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The answer is a very definite no. Silver certificates were only one of many different types of currency issued until the middle of the 20th century. Some of the more common ones were
- Demand notes
- United States notes
- Gold certificates
- National Bank notes
- Treasury notes
- Federal Reserve Bank notes (which were different from Federal Reserve notes)
- National Currency notes
Most denominations of silver certificates were only printed during a limited time in the 19th century. Only $1, $5, and $10 silver certificates continued into the 20th century.
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What can you do with a 1957 dollar bill?
1957 $1 bills are silver certificates. In the old days, you could trade that dollar for $1 worth of silver, or silver dollars. Right now, you can sell them or keep it.
What is the value of a 1934 US 20 dollar silver certificate with HAWAII on it?
As the banner across the top indicates, your bill is actually a Federal Reserve Note. Not all old bills are automatically silver certificates. Please see the question "What is the value of a 1934 US 20 dollar bill with HAWAII on it?" for more information.
What is the difference between a red seal and blue on US silver certificates?
If you're referring to small-size bills printed in 1928 or later, there are no red-seal silver certificates. Starting that year the Treasury adopted standardized seal colors:Green = Federal Reserve NoteBlue = Silver CertificateRed = United States NoteGold = Gold CertificateBrown = National Currency NoteBecause many people aren't familiar with all of these older types they tend to assume all old bills must be silver certificates. However if you check the seal color and the banner across the bill's top front it's easy to tell the difference.The situation is more complicated for bills printed before 1928. There were no standard seal colors, so it's possible to find just about any combination of seal color and bill type.
Were there red letters on some US silver certificates?
Yes, for three different bills. Before 1928 seal and serial number colors weren't standardized. Both 1891 and 1896 $1 silver certificates were printed with red ink. In 1928 blue ink was adopted for all silver certificates but an exception happened in 1942. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing was testing possible alternatives to the linen/cotton paper normally used for banknotes because they were concerned that the war might cut off supplies. Some bills were printed on other materials and put into circulation to see how they would hold up in normal use. All were dated 1935-A and had red "R" or "S" letters added to the design to indicate they were printed on one of the alternative papers. The experimental bills didn't hold up any better, so the BEP went back to the old linen and cotton mixture and still uses it for all bills.
What is the value of a 1953 US 2 dollar silver certificate?
Please don't assume that all old bills are silver certificates. Your bill is a United States Note, as indicated by those same words across the top front of the design. The last $2 silver certificates were printed as part of an 1899 series. Its value depends on the letter next to the date. No letter : about $2.50 "A" : $2.50 - $5.00 "B" : $2.75 - $5.50 "C" : $3.50 - $6.50
What can you do with a 1957 dollar bill?
1957 $1 bills are silver certificates. In the old days, you could trade that dollar for $1 worth of silver, or silver dollars. Right now, you can sell them or keep it.
Is there a US 2 dollar silver certificate?
Yes, but they were only issued during the years 1886 to 1899. All are collectors' items with values ranging from $350 to $4500 (as of 06/2013) depending on their date and condition. Many people erroneously believe that because a US bill is old, it's automatically a silver certificate. In fact, silver certificates only made up a small portion of the various kinds of bills issued over the years. Starting in 1928 when current bill sizes and seal colors were adopted, $1 bills were the only denomination issued exclusively as silver certificates. All silver certificates issued starting with that date will have a blue seal and serial numbers along with the words SILVER CERTIFICATE in a banner above the portrait.
What is the value of a 1934 US 20 dollar silver certificate with HAWAII on it?
As the banner across the top indicates, your bill is actually a Federal Reserve Note. Not all old bills are automatically silver certificates. Please see the question "What is the value of a 1934 US 20 dollar bill with HAWAII on it?" for more information.
What is the difference between a red seal and blue on US silver certificates?
If you're referring to small-size bills printed in 1928 or later, there are no red-seal silver certificates. Starting that year the Treasury adopted standardized seal colors:Green = Federal Reserve NoteBlue = Silver CertificateRed = United States NoteGold = Gold CertificateBrown = National Currency NoteBecause many people aren't familiar with all of these older types they tend to assume all old bills must be silver certificates. However if you check the seal color and the banner across the bill's top front it's easy to tell the difference.The situation is more complicated for bills printed before 1928. There were no standard seal colors, so it's possible to find just about any combination of seal color and bill type.
Why does a machine eject a silver certificate?
Silver certificates were discontinued over 50 years ago and were mostly gone from circulation by the mid-1970s so most manufacturers simply don't bother programming their machinery to recognize bills that old. In any case it may not make a lot of sense to spend a silver certificate at face value. While $1 bills dated 1957 haven't appreciated more than 25 or 50 cents, other silver certificates can be worth more to a collector or dealer.
Were there red letters on some US silver certificates?
Yes, for three different bills. Before 1928 seal and serial number colors weren't standardized. Both 1891 and 1896 $1 silver certificates were printed with red ink. In 1928 blue ink was adopted for all silver certificates but an exception happened in 1942. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing was testing possible alternatives to the linen/cotton paper normally used for banknotes because they were concerned that the war might cut off supplies. Some bills were printed on other materials and put into circulation to see how they would hold up in normal use. All were dated 1935-A and had red "R" or "S" letters added to the design to indicate they were printed on one of the alternative papers. The experimental bills didn't hold up any better, so the BEP went back to the old linen and cotton mixture and still uses it for all bills.
Do businesses accept old bills?
Technically all current-size Federal Reserve Notes, U.S. Notes, and silver certificates are legal tender. However, some businesses may be reluctant to accept older bills because they were much easier to counterfeit.If you have old bills you should also find out if they have any collector value that's higher than their face value. For example, some old $5 silver certificates can sell for $10 or more to a collector, so you wouldn't want to spend one and just get 5 bucks for it.Also, many businesses do an extremely poor job of educating employees about the coins and bills that are currently in circulation. There have been numerous cases, some ending up in court, where clerks refused to accept $2 bills, half dollars, or the new presidential dollar coins as legal money.
What is the value of a 1953 US 2 dollar silver certificate?
Please don't assume that all old bills are silver certificates. Your bill is a United States Note, as indicated by those same words across the top front of the design. The last $2 silver certificates were printed as part of an 1899 series. Its value depends on the letter next to the date. No letter : about $2.50 "A" : $2.50 - $5.00 "B" : $2.75 - $5.50 "C" : $3.50 - $6.50
What is the value of a 1963 US 100 dollar silver certificate?
Please don't assume that just because a bill is old it must be a silver certificate. The 1963 series of $100 bills were only printed as green-seal Federal Reserve Notes, and the last silver certificates were $1 bills dated 1957. There's more information the at question "What is the value of a 1963 US 100 dollar bill?".
What is the value of a 1914 US 20 dollar silver certificate?
Please don't assume that every old bill is a silver certificate. 1914 $20 bills were issued as Federal Reserve Notes, not silver certificates. There's more information at the question "What is the value of a 1914 US 20 dollar bill?".
Why did the US stop printing silver certificates?
Prior to 1964, the USA was "on the silver standard." The government controlled the price of silver, and silver certificates were bills that could be exchanged for a specific amount of the metal. The government was allowed to print only as many silver certificates as there was silver in the Treasury to redeem them, which helped to control the money supply. Silver certificates in fact were little more than a receipt or deed for a certain number of ounces of silver. In fact it was possible to exchange a silver certificate for its denominated value in silver metal. During the 19th century silver certificates were at one point or another issued in every denomination from $1 to $1000. In the 20th century that range was limited to $1, $5, and $10. In the 1960s the demand for silver increased sharply and the government was forced to let the price be determined by market forces. The value shot up from the controlled price of $1.29/oz to over $40 before settling back down. That volatility meant it was impossible for the Treasury to maintain a fixed connection between the value of silver certificates in circulation and the amount of metal held by the Treasury. Speculators were "gaming" those price fluctuations by repeatedly exchanging bills for silver or silver for bills, then skimming off the difference. The Treasury found itself in the position of in effect subsidizing that speculation; in 1968 they halted redemption and declared the bills to be fiat currency, the same as Federal Reserve Notes. Many late-date silver certificates were saved by collectors, and are still so common in collections that they are not worth much more than face value despite being 50+ years old.
What is the value of a 2006 US 5 dollar silver certificate?
Please check the top of your bill; it should say Federal Reserve Note across the top. The last silver certificates were $1 bills dated 1957 and the last $5 silver certificates were issued in the 1953 series. There are two different designs of $5 bills in the 2006 series - the old green and black design with Lincoln's portrait in an oval, and the new purple and gray ones without a border around the portrait. Both are very common and have no added value.
