-
colonial times
The Massachusetts Bay Colony issued the first paper money in the colonies that would later form the United States. -
THE DOLLAR
The Continental Congress adopted the dollar as the OFFICIAL unit for this nations currency. At that time, private bank-note companies printed a variety of notes. -
THE U.S MINT
The Federal Monetary System was founded with the creation of the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, but the first American coins were struck in 1793. -
THE CIVIL WAR
about to go bankrupt and pressed to finance the Civil War, Congress authorized the United States Treasury to issue paper money for the first time in the form of non-interest bearing Treasury Notes called Demand Notes. -
THE PRINTING PERIOD
The Department of the Treasury's Bureau of Engraving and Printing started printing all U.S. currency. -
SILVER CERTIFICATES
The Department of the Treasury was authorized to issue Silver Certificates in exchange for silver dollars. The last issue was in the Series 1957. -
THE DESIGNING
Currency was reduced in size by 25 percent, and a consistent design was introduced with uniform portraits on the front and emblems and monuments on the back. -
IN GOD WE TRUST
Paper currency was first issued with the inscription “In God We Trust” in 1957. The inscription appears on all currency Series 1963 and later.
