Demand Notes 1862-1862

On the brink of bankruptcy and pressed to finance the Civil War, Congress authorized the United States Treasury to issue paper money for the first time in the form of non-interest bearing Treasury Notes called Demand Notes. They were the first issue of paper money by the United States that achieved wide circulation. Demand Notes were nicknamed "greenbacks" because of the distinctive green ink on their reverse.

Series of 1861

Alexander Hamilton (First Secretary of the Treasury, 1757-1804) with the statue Freedom which adorns the top the the Capitol in Washington D.C.

Abraham Lincoln (16th President of the U.S.) engraving based on a photograph. Also with symbolic figure of Art on the right side. The eagle is entitled E. Phuribus Unium.

Vignette of Liberty