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Overview/History

U.S. History

A History of United States Paper Money

Federal Reserve Bank Notes (1913-1933)

Very similar to National Bank Notes, these notes were issued and backed by the Federal Reserve Bank. The smaller versions of these notes were issued in 1933 (although dated Series of 1929) and were printed on paper that had already been partially printed for National Bank Notes.

Federal Reserve Notes (1913-Present)

This is the same money you carry in your wallet today and the only kind that is currently issued by the federal government. Each note bears a letter corresponding to the Federal Reserve Bank that issued it ( “A” for Boston, “F” for Atlanta, “I” for Minneapolis, etc.)

Background

Adding to eye appeal and difficulty to duplicate, the colored background of a note serves a dual purpose.