Federal Reserve Bank Note
Federal Reserve Bank Notes are banknotes that are legal tender in the United States issued between 1915 and 1934, together with United States Notes, Silver Certificates, Gold Certificates, National Bank Notes and Federal Reserve Notes. They were specified in the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 and had the same value as other kinds of notes of similar value. Federal Reserve Bank Notes are different from Federal Reserve Notes in that they are backed by one of the twelve Federal Reserve Banks, rather than by all collectively. Federal Reserve Bank Notes were envisioned as a replacement for National Bank Notes, but that did not prove to be the case. They were backed in a similar way to National Bank Notes, using U.S. bonds, but issued by Federal Reserve banks instead of by chartered National banks. Federal Reserve Bank Notes are no longer issued; the only U.S. banknotes still in production since 1971 are the Federal Reserve Notes.
Image: US $1 FRBN 1918 Fr.713
Image: US $2 FRBN 1918 Fr.749
Image: US $5 FRBN 1918 Fr.790
Image: US $10 FRBN 1915 Fr.817
National Bank Notes were United States currency banknotes issued by National Banks chartered by the United States Government. The notes were usually backed by United States bonds the bank deposited with the United States Treasury. In addition, banks were required to maintain a redemption fund amounting to five percent of any outstanding note balance, in gold or "lawful money." The notes were not legal tender in general, but were satisfactory for nearly all payments to and by the federal government.
The first $10 National Bank Note issued by The First National Bank of Hawaii at Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii (1900), signed by Cecil Brown (President) and W.G. Cooper (Cashier). The vignette at left shows Benjamin Franklin conducting the famous Kite experiment. The 5550 in brown ink (and large numerals on the reverse) is the issuing bank's national charter number, also shown in the note's border engraving.
A small-size National Bank Note, series of 1929
Image: US NBN IL Lebanon 2057 Orig 1 400 C
Image: US NBN KS Emporia 1915 1875 2 1915 A