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-Gold Certificates

Large Size Gold Certificates were authorized by the Acts of March 3, 1863, July 12, 1882, March 14, 1900, and Dec. 24, 1919.

Gold Certificates are one of the most vivid and colorful of all our US notes. They feature a beautiful burnt-orange color that unfortunately fades quite easily. Their colors reflect the gold coins they represent. Of the nine issues, only the fourth, seventh, eighth and the ninth issues were circulated to any extent.

• The first three issues were printed between 1865 and 1875, some of them were printed uniface for foreign banks to identify our currency. Most of this currency was used between bank to bank transactions only.
• The fourth issues were the 1882 series and were issued in denominations of $20 to $10,000. Only the $10, $20, $50 and $100 are still available for collectors.
• The fifth and sixth issue was the series of 1888 and 1900 and consisted of $5,000 and $10,000 notes only. Forget finding one.
• The seventh issue consisted of the 1905, 1906 and 1907 series. They were issued in denominations of $10 and $20 only. These are the ones you are most likely to see today. The 1905 $20 gold certificate is known as the "Technicolor Note", and is very popular and expensive in higher grades.
• The eighth issue was the 1907 $1,000 only. It is extremely rare or unknown.
• The ninth issue is of the 1913 and 1922 series. The 1913 issue was issued in the $50 denomination only. The 1922 issue was in denominations of $10, $20, $50, $100, $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000. The 1922 issue is the more common large-size gold certificate we see in todays marketplace. The $5,000 and $10,000 denomination is unknown.

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