Legal Tender

The term legal tender can be applied to any old currency that was issued as a United States note. Legal tenders were not bank issued and not backed by gold or silver. The US initially experimented with legal tenders during the Civil War. Be sure to visit our small size legal tender and type notes pages for more information.

  • Type



Fr No.DenomTypeDateGradePrice
16C$1Legal Tender1862VF$925
FR 16C $1

Margins all around on this early issue, evenly circulated Legal Tender with deep red seal and serial numbers and bright […]

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18$1Legal Tender1869VF$1150
FR 18 $1

Margins all around and decent colors on this VF Rainbow.

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27$1Legal Tender1878PMG 63 $2350
FR 27 $1

A beautiful early issue Legal with vivid inks on front and back.  Lovely floral embellishment, deep red serial numbers and […]

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27$1Legal Tender1878CH XF$2175
FR 27 $1

This boldly inked note has the eye appeal of a much higher grade.  Vivid blue end paper across bottom margin, […]

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30$1Legal Tender1880VF$565
FR 30 $1

An evenly circulated and problem free Legal with large brown seal and red serial numbers.  Margins all around on this […]

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36$1Legal Tender1917PMG 55 $345
FR 36 $1

A very bright Legal with margins all around.  Vivid inks on both front and back.

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37$1Legal Tender1917CH VF$235
FR 37 $1

A very bright and nicely centered Legal with deep red seal and serial numbers.  Evenly circulated as well as problem […]

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37*$1Legal Tender1917XF$1285
FR 37* $1

A bright and boldly inked STAR note with cherry red seal and serial numbers, as well as balanced margins all […]

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39$1Legal Tender1917CH XF$335
FR 39 $1
39$1Silver Cert.1917CH VF$275
FR 39 $1

An evenly circulated and problem free example that has retained its bright background and bold inks.  Nicely centered.

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39$1Legal Tender1917CH CU $565
FR 39 $1

A very bright and well centered Legal with cherry red seal and numbers.

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40$1Legal Tender1923CH VF$325
FR 40 $1
40$1Legal Tender1923CH CU $785
FR 40 $1

A very bright Legal with bold red seals and serial numbers.  Balanced margins on front and back of this lovely […]

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40$1Legal Tender1923PMG 30$348
FR 40 $1

Evenly circulated example of this popular Legal.  Vivid red seal and numbers as well as balanced margins all around.

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60$2Legal Tender1917CH AU$495
FR 60 $2

Some of the best margins you will see on a FR 60!  Very bright with bold inks on front and […]

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60$2Legal Tender1917CH VF$385
FR 60 $2

Margins all around, although tight, on this evenly circulated Jefferson with bright paper and vivid red seal and serial numbers.  […]

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69$5Legal Tender1878PMG 45$1650
FR 69 $5

A tougher 1878 $5 Legal with only 287 examples recorded in the Track & Price census.  A lovely example with […]

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72$5Legal Tender1880PCGS 55$1345
FR 72 $5

Margins all around on this bright Chief with bold red serial numbers and dark brown large seal.  Especially dark green […]

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88$5Legal Tender1907PMG 64 $1050
FR 88 $5

A lovely Woodchopper bearing the Teehee Burke signature combination.  A bright and vividly inked example with pleasing centering.

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91$5Legal Tender1907PMG 15 $198
FR 91 $5

PCBLIC Error on this Choice Fine Woodchopper.  Affordably priced.

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91$5Legal Tender1907Gem CU $965
FR 91 $5

A lovely Gem Woodchopper with bold red seals and serial numbers and dark green reverse.  Punch-thru embossing is clearly evident […]

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91$5Legal Tender1907XF$585
FR 91 $5
114$10Legal Tender1901CH VF$2650
FR 114 $10

Quite a pleasing, evenly circulated Bison.  Margins all around on this problem free example with bright background and bold inks.  […]

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122$10Legal Tender1901VF$1850
FR 122 $10

A pleasing mid-grade Bison note with margins all around, as well as pleasing inks on front and back.

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181$100Legal Tender1880PMG 35 $26500
FR 181 $100

A pleasing example of this desirable issue with broad margins all around, bright paper, deep blue serial numbers and cherry […]

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