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1. United States one-dollar bill – The United States one-dollar bill is a denomination of United States currency. The first U. S. President, George Washington, painted by Gilbert Stuart, is featured on the obverse. The one-dollar bill has the oldest design of all U. S. currency currently being produced, the design seen today debuted in 1963 when it was first issued as a Federal Reserve Note. The inclusion of the motto, In God We Trust, on all currency was required by law in 1955, an individual dollar bill is also less formally known as a one, a single, a buck, a bone, and a bill. The Federal Reserve says the life of a $1 bill in circulation is 5.8 years before it is replaced because of wear. Approximately 42% of all U. S. currency produced in 2009 were one-dollar bills,1862, The first one-dollar bill was issued as a Legal Tender Note with a portrait of Salmon P. Chase, the Secretary of the Treasury under President Abraham Lincoln. 1869, The $1 United States Note was redesigned with a portrait of George Washington in the center, the obverse of the note also featured green and blue tinting. Although this note is technically a United States Note, TREASURY NOTE appeared on it instead of UNITED STATES NOTE,1874, The Series of 1869 United States Note was revised. Changes on the obverse included removing the green and blue tinting, adding a red floral design around the word WASHINGTON D. C. and this note was also issued as Series of 1875 and 1878. 1880, The red floral design around the words ONE DOLLAR, later versions also had blue serial numbers and a small seal moved to the left side of the note. 1886, The first woman to appear on U. S. currency, the reverse of the note featured an ornate design that occupied the entire note, excluding the borders. 1890, One-dollar Treasury or Coin Notes were issued for government purchases of silver bullion from the mining industry. The reverse featured the large word ONE in the center surrounded by a design that occupied almost the entire note. 1891, The reverse of the Series of 1890 Treasury Note was redesigned because the treasury felt that it was too busy, more open space was incorporated into the new design. 1896, The famous Educational Series Silver Certificate was issued, the entire obverse was covered with artwork of allegorical figures representing history instructing youth in front of Washington D. C. The reverse featured portraits of George and Martha Washington surrounded by a design that occupied almost the entire note. 1899, The $1 Silver Certificate was again redesigned, the obverse featured a vignette of the United States Capitol behind a bald eagle perched on an American flag. Below that were small portraits of Abraham Lincoln to the left,1917, The obverse of the $1 United States Note was changed slightly with the removal of ornamental frames that surrounded the serial numbers
2. United States two-dollar bill – The United States two-dollar bill is a current denomination of U. S. currency. The third U. S. President, Thomas Jefferson, is featured on the obverse of the note, the reverse features the painting The Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull. Throughout the $2 bills pre-1929 life as a note, it was issued as a United States Note, National Bank Note, silver certificate. When U. S. currency was changed to its current size, production went on until 1966, when the series was discontinued. Ten years went by before the $2 bill was reissued as a Federal Reserve Note with a new reverse design, $2 bills are seldom seen in circulation as a result of banking policies with businesses which has resulted in low production numbers due to lack of demand. The denomination of two dollars was authorized under an act, and first used in March 1862. The denomination was continuously used until the 1960s, by time the United States Note was the only remaining class of U. S. currency the two dollar bill was assigned to. In 1966 it was decided to discontinue all two dollar United States Notes from production and it has remained a current denomination since then. However, due to its use, two-dollar bills are not frequently reissued in a new series like other denominations which are printed according to demand. Though some cash registers accommodate it, its slot is used for things like checks. Some bill acceptors found in vending machines, self checkout lanes, although they usually are not handed out arbitrarily, two-dollar bills are usually available at banks. Many banks stocking $2 bills will not use them except upon specific request by the customer, the seeming rarity of a $2 bill can be attributed to its low printing numbers as a Federal Reserve Note. Hoarding of the due to lack of public knowledge of the $2 bill has resulted in very few bills seen in circulation. After its initial release, supplies of the Series 1976 $2 bill were allowed to dwindle until August 1996 when a new series dated 1995 began to be printed and this series was only printed for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Today, there is a misconception by the general public that the $2 bill is no longer in production. According to the Treasury, it receives many letters asking why the $2 bill is no longer in circulation, in response, the Treasury stated, The $2 bill remains one of our circulating currency denominations. As of April 30,2007 there were $1,549,052,714 worth of $2 bills in circulation worldwide. Another popular misconception is that the average $2 bill is more than its face value
3. United States five-dollar bill – The United States five-dollar bill is a denomination of United States currency. The current $5 bill features the 16th U. S. President, Abraham Lincolns portrait on the front, all $5 bills issued today are Federal Reserve Notes. The $5 bill is sometimes nicknamed a fin, the term has German/Yiddish roots and is remotely related to the English five, but it is far less common today than it was in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing says the life of a $5 bill in circulation is 5.5 years before it is replaced due to wear. Approximately 6% of all paper currency produced by the U. S. Treasurys Bureau of Engraving and Printing in 2009 were $5 bills. The redesigned $5 bill was unveiled on September 20,2007, new and enhanced security features make it easier to check the new $5 bill and more difficult for potential counterfeiters to reproduce. The redesigned $5 bill has, Watermarks, There are now two watermarks, a large numeral 5 watermark is located in a blank space to the right of the portrait, replacing the watermark portrait of President Lincoln found on previous bills. A second watermark — a new column of three smaller 5s — has been added and is positioned to the left of the portrait, security thread, The embedded security thread runs vertically and is now located to the right of the portrait. The letters USA followed by the number 5 in an alternating pattern are visible along the thread from both sides of the bill, the thread glows blue when held under ultraviolet light. On the back of the bill the words USA FIVE appear along one edge of the large purple 5, because they are so small, these microprinted words are hard to replicate. Infrared Ink, The back of the bill features sections of the bill that are blanked out when viewed in the infrared spectrum. This is consistent with other high-value US bills, which all feature patterns of infrared-visible stripes unique to the given denomination, bills of other world currencies, such as the Euro, also feature unique patterns visible only when viewed in this spectrum. Anti-Photocopy Circle Pattern, Small yellow 05s are printed to the left of the portrait on the front of the bill, the zeros in the 05s form a EURion constellation to prevent photocopying of the bill. Photocopy machines detect the particular pattern of circles and refuse to make a copy. Some machines make a record of the illegal photocopy attempt, which a technician may report to law enforcement. The five dollar bill lacks the Optically variable ink of higher denomination US bills, the new $5 bills remain the same size and use the same—but enhanced—portraits and historical images. The most noticeable difference is the coloring of the center of the bill. When the Lincoln Memorial was constructed the names of 48 states were engraved on it, the picture of the Lincoln Memorial on the $5 bill only contains the names of 26 states
4. United States ten-dollar bill – The United States ten-dollar bill is a current denomination of U. S. currency. The obverse of the features the portrait of Alexander Hamilton. The reverse features the U. S. Treasury Building, all $10 bills issued today are Federal Reserve Notes. As of December 2013, the life of a $10 bill is 4.5 years, or about 54 months. Ten-dollar bills are delivered by Federal Reserve Banks in yellow straps, the source of the portrait on the $10 bill is John Trumbull’s 1805 painting of Hamilton that belongs to the portrait collection of New York City Hall. The $10 bill is unique in that it is the denomination in circulation in which the portrait faces to the left. It also features one of two non-presidents on currently issued U. S. bills, the other being Benjamin Franklin on the $100 bill. Hamilton is one of four people featured on U. S. paper currency who were not born in the continental United States or British America. The others were Albert Gallatin, Switzerland, George Meade, Spain, in 2015, the Treasury Secretary announced that the obverse portrait of Hamilton would be replaced by the portrait of an as yet undecided woman, starting in 2020. However, due to the popularity of Hamilton, a hit Broadway musical based on Hamiltons life, in 2016 this decision was reversed. 1861, The first $10 bill was issued as a Demand Note with a portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the left side of the obverse. 1862, The first $10 United States Note was issued with a design similar to the 1861 Demand Note. The Roman numeral X may represent the origin of the slang term sawbuck to mean a $10 bill. 1863, Interest Bearing Notes, featuring a portrait of Salmon P. Chase, the notes could also be spent for exactly $10. 1864, Compound Interest Treasury Notes, with a design similar to the 1863 Interest Bearing Note, were issued that grew in face value 6% compounded semi-annually. It is unknown if the note could actually be spent for $10 plus interest and this note is nicknamed a jackass note because the eagle on the front looks like a donkey when the note is turned upside down. The back of the featured a vignette of U. S. gold coins. 1875, The 1869 United States Note was revised, the blue and green tinting that was present on the obverse was removed and the design on the reverse was completely changed
5. United States twenty-dollar bill – The United States twenty-dollar bill is a denomination of U. S. currency. The seventh U. S. President, Andrew Jackson has been featured on the front side of the bill since 1928, while the White House is featured on the reverse side. On April 20,2016, it was announced that a new design, expected to be unveiled in 2020, as of December 2013, the average circulation life of a $20 bill is 7.9 years before it is replaced due to wear. Approximately 11% of all printed in 2009 were $20 bills. Twenty-dollar bills are delivered by Federal Reserve Banks in violet straps,1861, A demand note with Lady Liberty holding a sword and shield on the front, and an abstract design on the back. 1862, A note that is similar, the first $20 United States note. The back is different, with small variations extant. 1863, A gold certificate $20 note with an Eagle vignette on the face, the reverse has a $20 gold coin and various abstract elements. 1865, A national bank note with The Battle of Lexington and of Pocahontas in black,1869, A new United States note design with Alexander Hamilton on the left side of the front and Victory holding a shield and sword. 1875, As above, except with a different reverse,1878, A silver certificate $20 note with a portrait of Stephen Decatur on the right side of the face. 1882, A new gold certificate with a portrait of James Garfield on the right of the face, the back is orange and features an eagle. 1882, A new national bank note, the front is similar, but the back is different and printed in brown. 1886, A new silver certificate $20 note with Daniel Manning on the center of the face,1890, A treasury note with John Marshall on the left of the face. Two different backs exist, both with abstract designs,1902, A new national bank note. The front design features Hugh McCulloch, and the back has a vignette of an allegorical America,1905, A new gold certificate $20 note with George Washington on the center of the face. Andrew Jackson first appeared on the $20 bill in 1928, although 1928 coincides with the 100th anniversary of Jacksons election as president, it is not clear why the portrait on the bill was switched from Grover Cleveland to Jackson. In his farewell address to the nation, he cautioned the public about paper money,1918, A federal reserve bank note with Grover Cleveland on the front, and a back design similar to the 1914 Federal Reserve Note. 1928, Switched to a note with a portrait of Andrew Jackson on the face
6. United States fifty-dollar bill – The United States fifty-dollar bill is a denomination of United States currency. The 18th U. S. President, Ulysses S. Grant, is featured on the obverse, all current-issue $50 bills are Federal Reserve Notes. As of December 2013, the life of a $50 bill in circulation is 8.5 years, or approximately 102 months. Approximately 6% of all printed in 2009 were $50 bills. They are delivered by Federal Reserve Banks in brown straps,1861, Three-year $50 Interest Bearing Notes were issued that paid a cent of interest per day, and thus 7. 3% annually — the so-called seven-thirties. These notes were not primarily designed to circulate, and were payable to the purchaser of the dollar bill. The obverse of the featured a bald eagle. 1862, The first circulating $50 bill was issued,1863, Both one and two year Interest Bearing Notes were issued that paid 5% interest. The one-year Interest Bearing Notes featured a vignette of Alexander Hamilton to the left, the two-year notes featured allegorical figures of loyalty, and justice. 1864, Compound Interest Treasury Notes were issued, intended to circulate for three years and paying 6% interest compounded semi-annually, the obverse is similar to the Series of 1863 one-year Interest Bearing Note. 1865, Three-year Interest Bearing Notes were issued again with a slightly different bald eagle,1869, A new $50 United States Note was issued with a portrait of Henry Clay on the right and an allegorical figure holding a laurel branch on the left of the obverse. 1870, $50 National Gold Bank Notes were issued specifically for payment in gold coin by 2 national gold banks, the obverse featured vignettes of George Washington crossing the Delaware River and at Valley Forge, the reverse featured a vignette of U. S. gold coins. 1874, Another new $50 United States Note was issued with a portrait of Benjamin Franklin on the left,1878, The first $50 silver certificate was issued with a portrait of Edward Everett. The reverse was printed in black ink,1880, The Series of 1878 Silver Certificate was slightly revised. 1882, The first $50 Gold Certificate with a portrait of Silas Wright was issued, the reverse was printed in orange ink and featured a bald eagle perched atop an American flag. 1891, The obverse of the $50 Silver Certificate was slightly revised,1891, The $50 Treasury or Coin Note was issued and given for government purchases of silver bullion from the silver mining industry. The note featured a portrait of William H. Seward,1913, A new $50 Gold Certificate with a portrait of Ulysses Grant was issued. The style of the area below Grants portrait was used on small-sized notes
7. United States one hundred-dollar bill – The United States one hundred-dollar bill is a denomination of United States currency featuring statesman, inventor, diplomat and American founding father Benjamin Franklin on the obverse of the bill. On the reverse of the banknote is an image of Independence Hall, the $100 bill is the largest denomination that has been printed since July 13,1969, when the denominations of $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 were retired. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing says the life of a $100 bill in circulation is 90 months before it is replaced due to wear and tear. The bills are also referred to as Bens, Benjamins or Franklins, in reference to the use of Benjamin Franklins portrait on the denomination, or as C-Notes. The bill is one of two denominations printed today that does not feature a President of the United States, the other is the $10 bill, featuring Alexander Hamilton. It is also the denomination today to feature a building not located in Washington. One hundred hundred-dollar bills are delivered by Federal Reserve Banks in mustard-colored straps, the Series 2009 $100 bill redesign was unveiled on April 21,2010, and was issued to the public on October 8,2013. The new bill costs 12.6 cents to produce and has a blue ribbon woven into the center of the currency with 100 and Liberty Bells, alternating,1861, Three-year 100 dollar Interest Bearing Notes were issued that paid 7. 3% interest per year. These notes were not primarily designed to circulate, and were payable to the purchaser of the dollar bill. The obverse of the featured a portrait of General Winfield Scott. 1862, The first $100 United States Note was issued, variations of this note were issued that resulted in slightly different wording on the reverse, the note was issued again in Series of 1863. 1863, Both one and two and one half year Interest Bearing Notes were issued that paid 5% interest, the one-year Interest Bearing Notes featured a vignette of George Washington in the center, and allegorical figures representing The Guardian to the right and Justice to the left. The two-year notes featured a vignette of the U. S. treasury building in the center, a farmer and mechanic to the left, and sailors firing a cannon to the right. 1863, The first $100 Gold Certificates were issued with an eagle to the left. The reverse was printed in orange instead of green like all other U. S. federal government issued notes of the time. 1864, Compound Interest Treasury Notes were issued that were intended to circulate for three years and paid 6% interest compounded semi-annually, the obverse is similar to the 1863 one-year Interest Bearing Note. 1869, A new $100 United States Note was issued with a portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the left of the obverse, although this note is technically a United States Note, TREASURY NOTE appeared on it instead of UNITED STATES NOTE. 1870, A new $100 Gold Certificate with a portrait of Thomas Hart Benton on the side of the obverse was issued
8. Art and engraving on United States banknotes – In early 18th century Colonial America, engravers began experimenting with copper plates as an alternative medium to wood. Applied to the production of currency, copper-plate engraving allowed for greater detail. It was the transition to steel engraving that enabled banknote design, the first issue of government-authorized paper currency in America was printed by the Province of Massachusetts Bay in 1690. This first issue, dated 10 December 1690, was printed from a copper plate with four subjects to a sheet. The first engraver identified in records was John Coney who appears to have been paid 30£ on 12 March 1703 to engrave three copper plates for the Massachusetts issue dated 21 November 1702. Given the many similarities between the 1690 note and those engraved by Coney in 1702, there has been speculation that he may have engraved the earlier note. If true, he would be the first American to engrave on copper plates, several historical figures with a background in engraving and printing were involved in the production of early American currency. Benjamin Franklin began printing Province of Pennsylvania notes in 1729, took on a partner in 1749, paul Revere both engraved and printed bank notes for the Province and then the state of Massachusetts between 1775 and 1779, and the Province of New Hampshire in 1775. Reveres father, Apollos Rivoire, was John Coneys pupil, David Rittenhouse engraved some border designs for the 10 May 1775 Continental currency and 25 March 1776 Colony of New Jersey 6£ note. Francis Hopkinson does not appear to have done engraving, but he is credited with the designs for border-cuts, emblems, the first series of Federally-issued United States banknotes was authorized by Congressional acts on 17 July 1861 and 5 August 1861. While the Demand Notes were issued from the United States Treasury, by means of a Congressional act dated 11 July 1862, the Secretary of the Treasury received authorization to purchase machinery and employ the staff necessary to manufacture currency at the Treasury. On 1 October 1877, the BEP took over the production of both United States Note and National Bank Note production, salmon Chase, Secretary of the Treasury, placed this classified notice in late March,1863. By July 1863, contracts were signed with American Bank Note Company and Continental Bank Note Company to design, engrave, the first National Bank Notes were issued on 21 December 1863. American Engravers Upon Copper and Steel, Friedberg, Arthur L. Friedberg, Ira S. Paper Money of the United States, A Complete Illustrated Guide With Valuations, the Engravers Line – An Encyclopedia of Paper Money & Postage Stamp Art. U. S. Essay, Proof and Specimen Notes, the Early Paper Money of America. Stauffer, David M. American Engravers Upon Copper and Steel, the Grolier Club of the City of New York
9. Demand Note – A Demand Note is a type of United States paper money that was issued between August 1861 and April 1862 during the American Civil War in denominations of 5,10, and 20 US$. The U. S. government placed the Demand Notes into circulation by using them to pay expenses incurred during the Civil War including the salaries of its workers and military personnel. S. currency today. As a result, most Demand Notes were redeemed, though the few remaining Demand Notes are the oldest valid currency in the United States today, the Demand Notes were a transitional issue connecting these Treasury Notes to modern paper money. The Continental Congress had issued Continental dollars between 1775 and 1779 to help finance the American Revolution, while the constitution did not explicitly grant the power to issue paper currency, it did grant the power to borrow money. Treasury Notes, as a form of debt, were an innovation to help bridge federal financing gaps when the government encountered difficulty selling a sufficient amount of long term bonds, Treasury Notes were first employed during the War of 1812 and were issued irregularly up through the civil war. Characteristically the issues were not extensive and the fiction was always maintained that Treasury Notes did not serve as money when, in fact. These notes usually bore interest, their value varied with market conditions, however, only $3,392,994 were issued, and these were rapidly exchanged for bonds. In witness to the limited circulation achieved by these notes, only two issued uncancelled examples of the Small Treasury Notes are known today vs. almost 1000 examples of the Demand Notes. One response from Congress was the Act of July 17,1861, of this sum, up to $50,000,000 was authorized as non-interest bearing Treasury Notes, payable upon demand, in denominations less than fifty dollars and not less than ten dollars. These were called Demand Notes to distinguish them from the interest-bearing Treasury Notes in existence at the time, the notes were to be redeemable through the assistant treasurers offices at Philadelphia, Boston, and New York. These signature provisions would later be altered several times and this act also stipulated that prior to December 31,1862, an individual Demand Note could be re-issued into circulation after it was presented for redemption. Just before they were to be released, the Act of August 5,1861 and it allowed for Demand Notes to be issued in denominations of not less than $5 and be redeemable through the assistant treasurers office at St. Louis or the bullion depository in Cincinnati. This act also stated that the Treasurer of the United States, under this act, Demand Notes did not need to carry the seal of the U. S. Treasury. Because the Bureau of Engraving and Printing did not exist at the time, both companies were prominent printers of banknotes for private and state-chartered banks throughout the country. Most likely, the American Bank Note Company engraved the plates for $5. All of the Demand Notes were printed by the American Bank Note Company, as designed, they were of the same size, and in appearance closely resembled banknotes. Secretary of the Treasury Chase began distributing the notes to meet Union obligations in August 1861, initially, various merchants, banks and especially the railroad industry accepted the notes at a discounted rate or did not accept them at all. Louis, and at the Depository of Cincinnati and they must be always equivalent to gold, and often and for many purposes more convenient and valuable
10. Federal Reserve Bank Note – They had the same value as other kinds of notes of similar face value. Federal Reserve Bank Notes differ from Federal Reserve Notes in that they are backed by one of the twelve Federal Reserve Banks, rather than by all collectively. They were backed in a way to National Bank Notes, using U. S. bonds. Federal Reserve Bank Notes are no longer issued, the only U. S. banknotes still in production since 1971 are the Federal Reserve Notes, additional denominations of $1, $2, and $50 were issued in 1918. Small size Federal Reserve Bank Notes were printed as an issue in 1933 using the same paper stock as National Bank Notes. They were printed in denominations of $5 through $100, a National Bank Note has a line for the national banks presidents signature. The small size Federal Reserve Bank Note printed a bar over the label for this line since Federal Reserve Banks had governors, not presidents. The wording also was changed to add, Or by like deposit of other securities after the phrase, the twelve Federal Reserve Districts also appear on the bills as black alphabetically sequenced letters, from A to L, a system essentially followed today on the $1 and $2 bills. This emergency issue was prompted by the hoarding of cash because of the many bank failures happening at the time. This also limited the ability of the National Banks to issue notes of their own, small size Federal Reserve Bank Notes were discontinued in 1934 and no longer available from banks since 1945. As small size notes, they have brown seals and serial numbers, but while they look very similar, and both say National Currency across the top of the obverse, the issuers were not the same and they are considered to be distinctly different types of bills
11. Federal Reserve Note – Federal Reserve Notes, also United States banknotes or U. S. banknotes, are the banknotes currently used in the United States of America. Denominated in United States dollars, Federal Reserve Notes are printed by the United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing on paper made by Crane & Co. of Dalton, Federal Reserve Notes are the only type of U. S. banknote currently produced. The notes are then put into circulation by the Federal Reserve Banks, at which point they become liabilities of the Federal Reserve Banks, Federal Reserve Notes are legal tender, with the words this note is legal tender for all debts, public and private printed on each note. They have replaced United States Notes, which were issued by the Treasury Department. Federal Reserve Notes are backed by the assets of the Federal Reserve Banks and these assets are generally Treasury securities which have been purchased by the Federal Reserve through its Federal Open Market Committee in a process called debt monetizing. This monetized debt can increase the supply, either with the issuance of new Federal Reserve Notes or with the creation of debt money. This increase in the base leads to a larger increase in the money supply through fractional-reserve banking as deposits are lent. Prior to centralized banking, each bank issued its own notes. The first institution with responsibilities of a bank in the U. S. was the First Bank of the United States. Its charter was not renewed in 1811, in 1816, the Second Bank of the United States was chartered, its charter was not renewed in 1836, after President Andrew Jackson campaigned heavily for its disestablishment. From 1837 to 1862, in the Free Banking Era there was no central bank. From 1862 to 1913, a system of banks was instituted by the 1863 National Banking Act. The first printed notes were Series 1914, in 1928, cost-cutting measures were taken to reduce the note to the size it is today. The authority of the Federal Reserve Banks to issue notes comes from the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, legally, they are liabilities of the Federal Reserve Banks and obligations of the United States government. Although not issued by the Treasury Department, Federal Reserve Notes carry the signature of the Treasurer of the United States, at the time of the Federal Reserves creation, the law provided for notes to be redeemed to the Treasury in gold or lawful money. The Emergency Banking Act of 1933 removed the gold obligation and authorized the Treasury to satisfy these redemption demands with current notes of equal face value, under the Bretton Woods system, although citizens could not possess gold, the federal government continued to maintain a stable international gold price. This system ended with the Nixon Shock of 1971, present-day Federal Reserve Notes are not backed by convertibility to any specific commodity, but only by the collateral assets that Federal Reserve Banks post in order to obtain them. Series 1914 FRN were the first of two large-size issues, denominations were $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 printed first with a red seal and then continued with a blue seal