The Story of Silver Blue Seals

After a brief flirtation with unbacked fiat currency during the Civil War, sentiment arose for a U.S. dollar once again backed by precious metals. First, the Treasury issued Gold Certificates starting in 1865, adding Silver Certificates in 1886. The certificates were redeemable in matching coin or bullion held by the U.S. Treasury. These notes continued until the 1933 recall of public gold and the retirement of Silver Certificates in 1968. Today, gold certificates are limited to use by Federal Reserve Banks to transfer assets among the various branches.Silver Certificates have been taken out of circulation and any still outstanding are redeemable only in their face value in dollars.

Colors to Distinguish Treasury Seals

To distinguish the various types of banknotes issued by the Treasury, specific colors were used for the treasury seal. Prior to 1899, Silver Certificates had a red seal, but it changed to blue when new $1, $2, and $5 notes were issued that year. Ten-dollar Blue Seal Silver Certificates were added in 1933 after a change to smaller-size bills in 1928. The lower-denomination certificates were downsized in 1928 and carried the blue seal until their discontinuance. The only exceptions were two issues of $1 bills during World War II for distribution in Hawaii and North Africa that had brown and yellow seals, respectively.

The Highly Collectible 1935 Blue Seal Silver Certificate

George Washington has been on the face of the $1 note since 1923, but the back of the $1 Silver Certificate was redesigned in 1935 to show the Great Seal of the United States.It had medallions of the unfinished pyramid and its providential eye on the left and the heraldic American Eagle on the right flanking a large “ONE” in the configuration that’s familiar on the $1 bills of today. As the first of the “modern” bill designs, the 1935 Blue Seal Silver Certificate is one of the most collectible Silver Certificates produced.

The Great American Coin Company® is pleased to offer the 1935 $1 Blue Seal Silver Certificate in graded bundles of 100 at very affordable prices. A second series of Blue Seal $1 Silver Certificates was issued in 1957, and are becoming more collectible as they approach their 60th anniversary. These are also available in graded bundles of 100 notes.

Currency collecting can be a fun and rewarding hobby and these Silver Certificates are just part of Great American Coin’s extensive selection of collectible U.S. coins and paper currency as well as currency from around the world. We keep adding unique collectibles as they become available, so be sure to visit us frequently.

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