History of American Paper Money

A HISTORY OF AMERICAN PAPER MONEY



FROM COLONIAL BILLS TO SILVER AND GOLD CERTIFICATES TO EVEN A $100,000 NOTE, AMERICAN PAPER MONEY HAS UNDERGONE MANY CHANGES THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY.



1690 COLONIAL BILLS

The Massachusetts Bay Colony issues the first paper currency to pay for military expedition costs. Other colonies soon follow this practice.



1775 CONTINENTAL CONGRESS CURRENCY

Paper money is issues by the Continental Congress to finance the Revolutionary Way.



1781 FIRST NATIONAL BANK

The Congress charters The Bank of North America, in Philadelphia, as the first national bank.



1785 THE U.S. DOLLAR

Congress sets the dollar as the monetary unit of the United States.



1791 FIRST U.S. CENTRAL BANK

Congress licenses the first Bank of the United States for a 20-year term as a fiscal entity for the U.S. Treasury.



1792 FEDERAL MONETARY SYSTEM

Federal Monetary System is established with the creation of the U.S. Mint.



1816 SECOND U.S. CENTRAL BANK

Congress charters the second U.S. Central bank for the 1816-1836 period.



1836 FREE BANKING ERA

Private banks issue their own paper currency, as there was no formal U.S. central bank and minimum regulation. Bank notes are easily counterfeited.



1861 CIVIL WAR "GREENBACKS"

In an effort to finance the Civil War, the Congress authorizes the U.S. Treasury to issue paper month in the form of "Demand Notes", also called "greenbacks".



1862 FIRST $2, $50, AND $100 BILLS MADE AS LEGAL TENDER NOTES.

Legal Tender Notes, or U.S. Notes replaced Demand Notes and were made from 1862 to 1971



1865 ESTABLISHMENT OF U.S. SECRET SERVICE

The U.S. Secret Service is created as a bureau of the Treasury to prevent counterfeiting and protect the national currency.



1877 BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING

All U.S. currency begins to be printed by the Treasury's Bureau of Engraving and Printing



1878 FIRST SILVER CERTIFICATES

Silver certificates start being issued in exchange for silver dollars.



1882 FIRST GOLD CERTIFICATES

Gold certificates entitles holders to a pre-determined amount of gold coins. Used from 1882 to 1933



1913 FEDERAL RESERVE ACT OF 1913

The Federal Reserve System is created to regulate the flow of money. New currency is names Federal Reserve Notes.



1914 LARGE SIZE FEDERAL RESERVE NOTES

$5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 notes are issued, with a size larger than today's bills.



1918 LARGE SIZE DENOMINATIONS FEDERAL RESERVE NOTES

Yes, they were real! $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 large-size notes were issued for public use. In 1969 all notes greater that $100 were retired due to poor demand.



1929 STANDARDIZED DESIGN

To lower production costs, bill sizes were reduced by 25%, and a consistent design was implemented with uniform portraits on front and emblems or monuments on back.



1934 $100,000 GOLD CERTIFICATES

The highest denomination ever made, these were only used for transactions amongst Federal Reserve banks and were not available to the public.



1957 "IN GOD WE TRUST"

$1 Silver certificated were the first notes to have the motto "In God We Trust".



1990 NEW COUNTERFEIT DETERRENT METHODS

Micro printing and security threads are developed to deter counterfeiters.



1996-2000

REDESIGN OF PAPER MONEY

Multiple advanced counterfeit deterrent methods are implemented, first used on the $100 bill. This was the biggest change on paper currency design since the use of small-sized notes in 1929.



2003-2006 UPDATED SECURITY FEATURES

Improved security features and special background colors are created for the Federal Reserve Notes. The $20 bill was the first one to have these features.



2007 NEW $5 BILL WITH AN ALL DIGITAL DESIGN

This was the first time that paper currency had an all-digital design for improve security methods even further.



2010 NEW $100 BILL DESIGN

The new $100 bill is issued, featuring advanced technology to prevent counterfeiting while retaining the traditional look of American currency.



CREDIT SEASON

WWW.CREDITSEASON.COM • A HISTORY OF • AMERI CAN PAPER MONEY FROM COLONIAL BILLS TO SILVER AND GOLD CERTIFICATES TO EVEN A $100,000 NOTE, AMERICAN PAPER MONEY HAS UNDERGONE MANY CHANGES THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY. 1775 1781 FIRST NATIONAL BANK The Congress charters The Bank of North America, in Philadelphia, as the first national bank. CONTINENTAL CONGRESS CURRENCY Paper money is issued by the Continental Congress to finance the Revolutionary War. THREE DOLLAES. Wo. THIS Bill entirtes the 2 BEARER To receier Three SPANTEH milled DOLLARS, er the Valw WESTIN acreraing to a Rejolation ef CONGRESS, pafi at Pindaddphia, july sa, 1776. 1785 THE U.S. DOLLAR Congress sets the dollar as the monetary unit of No.30SEVENY Ra VESSAKUM mi JOLLARS, eTala THREE DOLLARS. the United States. ordier CONGRESvtn- Pildeiphia Nove iStotothu uanst 1690 EYIN DOLLARS. COLONIAL BILLS The Massachusetts Bay Colony issues the first paper currency to pay for military expedition costs. 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DC ($) 100,000 A00020113 A THEUNITED SA DOLLY NE HUNDREDAON DEMANIA PAYARLE TO BEAKEE TES OPAM RIOLS RDAS AL 100000 1934 THE UNITED STATES OFAMERICA 2ONE $100,000 GOLD CERTIFICATES The highest denomination ever made, these were only used for transactions amongst Federal Reserve banks and were not available to the public. 1957 THE UNITED STATES OFAMERICA •02675443 A "IN GOD WE TRUST" $1 Silver certificates were the first notes to have the motto "In God We Trust". THE UNITED STATES OFAMEBICA *02675443 A DB 88881380 A 82 DB 86881380 A DOLLA RS 1990 NEW COUNTERFEIT DETERRENT METHODS FB 22509428 A B2 THE UNITED SENTES OFAMICRICA Micro printing and security threads are developed to deter counterfeiters. FB 22509428 A FIVE DOLLA RS AK 50403409 A K11 NPUDSAVEXS DEAMERICA 1996-2000 AK S04034n REDESIGN OF PAPER MONEY Multiple advanced counterfeit deterrent methods are implemented, first used on the $100 bill. This was the biggest change on paper currency design since the use of small-sized notes in 1929. UNITEDSTATES ID 228 60 B D4 EE 00000000 T ID 228 60 B WENTTY DOL ARS 2003-2006 PEDERL IG 00000000 T THE UNITED SEATES OF AMGRICA UPDATED SECURITY FEATURES Improved security features and special back- ground colors are created for Federal Reserve Notes. The $20 bill was the first one to have IC 00000000 T these features. FIVE DOLLARS 2007 NEW $5 BILL WITH AN ALL DIGITAL DESIGN This was the first time that paper currency had an all-digital design to improve security methods even further. FEDERAL RESERVENOTE ONEI DHED DOLLAHS JB 00000000T B2 AYLTEDSTATES DFAMERICA Jrzy 4. ate Tic JB 00000000 T 100 2010 NEW $100 BILL DESIGN The new $100 bill is issued, featuring advanced technology to prevent counterfeiting while retaining the traditional look of American curency. References CREDIT SEASON www.frbsf.org/publications/federalreserve/annual/ 1995/his tory.html www.moneyfactory.gov/images/BEP_History_Sec508_web.pdf www.newmoney.gov/currency/history.htm www.CREDITSEASON.COM © 2012 CreditSeason.com TWENTY DOLLARS WENTY DOLA