Silver
Certificates
A selection of common, scarce and rare large size and small size U.S. Silver 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 -- Like the Legal Tender Notes, the Silver Certificates are extensive and offer many varieties of design and subject matter. Two Acts of Congress authorized all the Silver Certificates that were issued, the Acts of February 28, 1878 and August 4, 1886. Under these Acts, there were five different issues, as follows: The first issue consisted of notes from 10 to 1,000 Dollars of the series of 1878 and 1880. These notes were particularly attractive because the reverses are black in color and do not look like conventional paper money. These notes are difficult to find in new condition. They are called on the obverse Certificate of Deposit, which term does not appear on the later issues. The obligation on this first issue is as follows, This certifies that there have been deposited with the Treasurer of the U.S. at Washington, D.C. payable at his office to the bearer on demand -- silver Dollars . . . This certificate is receivable for customs, taxes and all public dues and when so received may be reissued. All the notes of the 1878 series are countersigned by various Assistant Treasurers at New York, Washington and San Francisco in order to denote that silver had been deposited at their offices in these cities. The second issue of Silver Certificates consisted of notes from 1 to 1,000 Dollars of the series of 1886, 1891 and 1908. The notes of the 1886 series are quite popular because of the attractive reverses which are entirely covered with fine, detailed lathe work . . . The third issue consisted only of 1, 2 and 5 Dollar notes of the series of 1896. These notes comprise the famous and ever popular Educational Set. These notes are both the most historical and most artistically designed of all issues of our currency. The fourth issue consisted only of 1, 2 and 5 Dollar notes of the series of 1899. This issue is notable for the many signature combinations that appear on the notes. The fifth issue consisted only of 1 and 5 Dollar notes of the series of 1923. The obligation on the notes of the last four issues is as follows, This certifies that there have been deposited in the Treasury of the United States (of America) -- silver Dollars payable to the bearer on demand . . . This certificate is receivable for customs, taxes and all public dues and when so received may be reissued. Small Size -- Only 1, 5 and 10 Dollar notes were issued and all are now obsolete, abolished by the Act of June 4, 1963. During the tenure of Julian and Morgenthau, a different type of paper was used for part of the 1 Dollar notes series of 1935-A. An R and an S were used as control letters and were surcharged in red on the obverses of the notes. The obligation is as follows, This certifies that there is on deposit in the Treasury of the United States of America . . . Dollars in silver payable to the bearer on demand . . . This certificate is a legal tender for all debts public and private. The foregoing obligation varies somewhat among each series . . . On June 24, 1968, by Congessional Act, the Treasury halted the practice of redeeming silver certificates with silver bullion. The motto In God We Trust appears on the reverse of 1 Dollar Notes beginning with the series 1935-G. The 1935-G series, however, appears both with and without the motto . . . [All small-size Silver Certificates have a blue seal.] -- Paper Money of the United States: A Complete Guide with Valuations, by Arthur L. Friedberg¹ and Ira S. Friedberg¹ (1998). 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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