How to identify a banknote

National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution · Public domain · Museum source

United States — Silver Certificate — 1 Dollar — Series 1935

Series 1935

The Series 1935 one-dollar silver certificate is a small-size United States banknote produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Issued as representative money redeemable in silver on demand at the time of its release, the note was printed by intaglio on paper composed of a blend of 75 per cent cotton and 25 per cent linen. Although silver certificates ceased to be redeemable in silver bullion or coin after 1968, notes of this type remain valid legal tender at their face value. The reverse design featuring both faces of the Great Seal of the United States made its debut in 1935, replacing earlier small-size backs. Under Treasury practice of the period, the series date inscribed on a note did not reflect the precise calendar year of printing, but rather indicated a significant revision in design. One-dollar silver certificates served as the primary circulating one-dollar paper currency until the denomination was issued as a Federal Reserve Note in 1963. The obverse is centred on a portrait of George Washington based on Gilbert Stuart's 1796 Athenaeum Portrait, framed by a blue Treasury seal and blue serial numbering, with star notes utilised to replace imperfect sheets. The reverse depicts both sides of the Great Seal of the United States. Individual varieties within the Series 1935 group are distinguished by the series letter suffix and the specific pairing of Treasury signatures.

Source note

Background drawn from Wikipedia (“United States one-dollar bill”; “Silver certificate (United States)”), a tertiary source; details have not yet been checked against issuing-authority records or a standard catalogue.

How to identify

To distinguish this silver certificate from contemporary United States Notes and Federal Reserve Notes, check for the blue Treasury seal, blue serial numbering, and silver obligation text, noting the series letter and signature pair to identify the specific variety.

Key diagnostics

Series letter and the pair of signatures determine the exact variety

Common confusions

Federal Reserve notes and United States notes of similar design differ by seal colour and obligation text

National Museum of American History via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · Museum source

Educational Series silver certificate

Series 1896

The Educational Series refers to a group of three United States silver certificates produced in 1896 by the U.S. Treasury. Production began after Claude M. Johnson, chief of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, directed that new currency designs be prepared. The series takes its name from the title of the allegorical vignette appearing on the one-dollar note, History Instructing Youth. Although higher denominations of ten, twenty, fifty, one hundred, five hundred, and one thousand dollars were planned, only the one-, two-, and five-dollar denominations were ever completed and issued before the series was abandoned and replaced by the Series of 1899. The notes are defined by complex allegorical compositions across the obverse and dual historical portraits on the reverse, with female allegorical figures appearing on every denomination. The one-dollar note displays History Instructing Youth on the front, designed by Will Hicok Low and engraved by Charles Schlecht, paired with reverse portraits of George and Martha Washington. The two-dollar note depicts Science presenting steam and electricity to Commerce and Manufacture, designed by E. H. Blashfield and engraved by G. F. C. Smillie and Charles Schlecht, with Robert Fulton and Samuel F. B. Morse portrayed on the reverse. The five-dollar note features the central vignette Electricity as the Dominant Force in the World, designed by Walter Shirlaw and engraved by G. F. C. Smillie, with portraits of Ulysses S. Grant and Phillip Sheridan on the back. The exposed breasts of the female allegorical figures on the five-dollar note caused minor controversy among members of Boston society, leading some contemporary bankers to reject the notes during transactions and reputedly giving rise to the phrase "banned in Boston".

Source note

Background drawn from Wikipedia (“Educational Series”), a tertiary source; details have not yet been checked against issuing-authority records or a standard catalogue.

How to identify

To identify an Educational Series certificate, verify the 1896 date and look for large allegorical obverse vignettes—History Instructing Youth on the $1, Science presenting steam and electricity on the $2, or Electricity as the Dominant Force on the $5—accompanied by dual portrait vignettes on the reverse.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam · Public Domain (Rijksmuseum) · Museum source

Assignat of five livres, series 17 E, no. 112514, issued 1 November 1791, cancelled in Utrecht

1791-05-06

Single-sided printed assignat: field, bordered on all sides by a band with inscriptions and ornament; in the central field: inscription "Domaines Nationaux / Assignat de cinq livres / payable au Porteur par la Caisse de l'Extraordinaire." above partially handwritten serial number, signature, and value designations in a decorated compartment; in the field relief stamp: bust of a man to the left within a circumscription; printed over the image is the text "FAUX / UTRECHT". Reverse: inscription and text "FAUX / UTRECHT". The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as NG-VG-20-240-F; its record gives material recorded as paper, ink; technique writing (processes), blocked, printing; measurements height 6.7 cm x width 10.1 cm.

Source note

Description translated from the museum's Dutch catalogue text; details are those of this museum object, and how far it represents a wider type has not been independently verified.

original title

Te Utrecht ongeldig gemaakte assignat van vijf livres, serie 17 E, nr. 112514 uitgegeven 1 november 1791

holding institution

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

museum object number

NG-VG-20-240-F

museum classification

["assignat","waardepapier"]

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam · Public Domain (Rijksmuseum) · Museum source

Fifty centisimi, series G, no. 23607 issued by the Banca popolare di Genova

1868-06-24

Obverse: St. George on horseback tramples a dragon lying on the ground; above and below inscription, left and right serial number; below: denomination between two signatures. Reverse: in a field, bordered on all sides by a band divided into compartments with inscriptions and denominations: medallion containing a crowned coat of arms, flanked by two griffins within a legend. The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as NG-ZN-285; its record gives material recorded as paper; technique printing; measurements height 4.1 cm x width 6.7 cm.

Source note

Description translated from the museum's Dutch catalogue text; details are those of this museum object, and how far it represents a wider type has not been independently verified.

original title

Vijftig centisimi, serie G, no. 23607 uitgegeven door de Banca popolare di Genova

holding institution

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

museum object number

NG-ZN-285

museum classification

["bank notes","waardepapier"]

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam · Public Domain (Rijksmuseum) · Museum source

Banknote of two South African rand

1981 - 1990

Banknote of two South African rand — Rijksmuseum object NG-2016-4-A. Dated by the museum: 1981 - 1990. Museum record — Classification: bank notes; twee rand; waardepapier. Original title: Bankbiljet van twee Zuid-Afrikaanse rand. It is catalogued under Republic of South Africa. Physically, the entry records material paper.

Source note

These details come from the holding museum's own record of this object; how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.

original title

Bankbiljet van twee Zuid-Afrikaanse rand

How to identify

Compare the issuing bank, value, date, signatures and serial format, and check the watermark and printer's imprint; dates and signature combinations separate sub-varieties.

museum object number

NG-2016-4-A

museum classification

["bank notes","twee rand","waardepapier"]