Metal Standards

Silver Certificates: The Last Metal Standard

First issued in 1878, Silver Certificates were our nation’s primary currency for many years. They were issued in denominations ranging from $1 to $1,000 and could be exchanged for silver at the U.S. Treasury. The last series of Silver Certificates was issued in 1965. Silver certificates are a result of the Free Silver Movement that originated in the early 1870s. This movement sought to increase the money supply by producing silver coinage, rather than paper notes.

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