Gold Certificates From 1863-1928

The early years of the United States saw the vast production and printing of gold certificates. Due to the discovery of gold at the time and its effect on the economic market, many people demanded and preferred to a have a way to invest in the metal without actually possessing it.

Although these certificates can still be used for investment purposes, they were a popular form of national currency in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. If you are a collector or are interested in buying old money, know that there were many types of gold certificates printed from 1863-1928, and they range in value considerably. As you might expect, the older notes are very rare these days and are worth much more.

The market for these certificates fluctuated when they were in production, which subsequently led to their redesign when the gold standard increased again in popularity in the 20th century. Here is a brief guide to the various types of certificates that were printed; you will need to pay close attention to the signature combination and design features when buying and selling them, as you would when working with any form of old money.

A Summary of U.S. Gold Certificates

The first design series started in 1863 and lasted until 1882. These certificates were printed during the Civil War and very few are known to exist today. The thing to keep in mind when looking for these certificates is to pay attention to the signature combination present on the front. One crowned jewel piece is the $5,000 issue note that was printed at this time; it is very rare and is distinguished by a portrait of former president James Madison on the left hand side of the bill.

20th century gold certificates were printed in 1900, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1913, and 1922. It should be noted that all series contained multiple denominations, and the highest value notes are the 1905 $20 ones. You will probably never come across one of these, but there were also a couple of $10,000 certificates printed, one in the 1882 series and the other in 1900. A portrait of President Andrew Jackson is present on both of them, although the earlier generation notes are much rarer.

The year 1928 saw a final redesign of the gold certificate; notes printed at this time are quite common, so don’t be surprised if you happen to find one. However, if you see one that has a serial number starting with a star symbol, be sure to get in touch with an antique money buyer, as it these are rare.

Collecting gold certificates can be fun and exciting; they are an important part of U.S. history and are becoming rarer every day. There are very few pre-1880 notes known to exist, so keep your eyes peeled.

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