The first Silver Certificates were printed in 1878 in response to Western silver-mining interests, who were unhappy about the U.S. gold standard. They wanted silver coins, but they got the next best thing—bills redeemable in silver stored in government vaults.

The late 19th-century Silver Certificates are some of the most beautiful bank notes ever produced by the U.S. government. The so-called educational notes are particularly handsome. They include a $1 bill from 1896 with "History Instructing Youth" on the front and portraits of Martha and George Washington on the back, as well as a $2 bill from the same year with "Science Presenting Steam and Electricity to Science and Industry" on the front and portraits of inventors Robert Fulton and Samuel Morse on the back.

In 1899 the popular "Chief Onepapa" $5 was produced followed by a hiatus until 1923, when a $5 Lincoln was issued. In 1928, Silver Certificates shrunk in size a bit like all U.S. currency, and Silver Certificates were printed until 1935. In the 1940s and 1950s, most bills were taken out of circulation and shredded. The bill was briefly revived in 1957, but by 1964 the redemption of Silver Certificates for actual silver had ended.

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1896 $1 Silver Certificate Education Note Gem Uncirculated$1 1886 Martha Washington Silver Certificate Cga Gem 68 FlawlessIncredible 1923 $5 S.c. Porthole Superb Extra Fine++Fr#304: 1908 $10 "tombstone" Silver Certificate Great Condition!!!*ultimate/martha* $1 1891 "martha" Silver Certificate Fr#223 Cga Gem/cu 67Fr. 278 1899 $5 Silver Certificate CuSilver Certificate $5 1934's Group Of 100 Notes Fine-vfFr#215: 1886 $1 "martha" Silver Certificate Great Embossing!Fr#281: $5 "chief" Silver Certificate Superior Note!!!1896 $2 Educational Silver Certificate Large Size Currency Key Note Fr #248 Pmg1899 $5.00 Indian Note - Graded Very Fine - Mule1901 $10.00 Bison Note - Graded Pmg Vf 201896 $1 Silver Certificate Educational Note Fr 224 Pcgs 25 ApparentHgr 1899 $1 Black Eagle ((1of4 Consec#)) Cga Superb Gem 67-opq1896 $1 Educational Silver Certificate Large Size Currency Key Note Fr #225 PmgFr#255: 1899 $2 "mini Porthole" Bright, Stunning!!!!Hgr 1899 $1 Black Eagle ((4of4 Consec#)) Cga Gem 66-opqHgr 1899 $1 Black Eagle ((2of4 Consec#)) Cga Gem 66-opqHgr 1899 $1 Black Eagle ((3of4 Consec#)) Cga Gem 66-opq1896 $5 Us Silver Certificate Pmg 20 Very FineGem Uncirculated Epq 65 Pmg 1899 Black Eagle Silver Certificate Dollar Fr. 236U.s. 1899 Indian Chief $5 Silver Certificate Note Pmg 15 Choice Fine Condition$10 1891 "tombstone" Silver Certificate Fr-298 Tougher Sigs Real Nice Mid Grade1899 Silver Certificate $5 Indian Chief Five Dollar Large Us NoteSilver Certificate $1 1899 Indian Chief Pmg Graded Vg 101899 $5 Us "papa Chief" Silver Certificate "large Size" Old Us Paper Currency!$2 1899 "mini Porthole" Silver Certificate Fr-251 Super Crisp Upper Grade NoteSilver Certificate $5 1934's Group Of 28 Notes AuU.s. 1899 $5 Silver Certificate, F-275 "indian Chief" Note1899 $5 Silver Certificate. Indian Chief. Circ. U-grade Special. No Reserve! Hgr 1908 $10 Silver Cert ""scarce Tombstone"" Nice GradeSilver Certificate 1899 $1 Dollar Note Fr230 Choice Xf 45 Epq Pmg Nice! Pmd513Series 1891 $1 Silver Certificate Pmg Graded Fine 151918 $2 Dollar Bill Cleveland Oh. Blue Seal Battleship Note D-4 D1304507aScarce Series Of 1882 $10 National Currency Frankin National BankFr. 225 1896 $1 Silver Certificate AuHgr 1899 $1 ""black Eagle"" Gem UncirculatedEye Popping $1 Black Eagle 1899 Silver Certificate Pmg 45 EpqRare Fr# 40 1923 One Dollar Red Seal Pcgs Graded Vf-30 Ppq Pcgs Notes PpqHigh Collected $1 Educational 1896 Silver Certificate Pmg 301899 $5 Chief Silver Certificate (pmg 12)1896 $2 Educational Series Silver Certificate Fr#247 Scarce & Highly Collected1957 $1 One Dollar Silver Certificate Error!!! Mis Matched Serial Numbers S/n1896 $1 Silver Certificate Pmg Vf301899 Black Eagle Silver Certificate One Dollar Bill.no Reserve.Hgr 1935a $1 Silver ""experimental R"" Gem Uncirculated1899 $5 Chief Running Antelope Oncpapa Fr #275 Silver Certificate Bill Note - CSilver Certificate $1 1923 Pmg Graded Gem Uncirculated 66 Epq1899 Black Eagle (two Notes)1899 $2 Fr-258 Silver Very Fine,cga 30Large 1899 $2 Two Dollar Bill Silver Certificate Note1899 Two Dollar (agricultural Note) Silver Cert. Fr# 256 Pmg Vf-30 EpqLot Of 122 Series 1957 Blue Seal $1 Silver Certificates Bills Circulated 1 StarU S Paper MoneyAbsolutely Gorgeous $1 1886 "martha Washington" Silver Certificate High Grade!$5 1934c Silver Certificate Wide Star *12275160a Pmg Choice Uncirculated 64$2 1899 Fr#258 Silver Certificate Graded Pmg 20 Vf Fancy Serial @ No Reserve$1 1928b Silver Certificate Experimental Block Xb Pmg Choice Uncirculated 63 Epq1899 Series $2 Silver Certicficate - 1041957b $1 Mismatched Serial# Error + Pcgs Superb Gem 67ppq Uncirculated Mismatch

Recent News: US Silver Certificates

Source: Google News

Marvellous masters of mathematics
Market Rasen Mail, May 19th

Pictured are, back row from left: Poppy Smith and Leo Eugster, from Year 10 who received bronze certificates; Mark Chan and Rebecca Dame, Year 11 bronze; Shanty Kwan, Year 11 silver certificate; Thomas Brocklebank, Abigail Hebert and Marco Chow,...Read more

Wishaw and Shotts staying young at heart with the Discovery Award
Wishaw Press, May 15th

Ann Fisher, 74, from Overtown, a silver certificate participant, said: “It gives you an interest, you meet lovely people and you're learning something all the time. But it's not heavy learning as if you're at school, it's very enjoyable and it's very...Read more

Collectible Currency World is Stunned as Highest Graded 1896 Sequential $5 ...
PR Web (press release), May 10th

Always desired, the $5 Silver Certificate version was formally named as one of the 100 Greatest American Currency Notes by David M. Sundman & Q. David Bowers in their 2005 book by the same name. Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on...Read more

Change begins in 1963
Coin World, May 9th

Likewise, a paper silver certificate was worth more as a proxy for bullion than as money. Silver half dollars, quarter dollars and dimes contained 0.72338 ounce of silver for each dollar of face value. The tipping point for these smaller coins was $1...Read more

SA device scoops innovation award
Independent Online, May 8th

The silver certificate went to Hunter's HawkEye Elite Wheel Alignment System, which was developed in the US, and two other locally manufactured products tied for bronze award status - Supreme Spring's Cobra Coil-Over Suspension Kit and Powertech's...Read more

SJSU working on becoming a sustainable campus
Spartan Daily, May 8th

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system is a rating that provides third-party verification of green buildings. To receive a LEED Silver certificate, buildings have to maintain...Read more

Wallet found in San Marino after 66 years holds family treasure
Los Angeles Times, May 5th

Along with a 1934-series $5 silver certificate were a black-and-white photo of a pretty teenage girl posing in a lush garden, and a 1947 pocket calendar marked with names and dollar amounts. Victoria Marshall, Lisa Carlson and Janet Ruiz of San Marino...Read more

Silver In A Weak Economy
Seeking Alpha, May 2nd

You could legally demand silver with a silver certificate. You could not legally demand it with a Federal Reserve note. Silver was effectively demonetized by law on June 4, 1963, when silver certificates were abolished. Only for as long as they did not...Read more