During the Civil War, both the North as well as the South developed their own currency. Ripped apart by war and teetering on bankruptcy, Congress ordered the printing of a number of notes. These Large Size Notes were commonly called horse blankets because of their dimensions. Issued from 1861 to 1928, their original size was approximately 7.42 inches by 3.13 inches. Cost cutting measures have reduced todays note to the more familiar 6.14 inches by 2.61 inches. Demand Notes or Greenbacks minted only in 1861 represent Americas first type of Federal Bank money.

Large Size-Treasury or Coin notes

These Treasury notes were issued as a result of the Legal Tender Act of July 14,1890. This act authorized the Seceretary of the Treasury to issue these notes in payment for Silver purchased by the Treasury Department. These notes were auctually redemable in either silver or gold coin at the discreation of the Secretary of Treasury. They were issued in denominations of $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 and $1,000 in the 1890 and 1891 series. A $500 dollar note with a picture of General Sherman was authorized but never issued into circulation. The series of 1890 are very attractive and bears the Large Brown Seal, which is always popular.