$500 to $1,000 to $10,000 and Beyond: The Biggest Dollar Bills in United States History

If the 100,000 dollar certificate wasn't a dollar bill why do you keep referring to it as the 100,000 dollar bill? ;)

Lovely ... I was beginning to forget what US currency looks like, I'm so used to the New Shekel now.

Jared - I think bill and certificate can be somewhat interchangeable in regards to money, if you choose to speak about it more colloquially.

There are several dollar "bills" that also have other designations. I'm sure you've heard of the "Silver Certificate". The is also the "U.S. Government Note". (I've got both types in my collection.) The ones currently being printed are "Federal Reserve Notes".

The only real difference I can see is that the $100k specifies 100,000 Dollars IN GOLD. Which is probably a huge legal difference to being backed by gold.

Could be wrong here, but when money is backed by precious metals, isn't it usually a specific amount (weight) of that metal, not a specific market value? (Based on amount would lend stability, while value is totally at the whim of market fluctuations.)

if only contemporary currency was redeemable in lawful money.....

You could use a good copy editor.

Yeah, we'll be printing up lots of 500, 1000, and 5000 and 10000 Fed notes, just in time for next months collapse... That's right, the USD will be the next peso.... just wait and see mofo's.

Ben, get a clue before you comment. Are you really dumb enough to think the economy is going to suddenly collapse by next month?

Anyway, what I was going to say is, these 100,000 certificates are indeed legal tender. They bear the statement, "This note is legal tender for all debts public and private". This means while the government does not want you to have them it is not "illegal" for you to have and/or use them.

Brian, out of curiosity, what makes you sure that the economy wont collapse next month? Do you have any proof. :)

The economy will not collapse next month. There are various safeguards that the Federal Reserve can employ to halt an all-out collapse of the economy at any point in time.

Gold certificates did circulate in denominations of $10, $20, $50, and $100 that I'm sure of. Maybe other denominations.
Metal backed currency guaranteed that that amount of money (one silver dollar, 10 gold dollars) were on deposit to back that note.

As for types of currency from the Gov't that have circulated, there have been many.
Postage currency 5 to 50 cents
Fractional currency 3 to 50 cents
Legal Tender notes
Silver certs
Gold certs
National Bank Notes (counter stamped with the name of a National Bank)
United States notes
Federal Reserve Bank Notes
Federal Reserve Notes (not the same thing as above)

High denominations are fun, but I find the art of the notes around the turn of the twentieth century more interesting. Do an image search for Educational Series Silver Certificates in google and check them out.

If only our money was as good as gold. Instead we're stuck with silly little slips of paper worth nothing.

George is right the Fed can print as much money as they think will bail us out of any troubles, and nobody will be the wiser for what actually happens when you do that sort of thing.

Funtastical, you are dumb. Get used to it, you will surely hear this many more times during your life. Also, that silly little slip of paper just may save you from being imprisoned by the Feds for failure to pay your income taxes.

Orwell, do you really think that the feds could print money, spend it, and trick the public into believing that nothing has happened? It is called inflation, you should go to college and take an economics course sometime.

very nice dollar bills...

You were all thinking it, I'm just saying it...

There's actually a One Million Dollar Bill....of course its not legal tender and wasn't meant to be used as such. It was published as a Gospel tract by Christians at WayoftheMaster.com to be used in evangelism. On the back of the note there is a message about the Gospel. Funny enough, several people have left them in their cars and thieves have broken in, trying to get their hands on a Million bucks!

What no trillion dollar bill? Damn that Mr. Burns!!!

George is wrong, what \"Safeguards\" are you talking about, the feds can\'t stop something like that. Print more money? Ridiculous, that is the reason why we are getting into trouble in the first place. You guys think you live in this magical world called the USA, where we can go off of the gold standard and still be okay. It will bite us all in the ass, it is just a matter of time. You might as well go buy another condo if you believe that BS.

Although the Fed controls the distribution of currency, it grows or shrinks the money supply through issuing and retiring debt on the open market. It is a transperant process that if you watch CNBC you will hear about once in a while. Currency is only part of the money supply, there are also various types of deposits, etc.

Our money is FIAT. The feds can print just as much money as they want. Besides, they're not even a government agency: they're a cartel! Only faith in the government and the printing on the bills make them valuable. Can the system collapse? Happened in '29. The collapse was based on overextended credit as now. Only the government is nearly broke. It's only a matter of time...

What about the trillion dollar bill. I saw it on TV once so it has to be real. Although I think that the only one in existence ended up in Cuba to fund communism.

the constitution states that only gold or silver should be used as money. the federal reserve is a fraud and are going to bankrupt the country by creating more pieces of paper out of thin air. everyone is going to think it was the bad economy. the media will try and make you believe this. but it will really be the people creating the money.

the federal reserve is the end all of American currency.

My father worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland during the 1960's and 1970's and outside his office there was a display with all of the bills (including $100,000) in there. However, they all had serial numbers of 00000000. (Sorry, I don't remember if they had a prefix D which would indicate Cleveland on it.)

I wonder what the needs were for a $100,0000 bill: "Here's my house payment? (which was probably even less back then.)

What are the advantages over something as safe as, say, a check?

I like this, I've seen a $500 bill in the 90's I did not know all that history. Thanks

interesting. if you tried spending one of those, the cashier would most likely call the police. my mate works in a store and some idiot tried to buy a coke using a supposed 2 dollar bill (?!) a few months ago. if you're gonna fake a note, fake one that's real!
i said he should have given him change in 33 cent coins :)

$2 bills are perfectly legal. They can still print them even!

come on, how ridiculous. there's no such thing as a 2 dollar bill, except maybe for in monopoly!

funny how the biggest one is not a piece of monopoly paper like the dollars the FED print out.. that one was a GOLD Cert.
and the funniest thing of all is that they used the TRAITOR W.Wilson on that bill. W.Wilson was the one who destroyed our prosperity by selling us to a private bank called the Federal Reserve Bank.

Interesting:) I never knew that they printed money that was worth that much money! I just no that there are some 2 dollar bills roaming around.. my uncle used to have them :)

The federal reserve is not federal, it is a privately owned banking
system with stockholders. It is owned by Rockafellor and other Buildaburgers. This is a central bank, which our constitution forbids
President Lincoln issued United States notes, to finance the civil war. They were non interest bearing notes. The Federal Reserves charges us interest, and it goes on forever. President JFK issued several billion dollars of these US notes in the 60\'s. Have you ever seen one? They had a red seal and red numbers. He didnt\'t live long after that, he planned to get rid of the fed reserve. I heard someone say that the first order president Johnson gave was to destroy these
plates, and recall all these notes. Until 1964 fed reserve notes said
redemable in lawful money,in other words they or not lawful money!
What is lawfull money? Read ariicle 1 secton 10 US const. Do you know
why there are ridges on some coins? The only real money we have now
is the pre 1982 pennies, they are still in circulation, they have
value in themselves, they are worth twice their face value for their copper content. I could ramble on all night, hope this gives a little
food for thought.
content

If the gold standard isn't important to our money supply? Why is it that rich people and banks use it as a primary transaction method?

Why would someone use a $100,000.00 bill? Isn't that too much cash?

i wish my name was on that gold certificate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!i would be famous!!!!!

o and jake85..there isn't a such thing as too much money

If the US wasn't in deep doo doo, would be be borrowing money from China like a crazed shopaholic? Every dollar we accept from the Chinese sells a little bit more of this country!

The 100,000 was never released for circulation, the 10k's were but really were only used between federal banks for balancing accounts.

Every now and then on eBay someone claims to be selling a genuine 100k note but it's a copy. The BEP does have examples in sheet form that never circulated but were saved. They bring these to the larger currency shows occasionally.

I also wanted to mention that most of the remaining 10k notes come from the famous Binion hoard. Jack Binion who owned the casino Binions had a display of 100 10k notes in a horseshoe. These notes were sold after this death. All of these notes have had some level of restoration done as they were all glued into the display. for a mediocre example of a 10k note you can expect to pay about 100k.

ITS ALL A SCAM - DONT LOOK NOW BUT THE US GOVERNMENT - CORRUPT AND BLOADED - CANNOT BACK UP ITS CURRENCY - OUR CHINESE OVERLORDS ARE ON THE WAY!!!!! PREPARE AMERICA FOR THE COMING CHINESE TAKEOVER WHERE CHINESE AND MEXICAN MAN WILL BE YOUR HOLDER!!!!!

IT IS NOT TOO LATE- VOTE RON PAUL TO PREVENT THIS ATROCITY!!!!

To Mr. Hipkiss: There is a valid $2 note. They are still in circulation and I've had them, spent them, and taken them at stores I've worked at. Don't be such a Know-it-all, when you obviously, don't know jack!

you yanks are so dumbed down that you dont even realize that your economy is based on paper... and the federal reserve is a joke, its not government controlled, IT\\\'S A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION... and ya, a collapse of your econmy will happen soon, maybe not in a month, but soon, cause your so f-in greedy that you\\\'ll just keep printin up the cash lol... ya were in debt, so we\\\'ll just borrow more money from the fed reserve, who has to just print it up.... your money is not backed by anything, i use your 1$ bills to wipe my a** cause its cheaper than buying toiletpaper... thats my 2 cents, which is worth more than your oppinions cause you dont know any better.... realize that your all getting swindled, overthrow your twisted government, and make the US what it should be! or just be spinless cowards and do nothing... im gonna go enjoy MY freedoms and rights like a canadian citizen should, smoke my weed and laugh at you guys while your government comes up behind you and stabs you in the back... again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_of_England_note_issues

£100,000,000 note

^^^^ another misled citizen... if your money is backed by gold and silver, then go to your bank and try and exchange your money for equivalent of, or even better try going to a store and pay with gold... the amount of info that your not told is hilarious... the government controls ft. knox, not the federal reserve... and the fed reserve, is a company, owned by a partnership of the wealthiest ppl, the elite... the money you have is NOT backed by gold or silver... go get educated... and ya lots of countries have paper money, but they are backed by gold, or silver... and think about this, your government has to borrow money all the time from the reserver, which can prduce as much of it as it wants, because it just paper.... in turn your government goes more and more into debt, and by prodicing more and more money, your dollar gets cheaper and cheaper.... like wow... why dont you go whatch some more cnn and be more brainwashed, cause really, your country is already doomed, your just in denial and your pride won't allow you to realize the truth.

Who are we in debt to? How are they going to collect? Go smoke your American grown weed that you paid for.

@justanother reader: you're right gold certificates (and silver certificates) are worth a certain value of the precious metal they represent. A bill from 1934 such as the $100,000 note depicted would have been at the point just after the revaluation of gold from $20/oz to $33/oz and therefore would be worth 3030.30_ ounces of gold. At today's close of $907.70/oz that would be a value of $2,750,606.06.

@Mrs. Moneypenny: While "antigovernment guy" has a pretty half-baked concept of how the contemporary monetary system works, it is somewhat better than yours.

The reason the gold and silver certificates were recalled in 1969 (and why "silver" money ceased to have any actual silver content in the U.S. after 1965, and 1968 in Canada) is because the gold standard was effectively abolished after a number of revaluations. Gold and silver were completely deregulated in the 1970's. The actual value of U.S. currency (and all the currencies pegged to the U.S. dollar) rests in the fact that oil cannot (or at least could not) be purchased in any currency except U.S. dollars. This has changed recently and is the root cause of the current destabilization and devaluation of the U.S. dollar.

The U.S. is in debt to a private banking system, and by it's very nature there is less money in circulation than what would be necessary to pay the debt. The economy floats along because other nations require American dollars to buy energy in the form of oil. To do this they have to trade other goods at a deficit and maintain a reserve of American dollars at even higher cost. Essentially the debt is "paid" by the material resources of the so-called Third World.

If the dollar keeps going the way it is today They the Government will have to bring them back into circulation, so you can pay your taxi bill

well researched. would like a follow up which distinguishes silver certificates, gold certificates, and federal reserve notes. Along with a history thereof. I'll take my answer off-air.

well well well.whoever you are i hope it is not my dad jerome wilson.so is this information real beacause im writeing this down on my homework so you better darn be right talk to later if i can.do you know what 1+2+5+20+50+500+1000+5000=?well do you know that answer.and why do you have this website so long i mean look at it nobody going to want to read this whole big old website.so who is this that made this website huh?was it obama was it licoin because it wasnt me.or was it.and please make me a famous movie star if this is the goverment that im talking to right now.but if it isnt i wouldnt of had to say that.i sure wish i had all this moeney on this website.my addres is 79 reimington irvine CA.well that all i wanted to say.i have to get back to my homework have a good day.bye and remeber this is my name .ANGEL WILSON ill talk to you later bye

well hi again.remeber me.from your last messege.
.im done with my homework.why do you allow badwords on this website i mean kids are reading this website .im a kid too.well.bye.

well good morning website whats for breckfast.bye bye

This is an interesting article and all you care about is the grammar used. Go find a life. You annoy everyone.

I want everyone to know one thing.....everything is going to be o.k.

@Mrs. Moneypenny:

Banker is right in how the system works. I would like to add one thing.

The largest group of holders of United States\' government bonds (other than the private/central banks) is the Chinese government and corporations owned by the Chinese government. They alone hold enough bonds that if they were to dump what they own onto world markets all at one time, the U.S. dollar would become practically worthless and our inflation rates would go through the roof.

@antigovernment guy

Don\'t look now, but your \"rights\" are an illusion designed to make you think you are more free in Canada than we are in the United States. We still have the option of armed uprising as we still have not completely lost the right to keep arms, while in Canada, very few still can own a firearm. I will admit, however, that thanks to the treasonous NRA, we are slowly losing our ability to purchase guns. When that right goes, citizens of the U.S.A. will either revolt or be plunged into total dictatorship and unending martial law.

i dont have an image, but the government was selling 3$ at airforce bases, do no know about any other locations, it was of buggs bunny for the celebration of something about 7 or 8 years ago. they used these bills as currency at air force bases, but when returned into the base, they were not recirculated. it is legal money, and banks should except it if you are stupid enough to trade it in for (3) 1 dollar bills; but i would hold on to it, before people forget about this silly bill.

That is the 100,000 "Not Euro" ... almost worthless today.

im a treasure hunter here in the philippines, and i got a $1M and $500M federal reserve notes. can i redeemed it in U.S. treasury or any U.S. govt. agency?

these are not fake bills like the gospel bills for evangelization. these came in a sealed metal box engraved w/ Federal Reserve. Some federal notes are sealed w/ Platinum box. i think the federal notes are hard to redeem, but the platinum box.. thats the one ive been looking for a buyer

this is all very interesting. i have read about this stuff and talk about it with my father quite often. i have nothing to say, all of what i know has already been said. at least those who have done their research and understand how the monetary system and economy functions (or is supposed to function that is).

how many of you are concerned enough to try and make a difference and vote for the only man who is going to do anything about it, Dr. Ron Paul.

most of you are idiots.

Gold only has value because people believe it has value, just like our fiat money.

There is still printed a $2 bill. Get over it.

The Fed was created by congress and could be dissolved at any time. It is not in the control of the rockerfellers or any other dingbat billionaire. It is run by dingbat bureaucrats.

If China were to dump all of it\'s US debt on the open market then our economy would be in the dumps. So would theirs. So would everyone\'s economy.

They invest in US securities because Zimbabwean securities aren\'t very well secure. They could buy Canadian securities (I am sure they exist, someone would tell me if I am wrong) but with one thirteenth of the US economy there are probably not enough canadian securites in markets to make a difference.

Also, it is better for them to buy US securities and manage their money than to buy weapon systems.

Finally, as other growing economies are made more stable by rule of law expect their securities to be sought after, think Dubai.

Thank you garrett for making the only intelligent comment on this board.

Its over nine thousand!!!!

I have a bunch of those my aunt left me if anyone is interested...

Here in Europe, large bills are still printed. Maybe not as large as some of these, but up to 500 Euro bills are in regular circulation. At todays exchange rate that's about $750!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro_banknotes

Johnny2bad,

My comment about buying other securities was perhaps not as clear as it could be. China sells goods to the US and ends up with american dollars. Now, it would make sense that if they were buying any raw materials from the US they would use that american money. But they could buy raw materials from any country pegged to the US dollar. With that they will probably have some extra cash.

My point was that with that extra cash they could just as easily buy securities from any country. Although with current exchange rates it would not make sense to buy say British securities. They could buy Kuwati securites, or South African securities. The problem is that many of those countries do not offer the secure environment to invest in because one long weekend and a coup later and poof their value is kaput. Think Venezuela.

Hah! What next, a $10,000 Bill? But really, I actually had no idea those actually existed...really. It is cool though, and by no doubt it's too bad that they aren't around anymore. I mean, who doesn't want to go up to cashier and say "Here's a $100,000 bill, can I have change?

to Dirst Manowy. I know you are just kidding around, but no store is required to take any denomination of bills. How many times have you seen a sign at a cash register that states they accept nothing larger than $20 bills.

I almost never carry anything larger than a $20 bill, and usually make my purchases with my debit card... its backed by my bank account which consists of digital data in my bank\'s computer database. Luckily it is way below the limit that is insured by the FDIC.

Of course, I just saw a news report that the FDIC doesnt have enough money to insure the depositers in all the banks that are dangling near the edge of bankruptcy due to the high risk mortgages they handed out like candy....

But I digress... cool money on this site.

Why am I appalled at the bills that do not have US Presidents on them? IMO, only presidents should ever have such a priviledge.

Nice history lesson. You can buy near real copies of these upper $ bills on ebay. I bought 50 $1000 to give away in my business have been a hit. I paid around .75 cent each. it's worth the the talking about these rare bills.

"I will admit, however, that thanks to the treasonous NRA, we are slowly losing our ability to purchase guns. When that right goes, citizens of the U.S.A. will either revolt or be plunged into total dictatorship and unending martial law."

Dont look now but... you are already under a dictatorship and did NOTHING about it. With all your precious guns. How many sons and daughters have you lost to the Iraq war? Was it worth the nonexistant WMD's? Still so happy that Bush bought the elections?

Enjoy having your phones tapped like the Russians did in the sixties and live in a country where fear rules your freedoms.

PS I would have a good look at Canada as a good example. Many times the guns per head of the populace, and a mere fraction of the gun related crime and accidents. They prove indeed that guns dont matter if you have them or not... its the idiots that hold the guns what makes the difference.

My mom has authentic $2 dollar bills that were printed in I think 1976 - they are postmarked and in a frame. They DO exsist and are legal US Currency! Can't believe some people are naive and don't know about them. I am 30 and I have known aboutt the $2 dollar bill since way back when.

$2 are legal and they do still except them and print them, i have 2 of them and the other day in the mall i saw a vending machine that said it takes $1s, $2s, $5s, and $10s so ha and i can\'t believe some of you thought that they don\'t exist, and i am only 11 years old

good thing i own one of these.....i remember when shaq and i played horse for one

please give me it or im going to cry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kobe

Imagine Bundles of $10,000 and $100,000 bills.

1 have same of the 100.000 US$ Gold certificate, from 1934 what can i do with that and how much is the price for 1 Pice 100 pice in 1 Box

how much if usd$100000 gold serie 34 certificate liquid, can i know ?

In New York, we have the 75,000$ bill, with president Andy on them.

Yes shaq?

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Garret is the real Bonehead.This guy is so wacked out he cant pay attention. What a total Clown. And the Canadian is a real loser.He's a street person living under a bridge.

i have 2 note bill, one is 10,000 (G 00002103 A)and the other is 100,000
(B 00037800 A).Now, how i want to know this bill is real.

Please somebody help me.