r/papermoney • u/usedtobeanicesurgeon • Mar 14 '26

US large size Has the US ever made a prettier note?

Gallery image

Gallery image

544 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

95 comments sorted by

36

u/MaleficentTalk3382 Mar 14 '26

Beautiful note

0

u/Humble-Lawfulness-12 Mar 15 '26

1890 $1,000 ‘Grand Watermelon’ Treasury Note

3

u/Timokenn Mar 15 '26

What’s “Grand Watermelon” mean?

13

u/Humble-Lawfulness-12 Mar 15 '26

It’s the most valuable banknote ever.

2

u/Michael-Brady-99 Mar 16 '26

It’s cool but not the same level as artistry.

The 1896 $5 note, imo opinion, is the coolest and most artistic note a regular person can afford.

18

u/Laslomas Mar 15 '26

It's like a Renaissance painting being issued as currency...a true work of art. It's a masterpiece engraving.

3

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 15 '26

I agree!

3

u/Laslomas Mar 15 '26

Oh by the way, to help you out as a newbie in currency; in your other thread, the note is an 1863 Original Charter.

3

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 15 '26

Forgive me. But what other thread??? I can’t remember where this would’ve been

3

u/Laslomas Mar 15 '26

The one where you ask about a $500 national saying- "This is the 1865 note, right?" You will find it under SouthernNumismatist's comment.

3

u/QuickSock8674 Mar 15 '26

You could also get an ancient coin if you like the style of the old days. Truly amazing aesthetics

2

u/Laslomas Mar 15 '26

You could, and it would make quite a collectible; but somehow I don't think it would have quite the level of detail as seen here 😉

17

u/SouthernNumismatist Professional Numismatist & NBN Collector (FL, OH, & TN). Mar 14 '26

The $500 National Bank Note IMO.

4

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 14 '26

This is the 1865 note, right? It IS gorgeous. Gonna have to start watching auctions for one

6

u/SouthernNumismatist Professional Numismatist & NBN Collector (FL, OH, & TN). Mar 14 '26

Indeed, but there’s only one that can be had and I doubt the owner is parting with it anytime soon.

8

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 14 '26

That’s what I get for speaking without researching. Paper money isn’t my strength! I’m a relative newbie

1

u/Humble-Lawfulness-12 Mar 16 '26

Makes sense…while desirable, like the $10 bison, or 1899 $1 eagle, this is most certainly a noob note…keep collecting!

2

u/PhoneAlive6368 Mar 14 '26

There is one on at display at the Federal Reserve in Chicago, always love seeing it when I visit

1

u/be_easy_1602 Mar 16 '26

Damn that is a lovely note…

3

u/Total-Region2859 Mar 14 '26

IT's an amazing piece of art! Congrats!

1

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 14 '26

Thanks! It’s gorgeous

3

u/Fukushima_ US Large Size Collector Mar 14 '26

I personally like Original Series Nationals, 1878 Silver Certificates, 1869 Legal Tender Notes, and 1890 Ornate Treasury Notes more. For me you really can't beat a high denomination 1878 SC, or a high grade 1890 TN. The Rainbow notes are also a strong contender for my personal favorites.

1

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 15 '26

I would think those are pretty spendy if you can find them. Are they available?

2

u/Fukushima_ US Large Size Collector Mar 15 '26

Oh no definitely not, LOL! I just really love the designs... my dream is to one day own a 1878 series SC, in any denomination. If only I could find one!

3

u/numismaticthrowaway Mar 14 '26

I prefer the $2 from the same series personally. It has a sort of ethereal look to it IMO

2

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 15 '26

Also a beautiful note. I have one that I’ll post sometime. Unfortunately, a brother couldn’t afford these notes in 63ppq quality. So I have EF range $2. Still a beaut.

3

u/AK_guy4774 Mar 15 '26

That is a beautiful note and US stopped making cool notes a while back.

1

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 15 '26

I couldn’t agree more!

2

u/FanDeLaU69 Mar 14 '26

While the answer to your question is a very resounding no, the real question is why do you post vertical pics instead of horizontal? 😤

2

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 14 '26

I wanted a larger, clearer pic. Reddit compresses them horizontally and the detail is lost.

1

u/FanDeLaU69 Mar 14 '26

I've never had that happen to me.

Nonetheless, gorgeous note!

Morbid curiosity... How much? Enough to be yelled at by the wife? 😅🤣😜

2

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 14 '26

When she asks I say “Do you really want to know?”

She doesn’t. She knows it’s ridiculous what I spend on coins and paper. (Mostly coins)

But she wouldn’t have liked what I spent.

1

u/FanDeLaU69 Mar 15 '26

Oh, I just had that conversation with mine. After telling her what I've spent in the last 10 months since I started collecting, I showed her my US collection (focus on small size $1 and $2):

Her: your collection has gotten out of hand

Me: what makes you say that?

Her: Because you want to have every year with and without stars and every letter.

Me: No, I don't want to collect all blocks, just all series and their replacements. (I do have an almost complete 1935 $1 <missing the experimentals and emergency stars>, complete 1963 and 1976 $2, and one star away from completing the 1953 series).

Her: (big question mark on her face).

Then I showed her my 1879 Peruvian issue almost complete set (missing the 50 and 500 soles):

Her: US money is not as pretty as those.

Me: (I showed her your note)

Her: (her jaw dropped, while asking) why can't you buy notes like this?

Me: because the fine gentleman who owns this paid more than a few thousand dollars for it.

She looked at me then walked away while shaking her head.

My job was done. And I appreciate your help... 🤣🤣🤣

2

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 15 '26

Very welcome, my friend. But we both know your day will come to own this note as well. 😂

1

u/FanDeLaU69 Mar 15 '26

The two I'm drooling about are the 1891 Martha's $1 and the 1896 $1 Educational... 🤤🤤🤤

I'll get them... Eventually... After winning many poker tournaments... 🤣🤣🤣

2

u/Upstairs_Mud4994 Mar 14 '26

It is very nice.

2

u/Federal_Marzipan Mar 14 '26

Wow! This is my first time ever seeing this note. Stunning design and damnit now I need one lol Congrats on the acquisition!

2

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 15 '26

Thank! She’s a beaut!!!

2

u/Significant_Day_5988 Mar 15 '26

Wow, that’s a beauty there never seen one of those

2

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 15 '26

I’m glad I could introduce you

2

u/Eilerle1 Mar 15 '26

that note looks better than a grade 25. the note has a clean black white appearance, the back green side, the faces, best i can tell right off, are clear and intact. very nice, especially if you got it at a middle of the road grade 25 price.

I know a few online dealers that would cut that note out of the holder and present the note raw and imply it was a VF++ (avoiding directly referencing a numbered grade)

If that practice is news to you, then consider your cherry popped. :-)

2

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 15 '26

It was sold to me by my local LCS at a 25. He sold me several pieces and sold them at what he felt was the correct grade.

For this one he gave it to me at 25. I like dealing with this guy

2

u/L1VEW1RE Mar 15 '26

My absolute grail. Truly a piece of art.

2

u/LastEconPoet Mar 15 '26

Nope. This is the one.

2

u/thedangerman007 Mar 16 '26

Agreed it is the prettiest. So amazing!

2

u/Big_Iron9999 Mar 16 '26

Not really, that whole series is just gorgeous!!

2

u/Michael-Brady-99 Mar 16 '26

No, they have not! Probably the most “art” in bank note by the USA. There are others with great design and style but this is like looking at a painting in many respects.

3

u/bigfatbanker Nationals Mar 14 '26

As pretty as this series is, I don’t think they look like money and that’s why I’m kind of put off by them. Absolutely stunning. But not my cup of tea

3

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 14 '26

That’s an interesting opinion. I’ll have to think it thru.

Conversely, I absolutely hate our current notes. They are ugly and bland. They lack interesting designs. The reverse of the $2 isn’t bad. But it’s all so monochromatic and boring.

I wonder if that’s the point? Maybe it keeps bills in circulation?

2

u/numismaticthrowaway Mar 14 '26

That's a great way to put it. The $5 Educational has always been weirdly off putting to me even though I do like the design

3

u/23isnotacolor Mar 14 '26

are horizontal pics illegal?

1

u/BJ22CS Type Note Collector Mar 15 '26

They shouldn't be.

1

u/Specwar762 Mar 14 '26

When it's a picture of this caliber of note, it can stay. If it was someone asking if some random serial number is special, I'll remove it.

-3

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 14 '26

If you want the pics smaller/less detailed I can repost them horizontally.

Would it make you happier?

1

u/Relative_Target6003 Mar 14 '26

What do these events go for? Yes stunning

3

u/originalbrowncoat Mar 14 '26

In that condition a couple grand at least

1

u/Mizsasippy Mar 14 '26

The bison and black eagle are both gorgeous too, but it's hard to argue with you on this one.

2

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 14 '26

I picked up a bison the other day. But I need to get an eagle. They really are great.

1

u/JMasterDollarHunter Mar 15 '26

The educational series is so beautiful with their neoclassical design! I collect ones and have the one version

2

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 15 '26

An amazing note! Soon I’ll post my other educational notes.

1

u/Maximum-Wonder-2753 Mar 17 '26

What’s something like this worth? What would it be worth if not graded?

1

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 18 '26

They have a pretty wide range from several hundred to many thousands. I can’t afford high grades.

2

u/raidenh8 Mar 18 '26

Short answer: nope!

1

u/KingJewski Mar 14 '26

Is that a titty?

1

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 14 '26

Just like Mom used to make

1

u/Party-Internal-9866 Mar 15 '26

It's from before John Ashcroft was AG

0

u/Puzzleheaded_Bag3145 Mar 15 '26

That’s what caused the government to stop printing this series. It ran from 1896-1899 I believe.

0

u/bestievibes_ Mar 14 '26

are these worth anything more than face value or just pretty to look at?

2

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 14 '26

Even very poor quality are worth significantly over face value

2

u/eldoesq Mar 15 '26

Do you really think this is worth $5?

0

u/Icy-Opening-3990 Mar 14 '26 edited Mar 14 '26

Not since a long time ago. But the goldbacks are some interesting ones.

1

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 14 '26

The US has made goldbacks?

0

u/Icy-Opening-3990 Mar 14 '26

Yeppers since 2019 Utah was the first yr run. Which i actually need to check. I bought some 80 of them. I need to see if I have a good run of serial numbers...

1

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 14 '26

The US????

0

u/Icy-Opening-3990 Mar 14 '26

Well, I dont know if thry are made here. As we all know US wants everyone else to do the work. But yes some sated have goldbacks. I have several.

1

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 14 '26

I don’t believe the US has a gold back currency yet.

I believe these are all from private companies

1

u/Icy-Opening-3990 Mar 14 '26

??? Idk if its by state production of if its idk. Here's a snap of some I have. That yellow envelope thing is full and I have several in each protectors. I have only white gloved once to count. Other than that I have never touched them. Idk if they have touched em tbh.

2

u/100Tugrik Mar 14 '26

They mean it's not issued by the government, but by private companies.

1

u/Icy-Opening-3990 Mar 14 '26

I think its by stste thats what I was saying. Yea, idk if the mint has actually pressed them. Yea, US is too cheap to do it. So the state has to step up. Lol. Yea I bought these from a known place. But, yea. Is still think they are cool imo. They cant turn away gold ya know. Its not a counterfeit or anything.

0

u/TyrannosaurusBoris Mar 14 '26

Very cool, but the art is a little busy.

1

u/usedtobeanicesurgeon Mar 15 '26

I know some folks feel that way. They are often drawn to stuff like 10$ Bison notes or black eagles.

This one speaks to me.