Guide to Small-Size U.S. Paper Money

These popular notes were backed by an equivalent amount of actual silver deposited into the U.S. Treasury and were payable to the bearer upon demand for the note's face value in that precious metal.

$1 "Funnyback" Silver Certificate Series 1928A
Seen on the face is a classic portrait of George Washington. The back of this note features a large, ornately engraved ONE, plus fancy borders and scroll work. These notes are nicknamed "Funnybacks," because at first glance the back of the note seems mismatched in design with the front. The note shown is from Series 1928A and has a blue seal and blue serial numbers.

Gold Certificates were backed by an equivalent amount of gold deposited into the U.S. Treasury and were payable to the bearer upon demand for the note's face value in gold. These popular collectibles are authentic reminders of the days when U.S. paper currency was "as good as gold!" These popular notes were backed by an equivalent amount of actual silver deposited into the U.S. Treasury and were payable to the bearer upon demand for the note's face value in that precious metal.

$20 Gold Certificate Series 1928
A portrait of Andrew Jackson is on the face of this note, while a view of the White House is engraved on the back. Along with being reduced in size in 1929 (as were all other notes), Gold Certificates lost their distinguishing gold-colored back design when the notes became standardized. However, their Treasury Seal and serial numbers did continue to be printed in gold ink. The note shown is a $20 Gold Certificate from Series 1928.

$10 Gold Certificate
A portrait of Alexander Hamilton, America's first Secretary of the Treasury, is featured on the face, and a view of the U.S. Treasury Building in Washington, D.C. is engraved on the back. Like the other small-size Gold Certificates, the Treasury Seals and the serial numbers are printed in gold. The note shown is a $10 Gold Certificate from Series 1928.

World War II brought about some collectible varieties of small size U.S. currency - specially printed notes designed to be used in certain geographical locations during the war. Some were issued for use during the invasions of North Africa and Europe, and others were intended for use in the Hawaiian Islands. These notes are sought-after by collectors as true mementos of World War II.

Hawaii Overprint Note - 1942
These notes were an economic defense against a Japanese invasion and possible take-over of Hawaii. Specially marked notes, distinguishable by brown Treasury Seals and brown serial numbers, were issued seven months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. In addition, each one was overprinted with HAWAII on the face and back. These notes could have been declared worthless if large amounts were ever captured by enemy forces.

As a result of the formation of the Federal Reserve System in 1913, this new type of note was created. Federal Reserve Notes are issued by the Federal Reserve System itself and are an obligation of the System - not the individual banks named on the notes that just released them into circulation.

$1, $100, $500, and $10,000 Federal Reserve Note Series
Although issued in denominations from $1 through $10,000, the highest denomination notes seldom have ever been seen by the public. No Federal Reserve Note over the denomination of $100 has been printed since 1945. And beginning in 1969, a great many notes of $500 and higher denominations have been taken out of circulation and destroyed by the U.S. Treasury as they were deposited into the Federal Reserve System. Shown here is the familiar $1 note with a portrait of President George Washington, the newest $100 Federal Reserve Note with Benjamin Franklin, the $500 note with President William McKinley's portrait and the $10,000 note featuring Salmon P. Chase, secretary of the Treasury under President Lincoln and a key founder of the national banking system. The faces have green seals and serial numbers, and engraved backs.

These notes are the longest-lived type of U.S. paper money! Legal Tender Notes (also known as United States Notes) were first authorized in 1862, and although none has been issued since 1969, they are all still legal tender today.

$5 Legal Tender Note - Series 1928 A
A distinguished portrait of Abraham Lincoln is featured on the face of this note, and a view of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. is depicted on the back. All small size Legal Tender Notes have a red Treasury Seal and red serial numbers. The note shown is from Series 1928A.

National Bank Notes were originally authorized in the early 1860s to allow qualified national banks to issue their own currency. By 1929, over 14,000 banks had been chartered as National Banks. All small size National Bank Notes are from Series 1929, and they were issued until mid-1935, when the bonds securing the notes were called in.

$5 National Bank Note - Series 1929,Type 2
This note features a classic portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the face, and a depiction of the Lincoln Memorial on the back. The note shown is from Series 1929, Type 2, and was issued by the First National Bank of Laporte, Pennsylvania. It has brown Treasury Seals and brown serial numbers.