Federal Reserve Note

Yeah, we are in total agreement there Nick.

Large size notes are called that because they are 190mm x 80mm versus the size of 'small size notes of 156mm x 66 mm. During most of 1928 and the first half of 1929, the most of the notes being printed were small sized notes. Although the earliest small sized notes carried a series of 1928, the decision was made not to release any of these new small size notes until after the beginning of the next fiscal year which was July 1st. The first small sized notes were finally released into circulation on July 10th 1929.

All of the above pictured notes are of the large size varieties. Nick's note is series 1918, and mine are both 1914.


Here are one of the last large and one of the first small for design comparison, series 1923 and 1928 silver certificates, both actually printed in late 1928....

Trinary, although collectible to some as such, is nothing more than a joke to me. I mention them with a mouthful of sarcasm only.

Yes, it is a trinary. Woooo Hoooo.

I know - I was only mentioning it as a joke. Personally, I've never really gotten into collecting bills. I've found a total of 1 (one) radar in my life. And it was so bad off that it wasn't even worth a premium.

those are some beautiful notes you guys have there.i can only dream of having one of those.love looking at the pictures of them. later greg

Wow, internet sites....ugh. Both stories are taken greatly out of context.

This all has just as much to do with the Gold Standard abandonment in 1933 and the 1878 law restricting the amount of circulating United States Notes to $346 million as it does with a hurricane or the Federal Reserve System.

Consider this: the 1928 $1 USN exists with 32 different face check numbers with indicates that sufficient plates were produced to print at least 60 million notes. Only 1.872 million were printed however. This small quantity can be compared to the 4.296 billion silver certificates printed from 1928-1934.

Now consider this: Although series 1928 is annotated on the note, the plates were not actually made until the spring of 1933. Similar to the 1929 FRBN, this USN was intended to help replace the gold certificates that were now being recalled. In addition to the $1 USN plates produced, there were also produced plates for the 1928 $10 and $20 USNs. The $1 plates were the only plates that were actually used though.

These plates were made under direction of one governmental administration, and were scrapped by the next when the 1878 law limiting the number of USNs was considered. The amount of circulating USNs already exceeded the amount allowed by law, so the $1 notes already printed were placed into storage for the next 15 years (except for the first 5000 which were prematurely released in Washington DC in 1933). The hurricane in the Caribbean was the catalyst for their riddance from the FRS to Puerto Rico in 1948 and 1949. Out of site, out of mind.

I too wish to thank all for this informational topic, NOT to mention the sweet notes posted Thanks, Mike....

Any note with a pop of 10 or less would definitely be considered scarce. As far as the condition goes they look pretty darn good to me.