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Large denominations of United States currency

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Large denominations of United States currency greater than $100 were circulated by the United States Treasury until 1969. Since then, U.S. dollar banknotes have been issued in seven denominations: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100.

Overview and history

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Large-denomination currency (i.e., banknotes with a face value of $500 or higher)[1] had been used in the United States since the late 18th century.[2] The first $500 note was issued by North Carolina, authorized by legislation dated May 10, 1780.[3] Virginia quickly followed suit and authorized the printing of $500 and $1,000 notes on October 16, 1780,[4] and $2,000 notes on May 7, 1781.[5] High-denomination treasury notes were issued; for example, during the War of 1812 ($1,000 notes authorized by an act dated June 30, 1812).[6] During the American Civil War, Confederate currency included $500 and $1,000 notes.[7] The earliest (1861) federal banknotes included high-denomination notes such as three-year interest-bearing notes of $500, $1,000, and $5,000, authorized by Congress on July 17, 1861.[8] In total, 11 different types of U.S. currency were issued in high-denomination notes across nearly 20 different series dates. The obverse designs of United States banknotes generally depict either historical figures, allegorical figures symbolizing significant concepts (e.g., liberty, justice), or both. The reverse designs range from abstract scroll-work with ornate denomination identifiers to reproductions of historical art works.

Public versus institutional use

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Series 1934 gold certificates ($100; $500; $1,000; $10,000; and $100,000) were issued after the gold standard was repealed and gold was compulsorily confiscated by order of President Franklin Roosevelt on March 9, 1933 (see United States Executive Order 6102). Thus, the series 1934 notes were used only for intragovernmental (i.e., Federal Reserve Bank) transactions and were not issued to the public.[9] This series was discontinued in 1940. The series 1928 gold certificate reverse was printed in black and green (see History of the United States dollar).

Passive retirement

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Although they remain legal tender in the United States, high-denomination bills were last printed on December 27, 1945, and were officially discontinued on July 14, 1969, by the Federal Reserve System[10] because of "lack of use".[11] The lower production $5,000 and $10,000 notes had effectively disappeared well before then.[nb 1]

Beginning in July 1969, the Federal Reserve began removing high-denomination currency from circulation and destroying any large bills returned by banks.[11] As of May 30, 2009, only 336 $10,000 bills were known to exist, along with 342 $5,000 bills, 165,372 $1,000 bills and fewer than 75,000 $500 bills (of over 900,000 printed).[12][13] Due to their rarity, collectors pay considerably more than the face value of the bills to acquire them, and some are in museums in other parts of the world.

These larger denomination bills were mainly used by banks and the federal government for large financial transactions, which was especially true for gold certificates from 1865 to 1934. Given that the introduction of electronic money systems has made large-scale cash transactions mostly obsolete, as well as concerns about counterfeiting and the use of cash for unlawful activities (such as drug trafficking and money laundering), it is unlikely that the U.S. government will reissue any large-denomination currency in the foreseeable future.[citation needed]

According to the U.S. Department of Treasury website, "The present denominations of our currency in production are $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. The purpose of the United States currency system is to serve the needs of the public and these denominations meet that goal. Neither the Department of the Treasury nor the Federal Reserve System has any plans to change the denominations in use today."[14]

High-denomination banknote issuing data

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Key to high denomination banknote type abbreviations[nb 2]
Abbr Type Size[nb 3] Series dates High denomination series date Comments
$500 $1,000 $5,000 $10,000 $100,000
LT Legal tender Large 1862–1923 1862
1863
1869
1874
1875
1878
1880 		1862
1863
1869
1878
1880 		1878 1878 – [nb 4]
CITN Compound interest treasury note Exception 1863–1864 1863
1864 		1864 – – –
IBN Interest bearing note Exception 1861–1865 1861
1863
1864
1865 		1861
1863
1864
1865 		1861
1863
1864
1865 		– – [nb 5]
SC Silver certificate Large 1878–1923 1878
1880 		1878
1880
1891 		– – –
TN Treasury note Large 1890–1891 1891[nb 6] 1890
1891 		– – –
NBN National bank note Large 1865–1875 1865
1875 		1865
1875 		– – –
FRN Federal reserve note Large 1914–1918 1918 1918 1918 1918 –
NGBN National gold bank note Large 1870–1883 1870[nb 7] –[nb 8] – – – [nb 9]
GC Gold certificate Large[nb 10] 1865–1922 1865
1870
1875
1882
1922 		1865
1870
1875
1882
1907
1922 		1865
1870
1882
1888 		1865
1870
1875
1882
1888
1900 		–
FRN Federal reserve note Small 1928–present 1928
1934 		1928
1934 		1928
1934 		1928
1934 		–
GC Gold certificate Small 1928–1934[nb 11] 1928 1928
1934 		1928 1928
1934 		1934

Table of banknotes

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The National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution contains the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) certified proofs and the Treasury Department collection of United States currency. Using a combination of proofs and issued notes, a nearly complete type set of high-denomination currency was compiled. Notably missing are several types of Compound and Interest Bearing Notes. Printed during the early to mid-1860s on very thin paper, these high-denomination notes are virtually non-existent. Their issuance (1861–65) predates the BEP's responsibility for U.S. currency (1870s), so it is fortunate that any proofs exist in the current archives.

High denomination United States banknotes[nb 12]
Value Type Series Friedberg number Image Portrait/engraving[nb 13] Comments[nb 14]
000500$500 LT 1862–1863 Fr.183c   Gallatin-AlbertAlbert Gallatin 4 known (variety)
7 known (type)[21]
000500$500 LT 1869 Fr.184   Adams-John-QuincyJohn Quincy Adams
(Charles Burt)[22]
Justice
(Stephen A. Schoff)[23] 		4 known (only one privately)[24]
000500$500 LT 1874–1878 Fr.185b   Mansfield-JosephJoseph Mansfield
(Charles Burt)[22]
Victory
(Charles Burt)[25]
000500$500 LT 1880 Fr.185l   Mansfield-JosephJoseph Mansfield
(Charles Burt)[22]
Victory
(Charles Burt)[25] 		5 known (variety)[nb 15]
000500$500 CITN 1864 Fr.194a
Proof 		  zStandard Bearer-New IronsidesStandard Bearer (left)
(George D. Baldwin)[27]
New Ironsides (right)
(James Smillie)[28] 		Unknown[29]
000500$500 SC 1878 Fr.345a   Sumner-CharlesCharles Sumner
(Charles Burt)[22] 		Unique (variety and type)[30]
000500$500 SC 1880 Fr.345c   Sumner-CharlesCharles Sumner
(Charles Burt)[22] 		5 known (variety)
7 known (type)[30]
000500$500 TN 1891 Fr.379
Proof 		  Sherman-WilliamWilliam Tecumseh Sherman None issued[31]
000500$500 NBN 1865–1875 Fr.464   zCivilization-Sirius-BurgoyneCivilization (left)
(James D. Smillie)[32]
Sirius arriving in New York (right)
Surrender of General Burgoyne (rev)
(Frederick Girsch)[33] 		2 known (variety)
3 known (type)[34]
000500$500 FRN 1918 Fr.1132d   Marshall-JohnJohn Marshall
(Charles Schlecht)[35]
de Soto discovering the Mississippi (rev)
(Frederick Girsch)[33]
000500$500 GC 1863 Fr.1166d
Proof 		  zEagle-shieldEagle with shield or E Pluribus Unum
(Charles Skinner)[36] 		Unknown[37]
000500$500 GC 1870–1875 Fr.1166i   Lincoln-AbrahamAbraham Lincoln
(Charles Burt)[22] 		Unique[37]
000500$500 GC 1882–1922 Fr.1216a   Lincoln-AbrahamAbraham Lincoln
(Charles Burt)[22]
000500$500 FRN 1928–1934 Fr.2200g   McKinley-WilliamWilliam McKinley
(John Eissler)[38]
000500$500 GC 1928 Fr.2407   McKinley-WilliamWilliam McKinley
(John Eissler)[38]
001000$1,000 LT 1862–1863 Fr.186e   Morris-RobertRobert Morris
(Charles Schlecht)[35] 		Unique (variety)
5 known (type)[39]
001000$1,000 LT 1869 Fr.186f
Proof 		Clinton-DeWittDeWitt Clinton 2 known[40]
001000$1,000 LT 1878 Fr.187a   Clinton-DeWittDeWitt Clinton
Columbus in his study
(Henry Gugler)[41]
001000$1,000 LT 1880 Fr.187k   Clinton-DeWittDeWitt Clinton
Columbus in his study
(Henry Gugler)[41] 		4 known (variety)
~20–25 known (type)[nb 16]
001000$1,000 IBN 1863 Fr.201
Proof 		  zJustice-LibertyJustice (left); Liberty (right) Unknown[42]
001000$1,000 IBN 1863 Fr.206
Proof 		  zShipsGuerriere and the Constitution (left) and Discovery of the Mississippi by De Soto (right) Unknown[43]
001000$1,000 SC 1878 Fr.346a
Proof 		  Marcy-WilliamWilliam Marcy
(Charles Schlecht)[35] 		Unknown[44]
001000$1,000 SC 1880 Fr.346d   Marcy-WilliamWilliam Marcy
(Charles Schlecht)[35] 		5 known (variety)
5 known (type)[44]
001000$1,000 SC 1891 Fr.346e   Marcy-WilliamWilliam Marcy
(Charles Schlecht)[35]
Liberty
(Charles Burt)[45] 		2 known[44]
001000$1,000 TN 1890 Fr.379a   Meade-GeorgeGeorge Meade
(Charles Burt)[22] 		5 known (variety)
7 known (type)[46]
001000$1,000 TN 1891 Fr.379c   Meade-GeorgeGeorge Meade
(Charles Burt)[22] 		2 known (variety)
3 known (type)[46]
001000$1,000 NBN 1865–1875 Fr.465
Proof 		  zScott-Winfield-Washington-GeorgeScott entering City of Mexico (left)
(Alfred Jones)[47]
United States Capitol (right)
(James Smillie)[28]
Washington resigning his commission (rev)
(Frederick Girsch)[33] 		Unknown[48]
001000$1,000 FRN 1918 Fr.1133d   Hamilton-AlexanderAlexander Hamilton
(G.F.C. Smillie)[49]
Eagle (rev)
(Marcus W. Baldwin)[50]
001000$1,000 GC 1863 Fr.1166e
Proof 		  zEagle-shield-Justice-scalesEagle with shield or E Pluribus Unum
(Charles Skinner)[36]
Justice with scales 		Unique[37]
001000$1,000 GC 1870–1875 Fr.1166o
Proof 		  Hamilton-AlexanderAlexander Hamilton
(Charles Burt)[51] 		Unique[37]
001000$1,000 GC 1882 Fr.1218g   Hamilton-AlexanderAlexander Hamilton
(G.F.C. Smillie)[49]
001000$1,000 GC 1907–1922 Fr.1219   Hamilton-AlexanderAlexander Hamilton
001000$1,000 FRN 1928–1934 Fr.2210g   Cleveland-GroverGrover Cleveland
(John Eissler)[38]
001000$1,000 GC 1928 Fr.2408   Cleveland-GroverGrover Cleveland
(John Eissler)[38]
001000$1,000 GC 1934 Fr.2409   Cleveland-GroverGrover Cleveland
(John Eissler)[38]
005000$5,000 LT 1878 Fr.188
Proof 		  Madison-JamesJames Madison
(Alfred Sealey)[52]
Eagle
(William Chorlton)[53] 		All notes have been redeemed, none outstanding[17]
005000$5,000 IBN 1863 Fr.202
Proof 		  zAltar-of-LibertyThe Altar of Liberty
(Louis Delnoce)[54] 		Unknown[42]
005000$5,000 IBN 1865 Fr.212h
Proof 		  zJustice-New IronsidesJustice (left)
New Ironsides (center)
(James Smillie)[28]
005000$5,000 FRN 1918 Fr.1134d   Madison-JamesJames Madison
(Alfred Sealey)[55]
Washington resigning his commission (rev)
(Louis Delnoce)[54] 		Unique (variety)
5 known (type)[nb 17]
005000$5,000 GC 1863 Fr.1166f
Proof 		  zEagle-Shield-FemaleEagle with shield or E Pluribus Unum
(Charles Skinner)[36]
Female 		Unique[37]
005000$5,000 GC 1870–1875 Fr.1166k
Proof 		  Madison-JamesJames Madison
(Alfred Sealey)[51] 		Unknown[37]
005000$5,000 GC 1882 Fr.1221a
Proof 		  Madison-JamesJames Madison
(Alfred Sealey)[57] 		Two known[37]
005000$5,000 FRN 1928–1934 Fr.2220g   Madison-JamesJames Madison
(Alfred Sealey)[57]
005000$5,000 GC 1928 Fr.2410   Madison-JamesJames Madison
010000$10,000 LT 1878 Fr.189
Proof 		  Jackson-AndrewAndrew Jackson
(Alfred Sealey)[58] 		All notes have been redeemed, none outstanding[17]
010000$10,000 FRN 1918 Fr.1135d   Chase-SalmonSalmon Chase; Embarkation of the Pilgrims (rev) Unique (variety)
5 known (type)[nb 18]
010000$10,000 GC 1863 Fr.1166g
Proof 		  zEagle-ShieldEagle with shield or E Pluribus Unum
(Charles Skinner)[36] 		Unknown[37]
010000$10,000 GC 1870–1875 Fr.1166l
Proof 		  Jackson-AndrewAndrew Jackson Unique[37]
010000$10,000 GC 1882 Fr.1223a
Proof 		  Jackson-AndrewAndrew Jackson
(Alfred Sealey)[57] 		Two known[37]
010000$10,000 GC 1900 Fr.1225   Jackson-AndrewAndrew Jackson
(Alfred Sealey)[57]
010000$10,000 FRN 1928–1934 Fr.2230b   Chase-SalmonSalmon P. Chase
010000$10,000 GC 1928 Fr.2411   Chase-SalmonSalmon P. Chase
010000$10,000 GC 1934 Fr.2412   Chase-SalmonSalmon P. Chase
100000$100,000 GC 1934 Fr.2413   Wilson-WoodrowWoodrow Wilson
(G.F.C. Smillie)[49]
Reverse
(Frederick Pauling)[59] 		Was never in circulation; cannot legally be privately held

See also

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References

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Explanatory footnotes

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  1. ^ One hundred $10,000 bills were on display for many years by Benny Binion at Binion's Horseshoe casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, where they were encased in acrylic. The display has since been dismantled and the bills sold to private collectors.
  2. ^ The following types of United States banknotes were not issued in high denominations and are not included in the list below: Demand notes, Federal Reserve bank notes (large or small size), legal tender (small size), silver certificates (small size), National Bank Notes (small size)[15] The table sections are sorted by their appearance in the Friedberg reference book.
  3. ^ Large size notes represent the earlier types or series of U.S. banknotes. Their "average" dimension is 7+3⁄8 × 3+1⁄8 inches (187 × 79 mm). Small size notes (described as such due to their size relative to the earlier large size notes) are an "average" 6+1⁄8 × 2+5⁄8 (156 × 67 mm), the size of modern U.S. currency. "Each measurement is ± 0.08 inches (2 mm) to account for margins and cutting".[16] Exceptions to the large versus small categories are the CITN, IBN, and RC, all slightly larger than the large size note dimensions.
  4. ^ All Series 1878 $5,000 and $10,000 notes have been redeemed.[17]
  5. ^ Issued HD IBNs are virtually unknown. There may be one $500 and 2–3 $1,000 known from all issue dates.[18]
  6. ^ A $500 Series 1891 Treasury Note was authorized and a certified proof was prepared, but the note was never issued.[19]
  7. ^ Three banks issued $500 NBGN. None are reported, only four notes have not been redeemed.
  8. ^ The Kidder National Gold Bank of Boston received two-note $500–$1,000 sheets from the Treasury. The bank returned the shipment intact.
  9. ^ No issued notes or proofs exist of either $500 or $1,000 NGBN
  10. ^ Despite the authorizing act date of 3 March 1863, Gold certificates were not issued until 1865.[20]
  11. ^ Series 1934 Gold certificates were never intended for public circulation.
  12. ^ The table is sorted by denomination and then by Friedberg number.
  13. ^ When the information is available, the engraver's name has been added in parentheses. Column sorting is based on the individual depicted in the portrait.
  14. ^ Variety is the Friedberg number, or specific combination of signatures and seal type; type represents all the varieties that exist for a given denomination and design, it is the total number of note known for the entire design type.
  15. ^ Of the 5 known notes, 4 are in institutional collections.[26]
  16. ^ Of the 4 known notes, 2 are in institutional collections.[26]
  17. ^ None exist outside of institutional collections.[56]
  18. ^ None exist outside of institutional collections.[56]

Citations

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  1. ^ Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, pp. 232–35.
  2. ^ Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, p. 22.
  3. ^ Newman, 2008, p. 326.
  4. ^ Newman, 2008, p. 454.
  5. ^ Newman, 2008, p. 455.
  6. ^ Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, p. 32.
  7. ^ Fricke, 2014, p. 122 & 124.
  8. ^ United States Congress. Act of July, 17 1861 Chapter V. Washington D.C.: 1861
  9. ^ "CHAPTER 3000: CUSTODY OF GOLD CERTIFICATES, SERIES OF 1934". US Treasury. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  10. ^ "Large denominations". Bureau of Engraving and Printing/Treasury Website. Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2014. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. ^ a b Joanne C. Dauer; Edward A. Dauer (2002). American History as Seen Through Currency: A Pictorial History of United States Currency as Seen Throughout Important Historical Events. Heritage Capital Corporation. p. 51. ISBN 9780972846608.
  12. ^ Palmer, Brian (July 24, 2009). "Somebody Call Officer Crumb!: How much cash can a corrupt politician cram into a cereal box?". Slate. Retrieved July 24, 2012. As to "cereal boxes" as a repository for ill-gotten bribes, compare "Little Tin Box" in the musical Fiorello!.
  13. ^ https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/06/11/how-much-is-a-500-bill-worth.aspx [bare URL]
  14. ^ "our Treasury – FAQs: Denominations of Currency". Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  15. ^ Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, generally.
  16. ^ Friedberg, p. 7.
  17. ^ a b c Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, p. 58.
  18. ^ Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, p. 72.
  19. ^ Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, p. 91.
  20. ^ Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, p. 164.
  21. ^ Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, p. 54.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i Hessler, 1993, pp. 71–73.
  23. ^ Hessler, 2004, p. 36.
  24. ^ Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, p. 55.
  25. ^ a b Hessler, 2004, p. 38.
  26. ^ a b "Heritage Auctions (#3521) 2013 January 9–14 FUN Signature Auction". HA.com. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  27. ^ Hessler, 1993, p. 38.
  28. ^ a b c Hessler, 1993, p. 286.
  29. ^ Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, p. 61.
  30. ^ a b Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, p. 89.
  31. ^ Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, p. 97.
  32. ^ Hessler, 1993, p. 290.
  33. ^ a b c Hessler, 1993, p. 137.
  34. ^ Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, p. 109.
  35. ^ a b c d e Hessler, 1993, p. 265.
  36. ^ a b c d Hessler, 2004, p. 216.
  37. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, p. 165.
  38. ^ a b c d e Hessler, 1993, p. 114.
  39. ^ Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, p. 56.
  40. ^ Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, p. 57.
  41. ^ a b Hessler, 1993, p. 145.
  42. ^ a b Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, p. 64.
  43. ^ Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, p. 66.
  44. ^ a b c Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, pp. 89–90.
  45. ^ Hessler, 2004, p. 95.
  46. ^ a b Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, p. 98.
  47. ^ Hessler, 1993, p. 180.
  48. ^ Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, p. 110.
  49. ^ a b c Hessler, 1993, p. 280.
  50. ^ Hessler, 1993, p. 40.
  51. ^ a b Hessler, 2004, p. 219.
  52. ^ Hessler, 2004, p. 39
  53. ^ Hessler, 1993, p. 83.
  54. ^ a b Hessler, 1993, p. 99.
  55. ^ Hessler, 2004, p. 200.
  56. ^ a b Friedberg & Friedberg, 2013, p. 159.
  57. ^ a b c d Hessler, 2004, p. 223.
  58. ^ Hessler, 2004, p. 39.
  59. ^ Hessler, 1993, p. 237.

General bibliography

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