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U.S. Mint
Discontinued: 1857
The half cent was America’s smallest denomination coin. It was introduced in 1793 and was made out of copper. But don’t let the small coin fool you, it carried real purchasing power—equivalent to roughly 14 cents today. The half cent featured five distinct designs during its tenure, including the Liberty Cap and Braided Hair series. Rising copper costs led to the Coinage Act of 1857, which eliminated the half cent alongside the large cent.
Discontinued: 1873
In 1851, the three-cent silver was launched because postal rates dropped from five to three cents. This tiny coin, nicknamed “fishscales” by the public and “trimes” by mint officials, contained 75% silver initially, later increased to 90% in 1854. The three-cent silver featured a shield on a six-pointed star with Roman numeral III on the reverse. The Coinage Act of 1873 also ended its production.
Discontinued: 1876
Fractional currency filled the void when the Civil War made normal coins scarce. These small paper notes came in denominations of 3, 5, 10, 15, 25, and 50 cents. The first series copied postage stamp designs, earning the nickname “postage currency.” Five distinct series appeared between 1862 and 1876. Congress ended fractional currency production in 1876. Silver coins were then introduced and replaced these paper currencies for good.
Discontinued: 1971
United States Notes became America’s primary currency during the Civil War. The tender was known for their red seals and green backs. Hence, the word “greenback” was born. These “greenbacks” carried government backing but no gold or silver redemption promise. Not a happy time for the goldbugs. The notes funded wartime expenses and circulated in denominations from $1 to $10,000. Federal Reserve Notes gradually replaced greenbacks, with the last United States Notes printed in 1971.
Discontinued: 1969
The $500 bill was popular with wealthy individuals and banks from 1862 through 1969, though printing ceased in 1945.This note featured Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall—the only judicial figure on U.S. currency. The $500 bill was worth over $10,000 in today’s money when first issued. Limited circulation and concerns about criminal use led to its discontinuation in 1969.
Discontinued: 1969
The $1,000 bill was used for large transactions from 1862 until its discontinuation in 1969. Early versions featured Alexander Hamilton, while later series showed President Grover Cleveland. Like other large denominations, the $1,000 bill saw limited public use, circulating mainly among banks and the wealthy.
Discontinued: 1969
If you had a $5,000 bill back in the day, you were carrying some serious cash. The bill featured President James Madison on its face. First issued in 1918, this denomination served primarily for inter-bank transfers and large commercial transactions. Few Americans ever handled a $5,000 bill in daily commerce.
Discontinued: 1969
The $10,000 bill was the highest denomination ever intended for public use, bearing Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase’s portrait. This massive note facilitated major business deals and bank transfers throughout its circulation period. Criminal organizations occasionally used $10,000 bills, contributing to concerns about their legitimate purpose. It was canceled in 1969 with all its large bill siblings.
Discontinued: 1873
The two-cent piece emerged during the Civil War coin shortages. It was the first U.S. coin bearing “In God We Trust.” Designer James B. Longacre created a shield design that resonated with wartime patriotism. The two-cent piece initially gained acceptance but lost ground as the five-cent nickel gained popularity. The Mint Act of 1873 eliminated the two-cent piece.
Discontinued: 1889
The three-cent nickel appeared in 1865 as a temporary solution to continued coin shortages. Made from copper-nickel alloy, this coin was larger than its silver predecessor to avoid confusion. The three-cent nickel featured Liberty’s head and proved more durable than paper fractional currency.
Discontinued: 1878
The twenty-cent piece attempted to solve Western coin shortages but created new problems instead. Nevada Senator John P. Jones championed this denomination to help frontier commerce. But the twenty-cent piece resembled the quarter too closely, causing confusion. Congress abolished the coin in 1878.
Discontinued: 1964
Silver certificates promised redemption in actual silver coin or bullion. These notes emerged in 1878 during debates over gold versus silver monetary standards. Silver certificates circulated in multiple denominations, with $1, $5, and $10 notes most common in later years. The Treasury ended silver certificate production in 1964. And they terminated silver production for good by 1968.
Discontinued: 1935
The granddaddy of them all. The $100,000 gold certificate existed solely for Federal Reserve Bank transactions, never reaching public hands. The bill featured President Woodrow Wilson. This massive denomination facilitated inter-bank gold transfers before electronic systems. The Treasury produced $100,000 certificates for less than one month in 1934-1935. These certificates were the largest U.S. currency denomination ever created. And civilians were barred from owning them.
