Gold
Certificates
A selection of common, scarce and rare large size and small size U.S. Gold Certificates; other numismatic items may be included. If you don't see what you're looking for, please submit your want list. Thank you.
Large Size Gold Certificates are colorful and vivid and are among the most attractive of all [U.S.] currency issues. Their reverses are a brilliant golden orange, symbolic of the gold coin they represent. Although there were nine emissions of gold certificates, only four of the issues were circulated to any extent, namely the fourth, seventh, eighth and ninth issues. The first three issues appeared between 1865 and 1875. Some of the notes were printed on only one side. They remained in general within the confines of banks and clearing houses and were used in settling gold balances. The fifth and sixth issues were series of 1888 and 1900 and consisted of 5,000 and 10,000 Dollar notes only. The fourth issue was the earliest for general circulation. The notes of this issue are series of 1882 and consist of all denominations from 20 to 10,000 Dollars. The 20, 50 and 100 Dollar notes are still occasionally seen. The seventh issue consisted only of 10 and 20 Dollar notes of the series of 1905, 1906 and 1907. The 20 Dollar notes of 1905 are considered the most beautiful of all gold certificates because of their color. Their basic design is similar to that of other 20 Dollar notes, but the obverse center portion of the paper is gold tinted and part of the legends are printed in gold ink, and not the black and white of other issues. These notes also have a red seal and red serial numbers. Thus, the color combination formed by black and white and gold and red, makes a very pleasing impression. The eighth issue consisted only of 1,000 Dollar Notes of the series of 1907. The ninth and last issue of Gold Certificates forms the notes that are most frequently seen today. These notes are series of 1913 and 1922 and the issue consisted of all denominations from 10 to 1,000 Dollars. The series of 1913 appears only on 50 Dollar notes . . . The obligation on gold certificates is as follows, This certifies that there have been deposited in the Treasury of the United States of America . . . Dollars in gold coin payable (or repayable, series 1882) to the bearer on demand. In addition to the preceding, the notes of series 1922 bear the following, This certificate is a legal tender in the amount thereof in payment of all debts and dues public and private. Acts of March 14, 1900, as amended and December 24, 1919. Small Size All [small-size Gold Certificates] are now obsolete. The issue was short lived as the Gold Reserve Act of 1933 required the surrender of all gold certificates, both large and small size. On April 24, 1964, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon removed all restrictions on the acquisition or holding of gold certificates and it is now legal to collect them. Unlike the large notes, the reverses of these gold certificates were printed in green. Small size gold certificates are considered much scarcer than the old large size notes. The obligation is as follows, This certifies that there have been deposited in the Treasury of the United States of America . . . Dollars in gold coin payable to the bearer on demand . . . This certificate is a legal tender in the amount thereof in payment of all debts and dues public and private. [All small-size Gold Certificates have a gold seal.] -- Paper Money of the United States: A Complete Guide with Valuations (1998), by Arthur L. Friedberg¹ and Ira S. Friedberg¹. [Previous links to the 18th edition (2006-2007) of the book.]
¹ In 1993 the Friedbergs were awarded the Prix d'Honneur of the I.A.P.N. for Gold Coins of the World as the best book of the preceding year. They have also been presented the Medal of Merit of the American Numismatic Association (1992) for distinguished service to the hobby. Arthur received the first place Heath Literary Award (1994) for being the author of the article judged best in The Numismatist during 1993. and the Swiss Vrenelli Prize (1999) for outstanding contributions to numismatics. -- Mintmark.com aStore
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