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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Recent News: US Silver Certificates
Source: Google News
PMG-Certified Note Sells for Record $2.6 Million
CoinWeek, June 18thThe Series 1891 $1,000 Silver Certificate features a portrait of William L. Marcy, who served as a U.S. Senator, governor of New York, Secretary of War and Secretary of State in the early-to-mid 19th century. Marcy is also well known for his quote “to...Read more
Note Sells for $2.6 Million
NumisMaster.com, June 18thA record price of $2.6 million was achieved by Stack's Bowers Galleries when the firm sold a Series 1891 $1,000 Silver Certificate graded Very Fine 25 by PMG. The note depicts William L. Marcy, a senator, governor and Cabinet member famous in American ...Read more
Irvine auctioneer: Rare currency sold for $2.6 million
OCRegister (subscription), June 15thThat's how much an anonymous buyer recently paid for a rare silver certificate, one of only two known to exist, according to Irvine-based auctioneer Stack's Bowers Galleries which arranged the deal. Article Tab: The front of the rare 1891 $1,000...Read more
1891 $1000 Marcy Silver Certificate Sold for Record $2.6 Million
CoinNews.net, June 13thAn 1891 $1,000 Marcy Silver Certificate sold Wednesday, June 12, for a new world record price of $2.6 million, Stack's Bowers Galleries has announced. 1891 $1,000 Marcy Silver Certificate - Front. 1891 $1,000 Marcy Silver Certificate – Front. Graded...Read more
Old Silver Certificate From 1891 Sells For $2.6 Million; 1 Of 2 In Existence ...
Huffington Post, June 13thIRVINE, Calif. -- A silver certificate worth $1,000 when it was printed in 1891 has sold at auction in Southern California for $2.6 million. Stack's Bowers Galleries of Irvine says the certificate is one of only two of its kind still in existence. The...Read more
$1000 silver certificate from 1891 sells for $2.6 million at US auction
Windsor Star, June 12thIRVINE, Calif. - A silver certificate worth $1,000 when it was printed in 1891 has sold at auction in California for $2.6 million. Stack's Bowers Galleries says the certificate is one of only two of its kind still in existence. The other is on display...Read more
Big Dollars For a Silver Certificate
Yahoo! News, June 12thWould you spend $2.6 million to get a certificate for $1,000? A rare, century-old silver certificate bearing the likeness of one William L. Marcy was just sold to an anonymous buyer for that lofty sum, which auctioneers at Stack's Bowers Galleries say...Read more
Stack's Bowers Galleries Sells 1891 $1000 Marcy Silver Certificate for $2.6 ...
DailyFinance, June 11thThe holdings are comprised of different varieties and highlighted by the $1000 Series of the 1891 Silver Certificate graded Very Fine 25 by PMG depicting William L. Marcy, a senator, governor and Cabinet member famous in American history. Only two...Read more
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