History of U.S. Currency - more

Franklin's Unique Counterfeit Deterrent
1739

Benjamin Franklin's printing firm in Philadelphia printed colonial notes with nature prints---unique raised impressions of patterns cast from actual leaves. This process added an innovative and effective counterfeit deterrent to notes, not completely understood until centuries later.

British Ban
1764

Following years of restrictions on colonial paper currency, Britain finally ordered a complete ban on the issuance of paper money by the Colonies.

Paper Currency With Background Color
1905

The last U.S. paper currency printed with background color was the $20 Gold Certificate, Series 1905, which had a golden tint and a red seal and serial number.

The first $10 Federal Reserve Notes
1914

The first $10 Federal Reserve notes were issued. These notes were larger than today’s notes and featured a portrait of President Andrew Jackson on the face.

Currency Redesign
1996

In the first significant design change in 67 years, U.S. currency was redesigned to incorporate a series of new counterfeit deterrents. The new notes were issued beginning with the $100 note in 1996, followed by the $50 in 1997, the $20 in 1998 and the $10 and $5 notes in 2000. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing announced that new designs would be undertaken every 7-10 years to stay ahead of currency counterfeiters.

Secret Service Integrated Into Homeland Security Department
2003

Protecting the security of the dollar against counterfeiting takes its place side-by-side with other homeland security efforts, as the U.S. Secret Service is integrated into the new U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The New Color of Money: Safer. Smarter. More Secure.
The New $20 Note
2003

To stay ahead of currency counterfeiters, the U.S. government announced the new Series 2004 designs to be issued. For the first time since the Series 1905 $20 Gold Certificate, the new currency featured subtle background colors, beginning with the new $20 note on October 9, 2003. In this series, different colors are used for different denominations. This will help everyone – particularly those who are visually impaired – to tell denominations apart. The $20 note features subtle background colors of green, peach and blue, as well as symbols of freedom representing icons of Americana – in the case of the $20 note, images of the American eagle.

The New $50 Note
2004

A redesigned $50 note was issued on September 28, 2004. Similar to the redesigned $20 note, the new $50 note also featured subtle background colors and historical symbols of Americana – specific to the $50 note are subtle background colors of blue and red, and images of a waving American flag and a small metallic silver-blue star.

The New $10 Note
2006

The currency redesigns continue with the $10 note as the Series 2004A, which was issued on March 2, 2006. The “A” in the series designation indicates a change in some feature of the note, in this case, a change in the Treasurer’s signature. Like the new $20 and $50 notes, the redesigned $10 note features subtle shades of color and Symbols of Freedom – specific to the $10 note are background colors of orange, yellow and red along with images of the Statue of Liberty’s torch and the words “We the People” from the United States Constitution.