USN was discontinued in 1967. The $1 1928 Series notes were issued mainly in Puerto Rico (see picture below).

These notes can be distinguished by their 'Red' seal.

Small-sized US Notes were available in $1, $2, $5, and $100 denominations.

Click here for an image of a $1 US Note.

National Bank Notes:

From 1863 to 1935, National Bank Notes were issued in many denominations by thousands of banks throughout the country and in U.S. territories during three charter periods. As of January 1, 1929, there were more than 7,600 National Banks in existence. The chartering of banks and administrative control over the issuance of National Bank Notes were the responsibility of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

These notes could be distinguished by their 'Brown' seal.

Small-sized Banknotes were available in $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 denominations.

Click here for an image of a $10 Bank Note.

This information was taken directly from the Treasury.

Silver Certificates:

In accordance with an Act of Congress, dated February 28, 1878, the Department of the Treasury issued to the public Silver Certificates which could be exchanged for silver dollars. However, on March 25, 1964, the Secretary of the Treasury announced that Silver Certificates would no longer be redeemable for silver dollars. Subsequently, another act of Congress dated June 24, 1967, provided that Silver Certificates could be exchanged for silver bullion for a period of one year, until June 24,1968. Those certificates, which remain outstanding are still legal tender and can be spent just like a Federal Reserve Note.

These notes could be distinguished by their 'Blue' seal.

Silver Certificates were issued in $1, $5, and $10 denominations.

Click here for an image of a $5 Silver Certificate.

This information was taken directly from the Treasury.

Hawaiian Silver Certificates:

During World War II, the US wanted to keep Hawaii's paper money isolated from the rest of the USA just in case Japan invaded Hawaii and confiscated the paper.

These notes could be distinguished by the word 'Hawaii' written on the sides & back.

Hawaiian Silver Certificates were issued in $1, $5, $10, $20 denominations.

Click here for an image of a $5 Hawaiian Silver Certificate.

This information was taken directly from the Paper Money Collecting FAQ.

North African Silver Certificates:

During World War II, troops who were stationed in Europe and Africa were given these bills to use. I am assuming for the same purpose as Hawaiian, in case of any confiscation of the money, it could be distinguished and then voided. These bills are still backed by the government and could be spent for face value.

These notes could be distinguished by their 'Yellow' seal & 'Blue' serial #s.

North African Silver Certificates were offered in $1, $5, and $10 denominations.

Click here for an image of a 1934 $5 North African Silver Certificate.

Gold Certificates:

Gold Certificates were issued from 1863 to 1922. Like the Silver Certificates, these notes were backed by real gold and could be exchanged for Gold Coin. On April 24, 1964, Treasury Secretary Dillon signed an order removing all restrictions from the holding or acquiring of Gold Certificates issued before passage of the Gold Reserve Act of 1934.

These notes could be distinguished by their 'Yellow' seal.

Gold Certificates were issued in $10, $20, $50, $100, $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000, and $100,000 denominations.

Click here for an image of a 1928 $10 Gold Certificate.