Federal Reserve Notes 1914-current

Another new type of currency created by the formation of the Federal Reserve System was the Federal Reserve Note. These differed from Federal Reserve Bank Notes in that they were issued by the Federal Reserve System and were an obligation of the system – not the individual banks that released them. Federal Reserve Notes were once redeemable for gold upon demand. After the 1893 and 1907 financial panics, the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 was passed. It created the Federal Reserve System as the nation's central bank to regulate the flow of money and credit for economic stability and growth. The System was authorized to issue Federal Reserve Notes. Now the only U.S. currency produced, Federal Reserve Notes represent 99 percent of all currency in circulation.

Series of 1914

The reverse vignettes of the $5, $10, $20, and $50 are also used on 1918 Federal Reserve Bank Notes.

1914 Portrait of Abraham Lincoln. Reverse features a scene from the painting “Columbus's Discovery of Land” showing Columbus and members of his crew aboard the flagship Santa Maria as they approached the New World for the first time in October 1492. The right side features a scene from the painting "The Landing of the Pilgrims" showing the Pilgrims landing ashore when they arrived from England in 1620.

1914 Portrait of Andrew Jackson. Reverse shows plowing a field on the left, and a factory on the right; symbolizes American resources and production.

1914 Portrait of Grover Cleveland. Reverse shows modes of land, sea, and air transportation. The left side has images of industry of the time period including a steam locomotive beside which is a motor car driving down a road. To the right of that, you'll notice a propeller plane flying above trees. The right side has large steamship and steamboat with the Statue of Liberty in the background. Picture of: Locomotive, automobile, passenger liner, and biplane; symbolizes the modern technology of transportation in 1914.

1914 Portrait of Ulysses Grant. Reverse shows Isthmus of Panama with steam ships on both sides representing the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Panama Canal was opened on August 15, 1914.

An unusual portrait of Benjamin Franklin in profile is shown on the face of the note, and an engraving of five figures symbolizing Labor, Plenty, America, Peace, and Commerce is featured on the reverse.

1918 Portrait of John Marshall. Reverse vignette of DeSoto discovering the Mississippi.

1918 Portrait of Alexander Hamilton. Reverse vignette of Eagle with arrows, olive branch, and flag at feet.

1918 Portrait of James Madison. Reverse vignette of Washington resigning his commission.

1918 Portrait of Salmon Chase. Reverse vignette of Embarkation of the Pilgrims.

Series of 1928

1928 Portrait of Abraham Lincoln. Reverse vignette of Lincoln Memorial.

1928 Portrait of Alexander Hamilton. Reverse vignette of U.S. Treasury.

1928 Portrait of Andrew Jackson. Reverse vignette of White House.

1928 Portrait of Ulysses Grant. Reverse vignette of U.S. Capitol.

1928 Portrait of Benjamin Franklin. Reverse vignette of Independance Hall.

1928 Portrait of Grover Cleveland

1928 Portrait of James Madison.

1928 Portrait of Salmon Chase.

Series of 1934

1934 Portrait of Abraham Lincoln. Reverse vignette of Lincoln Memorial.

1934 Portrait of Alexander Hamilton. Reverse vignette of U.S. Treasury.

1934 Portrait of Andrew Jackson. Reverse vignette of White House.

1934 Portrait of Ulysses Grant. Reverse vignette of U.S. Capitol.

1934 Portrait of Benjamin Franklin. Reverse vignette of Independance Hall.

1934 Portrait of William McKinley.

Series of 1963-1995

2006 Portrait of George Washington. Reverse vignettes of the obverse and reverse of the Great Seal.

1976 Portrait of Thomas Jefferson. Reverse vignette of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence. First-day issues of could be taken to a post office and stamped with the date "APR 13 1976" (as shown).