TREASURY SEAL COLORS and THEIR MEANING
by:Patrick J. Curran

With the reduction in the size of United States currency in 1928, the
treasury ordered that the color of the Treasury seal on each bill
indicate what type of currency it was. Today, over 99% of the currency
in circulation is composed of Federal Reserve Notes, but back then,
there were FIVE different types of notes in circulation.

GOLD (actually a deep yellow) was used on Gold Certificates – notes
that could be redeemed for gold coins at a bank. These notes were
issued in denominations from 20 to 10,000 dollars. These notes were
ordered to be turned in in 1933.

BLUE was used to indicate Silver Certificates – notes that could be
redeemed for silver coins. Issued in 1,5, and 10-dollar denominations,
they ceased being issued in 1964.

GREEN was the color used for Federal Reserve Notes – notes that have
been issued at different times in denominations from 1 through 10,000
dollars.

BROWN was used to identify National Bank Notes – notes issued by banks
under Federal charter. They were issued in 5, 10, 20, 50 and
100-dollar denominations and their issuance ended with the Great
Depression.

RED notes indicated United States Notes – notes issued at different
times as 1,2,5 and 10-dollar denominations and fulfilled the promise
issued during the Civil War to continue the issuing of "Greenback"
notes (notes that did not promise any redemption value). These notes
are pulled from circulation as they show up in banks.

In 1933, as part of a move to end the Great Depression, the President
ordered a bank holiday. At the end of the holiday, the solvent banks
were to re-open with a good supply of cash and stem any further runs
on the banks. This new supply of currency was to be under the control
of the Federal Reserve System and their 12 issuing banks. However, the
only large supply of paper for currency was left over National
Currency paper with tan seals. Thus the "******* Notes" (federal
reserve notes issued on national bank stock) were issued.

Two more emergencies occurred & required a different color Treasury
seal.

TAN was used after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the United
States fearing an invasion of the Hawaiian Islands. All currency
issued to banks on those islands had Tan Treasury Seals and HAWAII
imprinted on the face and back of the notes.

YELLOW seal notes were used by American troops that took part in the
North Africa invasion. Such seals were used throughout the North
Africa campaign. Military Payment Certificates finally replaced the
issuance of regular United States notes in war zones.

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Yezid Acosta
http://www.notofilia.com




On Wed, 1 Oct 2003 16:43:45 -0400, "John III"
wrote:

Cathy here is a small web page on that. Not allot to read, but some info.

John III

http://www.coinsite.com/content/faq/redseals.asp



"Cathy1999" wrote in message
...
What does the red seal on a paper bill indicate? I know that the blue
seal is
a silver certificate but can't remember what the red is for.

Thanks,
Cathy