United States Notes 1862-1971
Demand Notes were replaced by United States Notes (also known as Legal Tender Notes) and were first authorized in 1862. They are the longest-lived type of U.S. paper money (until 2023 when Federal Reserve Notes will pass them). Commonly called “greenbacks” because of the green tint introduced to discourage photographic counterfeiting, they were last issued in 1971. The Secretary of the Treasury was empowered by Congress to have notes engraved and printed by private bank note companies.
Series of 1862/1863
Salmon P. Chase (Secretary of the Treasury, 1861-1864)
Albert Gallatin
Robert Morris
Series of 1878
Series of 1869/1880/1907/1917
The face has a portrait of George Washington and a vignette titled Christopher Columbus in Sight of Land. Back features the famous "Sawhorse" design.
CLICK HERE to see the 1869 note
CLICK HERE to see the 1869 note
Face features the famous "Woodchopper" vignette, plus a portrait of Andrew Jackson.
CLICK HERE to see the 1869 note
CLICK HERE to see The Pioneer vignette
Vignette depicting the Indian Princess Pocahontas. The small eagle on the bottom of the note is unusual. If you turn the note upside down, the eagle engraving looks like the head of a donkey or "jackass," which is another nickname these notes.
CLICK HERE to see the 1869 note
CLICK HERE to see Introduction of the Old World to the New vignette
CLICK HERE to see the 1869 note
CLICK HERE to see the 1869 note
Series of 1901
The face of this famous note pictures an American bison between portraits of the two famous explorers of the western United States, Lewis and Clark. A female figure symbolizing Columbia is on the back.
Series of 1923
Series of 1928
Series of 1953
Series of 1963
Series of 1966
