The largest dollar bill. How did the dollar appear, and why is it green

One of the main world currencies is the US dollar, because most international financial transactions are carried out in this currency. In addition, US dollars have an interesting and rich history, we will definitely talk about this further. And also consider the question of what dollar bills exist, their denomination, what is shown and the photo.

About foreign currency

First, let's look at where the word dollar came from. Oddly enough, but the story goes back to Germany of the 16th century, it was in the German city of Joachimsthal that they began to mint silver coins, which were called "thaler". These coins were used not only by the Germans, but also by the Dutch, and subsequently all silver coins were called "thaler". In the United States of America, coins appeared along with immigrants during the colonization of North America.

The very concept of the dollar, which, it is not difficult to guess what comes from the word "thaler", appeared after the War of Independence, it took place from 1775 to 1783, but according to some sources, the dollar appeared in the United States in 1785. Undoubtedly, since that time, foreign currency has experienced many changes, namely, their denomination and design have changed. In addition, the first dollars were only metal coins, and only later began to be issued as paper notes. Consider the denominations of US dollar bills that exist today.

An interesting fact: that in the USA until the year 61 of the XIX century there was no Central Bank, that is, release Money nobody regulated. With the outbreak of the Civil War, the government decided to issue new banknotes, the state order went to American Bank Note Co. The total amount of cash was $60 million, and the denominations of the bills were $5.10 and $20. Accordingly, it was necessary to produce a huge number of banknotes. Representatives of the company approached the issue of designing new money in the following way, they audited the warehouse and found out that they had the most green paint. That is why, to this day, US dollar banknotes are made in green, but, fortunately, since then, the denomination of dollar banknotes has become somewhat more diverse.

Please note that today there are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 dollars in circulation as banknotes.

1 US dollar

The smallest paper note in the United States is the $1. Size 155.9 by 66.3 mm, Valid for 22 months. The front side of the banknote depicts a portrait of George Washington, who was the first President of the United States, during his reign 1789-1797. It is worth noting that the image is made as a relief, and on the left side of the portrait is the seal of the United States Department of the Treasury. By the way, this seal consists of scales, which mean justice, as well as 13 stars, which symbolize the number of first states. The number 1789 is the year the Ministry was founded.

On the reverse side 1- dollar bill the words ONE are applied, which means one in English. On the sides is an image of the Great Seal of the United States, which confirms the authenticity of government documents. The front side of the seal is the head of an eagle, on the reverse side is a pyramid crowned with an eye. Above the logo are the phrase IN GOD WE TRUST, which literally means "In God We Trust", and below it, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, which means the United States of America.

Note that the modern denomination was issued in 1935 by order of President Roosevelt.

2 dollar banknote

Thomas Jefferson is depicted on the front of this banknote., who was a figure in the War of Independence, was also the author of the Declaration of Independence and the third president who reigned from 1801 to 1809. The reverse side features John Trumbull's "Declaration of Independence" painting. By the way, it is worth noting that this banknote is issued extremely rarely and amounts to only 1% per year of the total amount of issued funds. Also, it is practically not used in circulation.

Modern banknotes have been in circulation since 2003.

5 dollars banknote

This monetary unit is completely devoted to the 16th President of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln, during his reign from 1861 to 1865. It is worth noting that Lincoln is a very significant figure in the history of the United States, because the years of his reign fell on the most bloody times in history, namely the Civil War. Indeed, according to historical data, this man prevented the collapse of the country, abolished slavery and carried out many government reforms, including in the banking system. It is worth talking about the murder of this president, he died on April 14, 1865 at the play “Our American Cousin” at the Ford Theater, the killer is the actor of this performance, John Wilkes Booth, who entered the presidential box and shot the president in the head. The next morning, without regaining consciousness, he died.

Let's return to the question of who is depicted on the $5 bill. This is President Abraham Lincoln. On the front side is his portrait, and on the reverse side of the memorial. This building complex, which is located in the center of Washington on the National Mall, was erected in 1922 in honor of the 16th president of America, it is a symbol of the freedom of the people of America. Validity of the banknote is 16 months.

Please note that all American bills have a standard size of 155.956 by 66.294 mm.

$10

Now consider who is depicted on the 10 dollar bill. This banknote is entirely dedicated to the first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States of America, Alexander Hamilton, who took over the Treasury in 1789. In his country, he became famous for the fact that he initiated the creation of the US Central Bank, and was also the author of foreign trade policy, which means limiting the import of imported goods and increasing the volume of own production.

Thus, on the outside of the bill is a portrait of this statesman, the first Minister of Finance, Alexander Hamilton. The reverse side shows the building of the Ministry of Finance. In addition, there interesting fact that by 2020 a new $10 banknote is expected to feature the face of an unknown woman, this decision was made in 2015. And in 2016, it was canceled for the reason that Hamilton is a popular person in his country who has contributed to US history.

Valid for 18 months.

20 dollars

Who is on the 20 dollar bill? The design of this banknote is dedicated to the seventh President of the United States of America, Andrew Jackson, respectively, his portrait is depicted on the front side. The peculiarity of this person is that this person has Irish roots. President Jackson was elected twice, during his reign from 1829 to 1837. It was during his reign that the American economy flourished, the country returned to the gold standard again. So, on the front side of the banknote there is a portrait of the 7th President of the United States, and on the reverse side of the facade of the White House from 16th Avenue, A photo of the $20 bill is shown below.

Valid for 24 months.

$50

Who is on the 50 dollar bill? The face of the note features a portrait of the 18th President of the United States, Willis Grant, during his reign from 1869 to 1877. His image has appeared on the banknote since 1913, and the reverse side shows the seat of the US Congress, this is the Capitol, it is located in Washington on Capitol Hill. Last changes the bill underwent in 2006 and is valid in circulation to this day. Volume per financial market USA is 6%. A photo of the $50 bill is shown below.

Valid for 55 months.

100 dollars

Currently, the largest US banknote is the $100 bill. The largest US dollar bill today is dedicated to Benjamin Franklin, he was both a scientist and politician, as well as a diplomat, writer, journalist, and publisher. He is one of the few who signed with his signature three important historical documents, namely the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Treaty of Versailles in 1783. Since 1914, his portrait has adorned the 100 dollar bill, and on the reverse side is Independence Hall - a building in Philadelphia on Independence Square, it was here that the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed in 1776.

Valid for 89 months.

An interesting fact is that 100 dollars is not the largest denomination in the United States, but the denominations of dollar bills 500, 1000, 10000 and 100000 are no longer issued, although they can be found in circulation, they are also accepted as a payment instrument. What was on them:

• $500 President William McKinley;
• $1,000 Grover Cleveland;
• $10,000 Salmon Chase;
• $100,000 Woodrow Wilson;

Dollar bill security elements

Here we will consider not only which signs testify to the authenticity of banknotes, but also some features that unite banknotes of all denominations of the American dollar. By the way, there are several signs by which you can determine the authenticity without the help of ultraviolet light, we focus on them.
The first sign of authenticity is the high-quality ink, thanks to which banknotes have a high degree wear resistance. If you want to check the authenticity of the banknote, then just wipe it with your finger: you can’t see scuffs on the original banknotes, the paint also does not remain on the skin, otherwise it’s a fake.

Please note that all banknotes are colored with a special ink that shimmers and changes shades from green to black when the paper is rotated at different angles.

Another feature is that all banknotes are printed on paper, which consists of 25% linen and 75% cotton. Accordingly, it does not look like the paper on which books and other printed matter are printed. To the touch, it strongly resembles the material, respectively, it is difficult to tear. If you want to make sure that you have genuine banknotes in front of you, just pull it in different directions, and you will notice that it is elastic and durable, so you will have to make some effort to tear it.

There are a few more features that will help you distinguish the original from the fake. First of all, it lies in the fact that original bills interspersed with silk threads, they are so thin that they resemble hairs. Moreover, they are not pasted on top of the paper, namely, they pass through it. You can carefully pull them out with a thin needle and do not damage the surface of the bill. Fakes are often made of low-quality paper, and these very strips of paper are glued on top of them, so it will be easy to distinguish them.

The last feature is that if you look at the bill through the light, you will see a duplicate of the portrait depicted on its front side. The fact is that it is not drawn on the surface of the paper, but is, as it were, inside and therefore it can be seen through the gap of the bill on both sides.

So, we have sorted out what US dollar bills are. As you can see, this currency has several of its features and differences, as well as history. Each American bill is dedicated to some historical event as well as the personality associated with it. At the same time, it should be noted that the Americans quite reasonably approached the issue of protecting their banknotes from counterfeiting.

The US dollar is considered a world currency, most economies are "pegged" to its rate. It is used for settlements international trade. Depreciation has led to crises more than once, not only in the States, but also in other countries. It will be interesting to know what the largest bill was printed in America.

US dollar denominations

Only those who are fond of numismatics or are specifically interested in this issue are well aware of the currencies of different states. For most people, it is usually enough to know about the world quote and current exchange rate the most popular currencies. Or information about the correlation of the course with the country where you plan to travel on vacation or on a business trip.

For example, not everyone knows what is the largest bill of the American dollar. On the territory of Russia, several attempts were recorded to exchange 1 million dollars. If you think that banknotes with this denomination do not exist, then you are mistaken. They really exist, but in very limited quantities and not for payment. How can this be? After all, that's what money is for! As it turned out, there are exceptions to every rule, and this is just such a case. Therefore, it is worth finding out what is wrong with some American banknotes, and what denominations are the largest and really exist.

For foreign countries

For walking around foreign countries The largest dollar bill is the $100 bill. These are the features of US law: money with a face value of more than $ 100 is prohibited from exporting to other countries. Both in the States themselves and abroad, 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 dollars are in circulation. It will be fair to note that the "weaving" is not only the largest, but also the most popular.

Interesting to know: many have heard of $2, but it is unlikely that they will ever be able to meet it in free circulation. This applies to both foreigners and Americans. The two dollar bill has a numismatic value real price much more than the stated value.

Inside the country

If the “weave” is the largest denomination in circulation (even in America itself), this does not mean that the dollar does not have a higher denomination. It's just that they practically do not occur and are gradually withdrawn from circulation by banks. AT different time The most "big money" were considered:

• $500: in 1928-1945 were in active circulation. They are printed with the image of the 25th President of America, William McKinley. BUT! This applies only to the 1934 series. The earlier issues are of particular value to collectors, because such a denomination was printed back in 1870 in the state of North Carolina.

• $1,000: It is adorned with an image of Stephen Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th-term president, by the way, the only one to have held the position intermittently. According to some reports, there are only 165 thousandth banknotes in circulation or “on hand”. Collectors are also hunting for them. Although they are not the most valuable. The banknotes issued earlier are unique. For example, 1890. It is decorated with a portrait of General George Gordon Meade. There are only two of these left, and the fate of one is not known, and the second was seized by the Federal Reserve Bank. In 2006, a valuable copy was sold at auction for 2 million 225 thousand dollars. There was also an 1880 issue with New York State Mayor and US Senator Devitt Clinton on the front. It is estimated at more than one hundred thousand, although the facts of purchase for recent times was not recorded.

• $5000: on the obverse - 4th President James Maddison, 342 copies from this lot have not been withdrawn from free circulation. They are sometimes sold at auctions, and relatively inexpensive - "only" for 10 thousand. There is also a 1934 series featuring Philander Chase. There is evidence that it was he who gave the characteristic black and green colors to the world famous currency while working at the US Treasury (from the middle of the 19th century he worked there as first secretary).

• $ 10,000: it is she who is the largest dollar banknote in real circulation, only 336 pieces. currently in hand. This is a 1944 issue (last printed) with a portrait of a major politician, Chief Justice and Treasury Secretary Samuel Chase. This Chase is known for participating in the signing of the Declaration of Independence back in 1776. There is also an 1870 issue with Andrew Jackson, 7th President.

Now the largest denominations in existence in the States are more of a collector's item than a real means of payment. Their nominal value is incomparable with the real one. Therefore, tickets with such a denomination are unlikely to be found in everyday life. But if someone is lucky, then you should not exchange such a banknote, collectors literally “hunt” for them and are ready to pay!

Money is not for people

For internal settlements, the largest real (that is, secured and solvent) American denomination is $ 100,000 from the infamous issue of 1934-1935. with Woodrow Wilson on the obverse, 28th President. The issue of 42,000 copies coincided with the Great Depression. They were used for intra-bank settlements and in settlements with the Treasury. The main part of the circulation was soon destroyed, on hand, in theory, they should not be. The fact is that their possession is prosecuted under the laws of the United States. Although no one (except bank employees) has held or seen banknotes of such denomination, until now $ 100,000 remains the most expensive not only in the States, but also in the world.

Interestingly, the most expensive banknote, even at the time of its creation, was characterized as "unbearable money." At that time, the state of the economy was so paid that it simply did not make sense to put it into circulation: people would not have had enough money to buy it out.

Looks like money

Now back to the 1 million banknote. So was she or not? Its release actually took place in 1998. But the initiator of its creation was not the government or the banks that have the right to do so. $1,000,000 was issued by a private individual and therefore has nothing to do with real money. But the history of appearance is quite interesting.

Entrepreneur Teri Steward initiated the release of this souvenir for the rich. He created International Association Millionaires and officially registered the organization in accordance with all the rules. She was invited and entered the richest people from all over the world. united their idea financial independence. And the printed souvenir became, as it were, an “entrance ticket” that had to be purchased as a symbol of membership in the Association.

Teri approached the issue creatively and quite seriously. The sample was $10,000, but instead of a portrait of a real politician or president (and this is one of the signs of real money), the Statue of Liberty, the famous symbol of the United States, was depicted. Moreover, in order not to mislead people about the solvency of a million, reverse side the inscription was printed: This certificate is backed and secured only by confidence in the American Dream. Literally translated: This certification comes from faith in the American Dream.

For printing, high-quality paper with several degrees of protection was used:

• microfonts;
• metallographic printing;
• micronodes;
• serial number;
• UV labels.

In general, the signs of the reality of "money" are quite serious. Although with the signature of Teri himself, the ideological developer of the souvenir. Moreover, the order was executed not by a private printing house, but by a banking company that has the right to issue real banknotes. After the required number of millions had been printed, all the clichés were destroyed.

In 1990, the sale of "membership cards" began. The starting price was only $200, but as demand increased (and there was!), the cost increased and reached $9,500 per ticket. On the this moment The Association periodically sells its souvenirs. Moreover, each time it is stated that this issue is definitely the last of the reserves that have been preserved since the printing of the circulation. Like it or not, it is not known for certain. But since the peak of the cost, "million" has fallen sharply in price.

Not only in Russia, but also in the States, they tried several times to pay with a souvenir and exchange a fake million. One of the officially recorded cases: in the state of Georgia, an enterprising lady chose goods for about 2 thousand and presented a “souvenir for the elite” for payment. The most curious thing is that the scam was almost a success. But there was not enough change at the box office. The senior cashier of the supermarket, attracted to solve the problem, discovered a fake.

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Dollar bills are the most stable means of payment, they have retained their original design from the first half of the twentieth century, and are legal tender to this day, regardless of the date of issue. The size of any banknote is fixed, the length is 6.14 inches, the width is 2.61 inches. At the same time, the circulation of these banknotes is intensive, so the state daily issues several tens of millions of new banknotes and withdraws worn ones.

Denominations of dollar bills

In free circulation today there are denominations from up to 100 dollars. At the same time, portraits of major politicians are depicted on each banknote, statesmen United States of America. In particular, there are the following types of banknotes:
- USA with the image of George Washington;
- 2 US dollars (issued irregularly) with the image of Thomas Jefferson;
- 5 US dollars with a portrait of Abraham Lincoln;
- 10 US dollars, which depicts Alexander Hamilton;
- $20 with a portrait of Andrew Jackson;
- 50 US dollars, which depicts Ulysses Grant;
- 100 US dollars - the main banknote with the image of Benjamin Franklin.
At the same time, on the reverse side of each bill you can see individual moments of the historical past of the United States (most often - a specific building, structure).

Rare samples and counterfeit protection

In addition to the banknotes of the listed denominations, the previously issued banknotes of $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 retain their value. The state actively engaged in their withdrawal from free circulation as part of a policy of limiting the maximum amount of cash payments, but private collectors have retained them. Their actual value at auctions is usually much higher than the face value, so the use of such banknotes as a means of payment is virtually meaningless.

On the appearance the activities of the state to protect them from counterfeiting also have a serious impact. Yes, throughout recent years updated versions of banknotes of almost all denominations were issued. Changes to the banknotes are minor as one of the objectives was to preserve their traditional designs and colors as much as possible. Improving the applied methods of protection through the issuance of new means of payment is planned every ten years.

The dollar (currency code USD) is the currency of the United States. In addition, the dollar has been adopted as the official and legal currency by the governments of several other countries. The US dollar is usually denoted by the dollar sign ($) or by the abbreviations USD and US$ to distinguish it from other monetary units called dollars and denoted by the "$" sign. One dollar contains one hundred cents.

The dollar was passed by the United States Congress on July 6, 1785. This currency is used in most international trade transactions. In several countries, the US dollar is the official currency, in many others it is allowed to be used informally. In 1995, $380 billion was in circulation, two thirds of which was outside the United States. By 2005, that figure had doubled to nearly $760 billion, estimated to be between half and two-thirds of that money outside the US, an annual growth rate of 7.6%. However, in December 2006, the euro outperformed the dollar by common value currencies in circulation. Since then, the amount of euros in circulation has risen to 695 billion, which is 1.029 billion US dollars at the current exchange rate.

General information

US dollar uses decimal system, it consists of one hundred cents (the cent symbol is ¢). In another division, one dollar consists of a thousand millies or ten dimes; in addition, the Coinage Act of 1792 used the term "eagle" for ten dollars, which later came to be used for gold coins. In the second half of the 19th century, the question was raised several times about the creation of a gold coin worth 50 dollars, which was supposed to be called "half-union", which implied that one hundred dollars equaled one union. However, only cents are in everyday use; the word "dime" is used only as the name of a dime coin, while the designations "eagle" and "mill" are unknown to many, although they are used in tax collections and gasoline prices. Two types of cash are issued: units that are equal to or less than a dollar in value are coins, and units that are equal to or more than a dollar in value are Federal Reserve Notes (there are gold, silver, and platinum coins whose nominal value is one hundred dollars , but the real value of such a coin exceeds the value of a gold bar). Currently, both coins and one-dollar notes are produced, although banknotes are more common. Past value paper money sometimes fell below par, and they were worth less than a dollar, and gold coins were worth up to twenty dollars.

Coins are produced by the US Mint, banknotes are printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and since 1914 by the Federal Backup System. "Large" banknotes issued before 1928 had a length of 188 mm and a width of 79.4 mm; The "small" banknotes printed this year are 156 mm long and 66 mm wide. and a thickness of 0.11 mm.

Etymology

The name "Thaler" (from the German "thal" - a valley related to the English "dale") came from the German coin "Guldengroschen" ("great guilder", a silver coin equal in value to a golden guilder), minted from silver mined on a rich mine in the valley of St. Joachim (Joachimsthal) in Bohemia, which was then part of the Holy Roman Empire (now part of the Czech Republic).

Dollar Nicknames

The colloquial word "bucks" (buck), similar to the English nickname for the pound "quid" (quid), is often used to refer to dollars of different countries, including US dollars. The origin of this term, which appeared in the 18th century, may have been the fur trade that was carried on by the colonies. Another nickname is "greenback" (greenback, "green back"), originally used only to refer to Bill of Exchange dollars created by Abraham Lincoln to finance the forces of the North on the coast during the Civil War. The first banknotes were black on the front and green on the back. This nickname is still used to refer to US dollars (and is not suitable for dollars of other countries).

The word Grand, sometimes shortened to "G", is a common term for a thousand dollars. The suffix "K" (from the prefix "kilo-") is also often used to denote this amount (for example, "$10K" reads "ten ke" and means ten thousand dollars).

Nicknames of banknotes usually correspond to their value (for example, "five", "twenty"). A 5 dollar bill is sometimes called a "fin" (fin), "fiver" (five) or "five-spot" (five-spot), a ten dollar bill - "sawbuck" (soubuck), "ten-spot" (ten-spot ) or "Hamilton" (Hamilton), a twenty dollar bill sometimes called "single" (single), two dollars - "deuce" (deuce) or "Tom" (Tom), and a bill of one hundred dollars is called "Benjamin" (Benjamin), "Benjie" (Benji) or "Frank" (Frank ) (named after Benjamin Franklin, who is depicted on the banknote), or "C-note" (si-note) (C is the Roman numeral for one hundred) or "Century Note" (century note, century-old banknote). Some of these designations are sometimes referred to as "dead presidents", although neither Hamilton ($10) nor Franklin ($100) were presidents. One hundred dollar banknote banking sometimes called "large" (large), for example, "twenty large" means "two thousand dollars." New design banknotes are sometimes called "Bigface" (bigface, large portrait).

In Panama, dollars are called balboa (balboa), and instead of the nickname "bucks" the word "palo" (palo, stick) is used. For example, the phrase "Esto vale 20 palos" translates to "It costs 20 bucks." In Puerto Rico, the dollar is often referred to as the "Peso", a designation used by Puerto Ricans living in the United States.

dollar sign

The $ symbol, which is usually placed before a number, is used to represent the US dollar (and many other currencies). For example, "$14" means "fourteen dollars". Although the exact origin of this badge is unknown, many believe that it originated from the Spanish coat of arms, which features the Pillars of Hercules and "Non Plus Ultra" in the shape of an "S". The Spaniards were the first to use the dollar sign to denote their currency, then it was accepted in the United States, later it was replaced by the dollar.

Another popular theory about the origin of this sign is that one day a printing press accidentally printed the letters U and S superimposed on each other, and the result was a sign similar to $.

History of the dollar

The first dollar coins issued by the United States Mint matched the size and material of the Spanish dollar, and even after the Revolutionary War, Spanish and American silver dollars were used equally in the United States. The coins of some English colonies were also in use. Dutch dollars with a coat of arms depicting a lion were popular in the Dutch colony of New Netherland (New York), but such coins were also used in the English colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries. Most of the coins were badly worn and difficult to distinguish, which is why they were sometimes called "dog dollars".

Private banks issued Spanish and American silver and gold coins, but the federal government did not do so until the outbreak of the Civil War.

The US dollar was originally defined by the Coinage Act of 1792 not as the currency it is today, but as a unit of weight (about 30.54 grams of silver). The value of the gold and silver contained in the coins was calculated at that time according to the prices established in the economy. This allowed the prices of things to remain virtually unchanged over time, influenced only by the inflow and outflow of gold and silver into national economy. According to the US Treasury Department, the prices of goods and services remained relatively stable between 1635 and 1913, with the dollar's purchasing power then 25 times what it was in 2006.

To learn more about the currencies of the colonies and states, see articles on the Connecticut pound, Delaware pound, Georgia pound, Maryland pound, Massachusetts pound, New Hampshire pound, New Jersey pound, New York pound, North Carolina pound, Pennsylvania pound, pound of the Rhodes Islands, pound of North Carolina and pound of Virginia.

continental currency

In 1775, the United States and the independent states began to use the "Continental Currency", measured in Spanish dollars and pounds of various states. The dollar is related to the currencies of other states as follows:

The Continental currency suffered from the depreciation of paper money and was replaced by silver dollars at a rate of one silver dollar per thousand Continental dollars.

Gold and Silver Standards

Since 1792, when the coinage law was passed, the value of the dollar corresponded to 371.25 grains (24.057 g) of silver and 24.75 grains (1.6 g) of gold, a ratio of 15:1. In 1834 the value changed to 23.2 grains, and in 1837 to 23.22 grains (1.5 g), a ratio of 16:1.

In 1862, due to the Civil War, precious metals were no longer used in the production of banknotes. The production of silver and gold coins continued, and in 1878 the ratio of the value of banknotes and coins was restored. During the War of 1812, the situation repeated itself. The use of non-ferrous paper money was legalized by the Articles of Confederation between 1777 and 1788. they depreciated, they were no longer considered a continental currency. This was the main reason for the inclusion in the constitution of a clause that any state should accept only gold and silver as payment for a debt.

In 1900, the bimetallic standard was abolished, the dollar again became worth 23.22 grains (1.5 grams) of gold, and one ounce of gold - 20.67 dollars. Silver coins continued to be issued until 1964, when the issue of silver dimes and quarters ended, and the silver content of 50 cents was reduced to 40%. Silver fifty cents last time were released in 1969.

Gold coins were abandoned in 1933 and the price of one dollar changed to 13.71 grains (0.87 g) and the price of one ounce of gold was $35. This price remained until 1968. Between 1968 and 1975, the exchange rate fluctuated. On January 1, 1975, the price was $42.22 per ounce, and the US dollar became freely used in foreign exchange markets.

According to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the most expensive note ever issued was the $100,000 Series 1934 Gold Certificate. These notes were printed from December 18, 1934 to January 9, 1935, and were issued by the Treasurer of the United States and the Federal Reserve Bank only for an equivalent amount of gold bars held in the treasury. These notes were used only in the operations of the Federal Reserve Banks and were not in the hands of the common people.

coins

Official United States coins have been issued every year from 1972 to the present. Today in circulation are coins worth one cent (also called "penny"), five cents (nickel), ten cents (dime), twenty-five cents (officially - a quarter of a dollar, in colloquial speech- a quarter), fifty cents (a half dollar, sometimes called a fifty cent) and one dollar (officially - a dollar, often called a one dollar coin).

One dollar coins have never been very popular in the United States. Silver dollars were minted irregularly between 1794 and 1935; copper-nickel alloy dollar coins of the same size bearing President Dwight Eisenhower's portrait were minted from 1971 to 1978. Gold dollars were also minted in the 19th century. In 1979, coins appeared with the image of Susan Anthony; they were unpopular, as they were often confused with quarters due to their nearly identical dimensions, fluted edges, and similar color. The minting of these coins ceased in 1980 (in 1981 a small batch was issued for collectors), but, like all previous coins, they remain legal. Since the number of Anthony dollar coins held by the Federal Reserve or dispensed from vending machines postal envelopes and tickets for issuing change, was depleted, in 1999 an additional batch was issued. In 2000, new dollar coins with the image of Sakegawea appeared, they corrected some of the errors of the previous coin: dollars had a smooth face and a golden color, but they could not be paid in machines that accepted the dollar with Anthony's image. However, this coin has not reached the popularity of the dollar bill and is rarely used in everyday life. Coin advocates cite a failure to take dollar bills out of circulation and weak public support as the reasons for this failure.

In February 2007, the US Mint introduced a new dollar coin as part of the One Dollar Coin Act. The design of the new coins takes into account the success of the "50 State Quarters" series ("quarters of fifty states"), on their front sides - portraits of deceased presidents, starting with George Washington. The reverse side features the Statue of Liberty. In order to have more space for the portrait, the traditional inscriptions "E Pluribus Unum" (one in diversity), "In God We Trust" (In God We Trust), the year of minting and the minting mark will be inscribed on the face of the coin. This feature, similar to the inscriptions on the face of the British one pound coin, is not usually associated with the design of American coins. The inscription "Liberty" (freedom) was excluded, since the image of the Statue of Liberty serves as a replacement. In addition, this will be the first time that coins of different denominations with a portrait of one president will be in circulation. Another unusual fact About the new dollar coin: Grover Cleveland will feature on two coins as he is the only US president to have been elected to two non-consecutive terms.

Early issues of Washington coins contained defective coins, mostly from the Philadelphia mint to banks in Florida and Tennessee. A week after the discovery of defective coins, collectors bought them for $ 850 apiece. The coins are distinguished by the absence of the inscription "E PLURIBUS UNUM IN GOD WE TRUST 2007 P" on the face. They are believed to have been minted in Philadelphia, although this can only be determined by the markers on the coin boxes. The inscription on the edge is minted in both directions, mainly towards the front side. Immediately after the release of the coins, some amateur collectors were deceived into buying coins with the "inscription upside down". Some cynics ironically point out that the Federal Reserve benefits more from notes than from coins, since notes wear out after a few years, while coins are more durable. This opinion is erroneous, since removing old banknotes from circulation and replacing them with new ones does not give the government any benefit to cover the costs of printing new money and destroying old ones. Since many machines cannot give change in banknotes, they only accept one dollar bills, and only a few can give change in dollar coins.

Other denominations were issued in the United States between 1792 and 1935: half a cent, 2 cents, 3 cents, 20 cents, $2.5 (quarter eagle), $3, $5 (half eagle), $10 ( eagle), $20 (double eagle) and $50 (half union). Formally, all these coins remain legal and retain their value, although in reality they are much more expensive, as they are of interest to numismatists, and in gold and silver coins, metal is also of value. In addition, an experimental $4 coin (stella) was issued, but it did not enter circulation, and is considered more of a model than a real monetary unit. There were also one dollar gold coins, the smallest coins ever minted in the US. The half-dime coins surpassed the nickel 5¢ coins in popularity during the first half of the 19th century. The $50 coins mentioned above were issued only once, in 1915, to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal. Only 1,128 were produced, of which 645 were octagonal; they remain the only U.S. coins that are not round and are also the heaviest. (The dollar with the image of Susan Anthony was round, only the frame of the image was decagonal).

From 1934 until now, the only coins in circulation have been the familiar penny, nickel, dime, quarter, half dollar, and dollar. The nickel is the only coin that has only changed design over time. Every year since 1866, nickel has been 75% copper and 25% nickel, except for 4 years during World War II when nickel was used for military purposes.

Since 1982, the United States Mint has also released many coins in various denominations and designs, especially for collectors and speculators. There are large gold and silver coins called "American Eagles" that are legal tender, although they are not used in everyday trading. The reason is that these coins are not meant to be used in transactions and the value of the precious metals in them is higher than their face value. American Silver Eagles were minted only in the form of dollar coins (weight - one ounce) and only for one year, in 1986. 1/10 ounce), $10 (1/4 ounce), $25 (1/2 ounce), and $50 (1 ounce). American Platinum Eagle coins (with platinum content), minted since 1997, appeared in denominations of $10 (1/10 ounce), $25 (1/4 ounce), $50 (1/2 ounce) and $100 (1 ounce). Silver coins are 99.9% silver, gold coins are 91.67% (22 carats) gold, and platinum coins are 99.95% platinum. These coins are available to individuals but must be purchased from authorized dealers. In 2006, the Mint began selling coins made of precious metals directly to private individuals. special technology and having the brand "W". The Mint also produces coins High Quality, intended for collectors and having the same composition as regular ones.

The most valuable currency produced in the US to date is the $100 bill and the $100 Platinum Eagle.

Banknotes

The US dollar is unique to some extent, as more than 10 types of banknotes have been issued, such as the Federal Reserve Note, the Gold Certificate, and the US Banknote. To complete this list, learn about obsolete banknotes. The Federal Reserve Note is the only type that has remained in circulation since the 1970s.

Now banknotes are printed in denominations of $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. Notes worth more than one hundred dollars ceased to be printed in 1946 and were officially withdrawn from circulation in 1969. These notes were used mainly in intra-bank transactions and organized crime; it was the narrow scope of use that prompted President Richard Nixon's decision to end it. With the advent of electronic banking systems they were no longer needed. The $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000, and $100,000 notes were all produced at the same time.

The design of the banknotes has been accused of being unsuitable for people with visual impairments. The US Federal Court ruled on November 28, 2006 that dollar bills are not suitable for the blind, they do not give such people normal access to monetary system. The court ordered the Ministry of Finance to develop a new design within 30 days.

1 dollar
2 dollar
5 dollar
10 dollars
20 dollars
50 dollars
100 dollars

What do dollars look like, and who is depicted on dollars? Dollars are "green pieces of paper" with which you can purchase material goods, services and other values, as well as perform other manipulations with these banknotes, for example, store or invest. The dollar is still considered the world's reserve currency. In this article, you will learn, or rather see, what dollars look like, and find out who is depicted on US dollars.

Dollars pay some tribute to certain presidents who ruled the US in different years. That is, American presidents are mostly depicted on dollars.

The smallest American paper currency depicts the very first US President - George Washington, who ruled from April 30, 1789 to March 4, 1797. He is considered the founding father of the country. It is the origin of the American institution of the presidency. George Washington was distinguished by legendary honesty and was during the war of the North American colonies for independence the commander-in-chief of the continental army. This man made a great contribution to the development of the United States, therefore the capital of the United States is the city of Washington. Also, George Washington is depicted on a coin of 25 cents, which is popularly called the "quarter". On the reverse side of the 1 dollar is an unfinished pyramid, at the top of which is a triangle, where the "Eye of Providence" is located, which symbolizes that God sees everything. Also, the famous inscription "In God We Trust" is on the reverse of 1 dollar, and this inscription means - "In God we trust." As for this inscription, Salmon Chase was the first to order it to be placed with American money. And before the image of Washington appeared on the $ 1 bill, it depicted a portrait of Salmon Chase, who was at one time the head of the Treasury Department, and then became the head of Supreme Court USA.

The second American banknote depicts the 3rd President of the United States - Thomas Jefferson, who ruled from March 4, 1801 to March 4, 1809. It's outstanding political figure, philosopher and diplomat, actively participated in the first American bourgeois revolution. He is one of the creators of the doctrine of separation of church and state. Thomas Jefferson is the author of one good phrase: "Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today." By the way, this 3rd President of America is depicted not only on the 2 dollar bill, but also on the 5 cent coin. On the reverse side of the $2 is the painting "Declaration of Independence" by artist John Trumbull. And this is not a coincidence. The thing is that Thomas Jefferson is considered one of the founding fathers of the state, whose death caught during the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The 5 dollar bill depicts the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, who ruled from March 4, 1861 to April 15, 1865. This is the first President of the Republican Party and is considered to be the liberator of American slaves. Therefore, he is considered the president-liberator, during whose reign slavery was abolished in America. During the American Civil War of 1861-1865, Abraham Lincoln personally directed the military operations that led to the victory over the Confederacy. The reverse side of the $5 bill features the Lincoln Memorial in the center of the US capital, Washington. The portrait of Abraham Lincoln also flaunts on the 1 cent coin.

The father of the dollar is depicted on the 10 dollar bill - this is Alexander Hamilton. It should be noted that like Benjamin Franklin, depicted on $100, and Alexander Hamilton, depicted on $10, they were not US presidents. That is, American money does not always contain persons who were US presidents. Thus, there are two exceptions here. Alexander Hamilton is considered the first secretary of the treasury and one of the founding fathers of the United States. On the back of the $10 note, you can see the Ministry of the Treasury, founded by Alexander Hamilton himself.

This $20 bill features the face of the 7th President of the United States, Andrew Jackson, who ruled from March 4, 1829 to March 4, 1837. He is considered one of the creators of the modern American dollar. He was the first president elected as the candidate of the Democratic Party. Considered one of the founders of the Democratic Party. Previously, a portrait of Andrew Jackson has already adorned bills of various denominations: 5, 10, 50 and 10 thousand dollars, and during the Civil War was depicted on the bill of the southern Confederation in 1000 dollars. The back of the $20 bill features the White House.

It is worth noting that Andrew Jackson himself was against National Bank and paper money. And despite this, his face was still often placed on bills of various denominations, and now he is depicted on a 20 dollar bill, which is the most commonly counterfeited. That is, the "twenty" is the leader in the number of counterfeit banknotes.

The 18th President of the United States, Willis Grant, who ruled from March 4, 1869 to March 4, 1877, is featured on the $50 note. Considered a hero of the civil war. He was a commander of the northerners during the American Civil War, an American political and military figure, and an army general. On the other side of the $50 is an image of the Congress in Washington - the Capitol. In 2005, they wanted to place a portrait of Ronald Reagan on this bill, but then the idea failed. By the way, Americans call 50 dollars "grants".

The face of Benjamin Franklin is depicted on the most valuable American bill at the moment. Although he was not the president of the United States, his signature is on the US Constitution, and on the Declaration of Independence, and on the Versailles Peace Treaty of 1873. On the other side of the 100 dollar bill, Independence Hall is depicted - the place where both the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were once signed. Benjamin Franklin himself went down in history as a scientist, politician, journalist, diplomat. He was the first American to become a member Russian Academy Sciences.

Previously printed, but now no longer printed American denominations of 500, 1000, 5000, 10,000 and 100,000 dollars. Basically, they were used in settlements between banks, and in settlements between criminal groups. Since 1936, these American bills have ceased to be printed, and since 1969, by order of President Richard Nixon, they are completely withdrawn from circulation.

But still, it is interesting who was depicted on the old American dollars, which are now not involved in circulation. They featured the following faces:

1. 500 dollars The 25th President of the United States is William McKinley.
2. 1000 dollars- 22nd and 24th President of the United States - Grover Cleveland.
3. $5,000- 4th President of the United States - James Madison.
4. $10,000- initially during the Lincoln administration, the head of the Treasury Department, and then the head of the US Supreme Court - Salmon Chase.
5. $100,000 The 28th President of the United States is Woodrow Wilson.