Series of 1928 (United States Currency)

The Series of 1928 was the first issue of small-size currency printed and released by the U.S. government. These notes, first released to the public on July 10, 1929, were the first standardized notes in terms of design and characteristics, featuring similar portraits and other facets.[1] These notes were also the first to measure 6.14" by 2.61", quite a bit smaller than the large-sized predecessors of Series 1923 and earlier that measured 7.421 8" by 3.125"

A $5 Federal Reserve Note, Series of 1928A.
A $5 United States Note, Series of 1928F.
The very first 1928 Silver Certificate issued (i.e., Serial number 1).

Federal Reserve Notes

Federal Reserve Notes featured a green Treasury Seal starting in 1928. This was the only type of currency that, at first, featured the seal over the large engraved word to the right of the portrait.[2]

These notes also carried a seal bearing the identity of the Federal Reserve Bank of issuance. The bank was noted in the black, circular seal to the left of the portrait. This can be seen in the picture at the upper right, with a "7" in the seal. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, responsible for the 7th district of the Federal Reserve System, issued this note. The regional seal is a design facet unique to Federal Reserve Notes, because almost all other types of notes were issued directly by the U.S. Treasury.

The 1928 Federal Reserve Notes were redeemable as per the following legend in the upper left corner of the note: Redeemable in gold on demand at the United States Treasury, or in gold or lawful money at any Federal Reserve Bank. While these notes were issued by the Federal Reserve Banks, they were still obligations of the U.S. Government, as stated: The United States of America will pay to the bearer on demand [so many] dollars. This obligation to exchange FRNs for gold ended in the early 1930s as the United States outlawed the private ownership of gold and left the gold standard in response to the Great Depression.

Design changes

The $5, $10, and $20 denominations were the first to be issued.

  • Series of 1928A for $5, $10, and $20 resulted from a signature change, and corresponds to Series of 1928 for the $50 and $100 denominations.[3]
  • Series of 1928B for $5, $10, and $20; Series of 1928A for $50 and $100; and Series of 1928 for the large denominations reflected a change in the Federal Reserve Seal to contain a letter instead of a number.[4] The four corner numbers were aligned vertically, as well, causing a shift in plate position letters on certain denominations.
  • Series of 1928C included only fives, tens, and twenties.[3] This series of notes saw very low printing figures, as only certain districts issued notes. This series, the result of a signature change, is also known for its specific light green Treasury Seal variety.[5]
  • Series of 1928D, also the result of a signature change, included only fives, and all notes were issued by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. These notes are among the rarest small-size notes in existence today.

Series of 1928 Federal Reserve Note denomination set

All banknotes in the following table are Series of 1928 Federal Reserve Notes from the National Numismatic Collection at the National Museum of American History (Smithsonian Institution).

Complete denomination type set of 1928 Federal Reserve Notes
Value Series Fr. Image Portrait
5$5 1928B Fr.1952-J LincolnAbraham Lincoln
10$10 1928 Fr.2000-G JacksonAlexander Hamilton
20$20 1928 Fr.2050-G ClevelandAndrew Jackson
50$50 1928 Fr.2100-J GrantUlysses S. Grant
100$100 1928 Fr.2150-G FranklinBenjamin Franklin
500$500 1928 Fr.2200-G McKinleyWilliam McKinley
1000$1,000 1928 Fr.2210-G ClevelandGrover Cleveland
5000$5,000 1928 Fr.2220-G MadisonJames Madison
10000$10,000 1928 Fr.2230-B ChaseSalmon P. Chase

United States (Legal Tender) Notes

Series of 1928 United States Notes were issued in $2 (through 1928G) and $5 (through 1928F) denominations until the early 1950s.[3] Also, for a brief period in 1933, Series of 1928 $1 United States Notes were issued as a response to the Great Depression. Most of these remained in storage before being released in Puerto Rico during 1948-9.[4]

Series of 1928 United States Note denomination set
Complete denomination type set of 1928 Legal Tender Notes
Value Series Fr Image Portrait
$1 1928 Fr.1500 George Washington
$2 1928 Fr.1501 Thomas Jefferson
$5 1928 Fr.1525 Abraham Lincoln

Silver Certificates and Gold Certificates

Series of 1928 through 1928E silver certificates were only issued in the $1 denomination. The design closely followed the 1923 $1 Silver Certificate.

1928 saw the last issuance of Gold Certificates to the public prior to their confiscation during the Great Depression.[6]

Series of 1928 Gold Certificate denomination set
Complete denomination type set of 1928 Gold Certificates
Value Series Fr Image Portrait
10$10 19281928 Fr.2400 Alexander Hamilton
20$20 19281928 Fr.2402 Andrew Jackson
50$50 19281928 Fr.2404 Ulysses S. Grant
100$100 19281928 Fr.2405 Benjamin Franklin
500$500 19281928 Fr.2407 William McKinley
1000$1,000 19281928 Fr.2408 Grover Cleveland
5000$5,000 19281928 Fr.2410 James Madison
10000$10,000 19281928 Fr.2411 Salmon P. Chase
  • A $1 Silver Certificate, Series of 1928.
  • Common reverse of 1928 $1 Silver Certificates and $1 United States Notes.

References
  1. "U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing - History Timeline". Moneyfactory.gov. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
  2. "History of Currency Designs". USPaperMoney.Info. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
  3. "Chronology of Small-Size Notes". USPaperMoney.Info. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
  4. "History of Currency Designs". USPaperMoney.Info. 1933-05-12. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
  5. "1928 & 1934 FRN Seals". Ussmallnotes.info. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
  6. "Gold Certificates". People.ku.edu. Archived from the original on 2013-04-13. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
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