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Old U.S Paper Money Trivia Quiz

Many people are familiar with the long standing hobby of coin collecting and its collectors known as numismatists. However fewer people are familiar with the history of U.S. paper money and its collectors known as syngraphists.

A multiple-choice quiz by Malix. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
Malix

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
272,404

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
395

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The United States Treasury Seal has been printed using green ink on all United States paper money in the years between 1969 through 2006. Before 1969, the Department of the Treasury has printed the Seal in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Which of these colors was NOT used to print the United States Treasury Seal? Hint

Purple

Brown

Red

Yellow

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Question 2 of 10

2. United States paper money was first printed in 1861. These notes came to be known as Demand Notes. Notes printed before this time were issued privately through individual banks and had very limited spending power. There is one characteristic that makes Demand notes a unique series from all other United States notes that came after from 1862 to 2006, what is it? Hint

Demand notes were unifaced notes meaning they had a blank back.

They had a star printed in front of every serial number.

They were not printed with a Treasury Seal.

The serial numbers were printed in all four corners instead of just twice.

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Question 3 of 10

3. In coin collecting the front of the coin is known as the obverse and the back of the coin the reverse. In paper money the front is called the face and the back is simply the back. In 1934 a special overprint of Hawaii was printed across the back of certain $5, $10, and $20 Federal Reserve notes. Besides the Hawaii overprint on these notes, what else made them unique from other 1934 Federal Reserve notes? Hint

They were the only notes issued from the Federal Reserve district of Hawaii

The first print run was spelled Hawai becoming the first error notes in the series

These notes were issued with special watermarked paper

They had a brown Treasury Seal and serial numbers

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Question 4 of 10

4. U.S Paper currency is known by many fanciful names that refer to a single type note or a particular series of notes. $10 Silver Certificates from the years 1886, 1891, and 1908 are commonly called by what other well known name? Hint

Tombstone notes

Rainbow notes

Educational Series notes

Flying Eagle notes

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Question 5 of 10

5. The 1918 $50 Federal Reserve Bank note is one of the more highly prized collectables in the hobby. What is unique about this series of Federal Reserve Bank notes? Hint

Its the only series with four different signature combinations

It was the first series with 'In God We Trust' printed on the note.

Its the only series with blue serial numbers and Treasury Seal

Only one Federal Reserve bank issued this denomination

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Question 6 of 10

6. The 1896 $1 Silver Certificate is considered by many collectors as one of the most beautiful notes ever produced. The face of this note was designed from a painting that hangs in the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. What is the title of the famous engraving used for this note? Hint

Freedom with Honor

History Instructing Youth

Justice with Liberty

Learning the Bill of Rights

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Question 7 of 10

7. In 1934 certain $5, $10, and $20 Federal Reserve notes had a special Hawaii overprint. However the $1 Hawaii note from this series is different in two major ways. What two ways is the $1 Hawaii note different from the $5, $10, and $20 Hawaii notes? Hint

It has a 1935 series date and the Treasury Seal is on the left side of the note

It has a 1935 series date and is a silver certificate

It has a 1928 series date and is a gold certificate

It has a 1928 series date and is a United States Note

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Question 8 of 10

8. United States legal tender $10 notes from the 1875, 1878, and 1880 series are commonly referred to by another name. This name originated based on the bearers perspective when viewing the note. What is this notes colorful nickname? Hint

a Ornate Back note

a Dying Eagle note

a Jackass note

a Poker Chip note

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Question 9 of 10

9. This historical figure has appeared on the most denominations and types of United States paper money. Denominations include $1 $2 $5 $10 $20 $50 $100 $500 $1,000 $5,000 $10,000 types being Federal Reserve notes, Federal Reserve Bank notes, silver certificates, gold certificates, United States notes, Treasury notes, National Currency notes, and National Bank notes. Hint

Benjamin Franklin

George Washington

Alexander Hamilton

Abraham Lincoln

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Question 10 of 10

10. Over the years many of our United States historical figures appear on different denominations of currency. Can you spot the note that does NOT match up with the correct historical figure, type, denomination and series date? Hint

1899 $2 Silver Certificate -- George Washington

1922 $500 Gold Certificate -- Abraham Lincoln

1878 $5 United States note -- Andrew Jackson

1914 $20 Federal Reserve note -- Alexander Hamilton

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Purple

A red Treasury Seal can be found on the 1966 $100 United States notes. A yellow Treasury Seal can be found on the 1935A $1 Silver Certificate North Africa series note. A brown Treasury Seal can be found on the 1929 $5 Federal Reserve Bank note series.

Other colors that can be found include blue which is on a 1935 $1 Silver Certificate and orange which can be found on a 1928 $10 Gold Certificate.

Answer: They were not printed with a Treasury Seal.

Demand notes were actually the only United States notes other than fractional currency that were printed without U.S Treasury Seals. Demand notes helped coin the phrase greenbacks, being the first in a long history with the colored backs. Notes made prior to 1861 later became widely known as broken bank notes, because they became worthless should the bank that issued them go out of business. Notes issued before this period were known as Colonials because the union of states had not yet taken shape.

Answer: They had a brown Treasury Seal and serial numbers

These Hawaii overprint Federal Reserve district notes were to be used in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. The government wanted to make them easily identifiable, so along with the Hawaii overprint they also changed the color of the Treasury Seal and serial numbers from green to brown. All of this was done so that if Japan occupied Hawaii; the currency could not be used to fund their war effort.

Answer: Tombstone notes

The $10 silver certificates from 1886, 1891, and 1908 feature the portrait of Thomas A. Hendricks. Hendricks was Vice-President of the United States for the very short period of nine months. The portrait frame surrounding his likeness is in the shape of a tombstone and thus the name stuck once the currency was issued.

5. The 1918 $50 Federal Reserve Bank note is one of the more highly prized collectables in the hobby. What is unique about this series of Federal Reserve Bank notes?

Answer: Only one Federal Reserve bank issued this denomination

When the 1918 $50 Federal Reserve Bank note was issued there was only one bank that made the $50 denomination. All of the notes from this issue were printed with St. Louis as the only Federal Reserve bank to appear on them.

Answer: History Instructing Youth

The original painting that hangs in the Bureau of Engraving and Printing was painted by Will H. Low. Thomas F. Morris used the painting as a template for the creation of the 1896 $1 Silver Certificate in its present form. It was later engraved by Charles Schlecht based on the design changes that Morris had made to increase its overall appeal as a work of art.

Answer: It has a 1935 series date and is a silver certificate

At the time of printing Hawaii series notes, Federal Reserve notes did not exist for the $1 denomination. The federal government did not start printing $1 Federal Reserve notes until the 1963 series. This was due in large part because there was a glut of 1935 $1 silver certificates in circulation and there was really no need to produce more.

Therefore the logical conclusion was to use the 1935 series silver certificates to print the $1 Hawaii series notes.

Answer: a Jackass note

The United States legal tender $10 notes from 1875, 1878, and 1880 are commonly called Jackass notes. This name came about due to the picture of a small eagle located on the bottom center of the note. When the note is inverted this small eagle resembles the head of a jackass and thus the name was born.

Answer: Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton appears on the 1862 $2 United States note, the 1863 $5 United States notes, 1928 $10 Gold Certificate, 1929 $10 Federal Reserve Bank note, 1929 $10 National Currency note, 1934 $10 Silver Certificate, 1928 $10 Federal Reserve notes, 1880 $20 United States note, the 1863 $50 United States note, the 1882 $1,000 Gold Certificate, the 1918 $1,000 Federal Reserve note. For those of you scoring at home that is 6 different denominations and 6 different type notes.

Answer: 1914 $20 Federal Reserve note -- Alexander Hamilton

In this example the 1914 $20 Federal Reserve note does NOT have a portrait of Alexander Hamilton, but rather Grover Cleveland the 22nd and 24th President of the United States. Other interesting examples are the 1886 $5 Silver Certificate featuring Ulysses S. Grant, and the 1880 $50 United States note featuring Benjamin Franklin.

Source: Author Malix

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