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.
Legal Tender
| Fr No. | Denom | Type | Date | Grade | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16c | $1 | Legal Tender | 1862 | PMG 58 | $1985 |
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A lovely, early issue Legal Tender with pleasing margins all around, Deep red seal and numbers, as well as bold […] View Note | ||||
| 16c | $1 | Legal Tender | 1862 | PMG 58 | $1950 |
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A bright and boldly inked early issue Legal. This note boasts margins all around, as well as deep red seal […] View Note | ||||
| 18 | $1 | Legal Tender | 1869 | VF | $975 |
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A vividly inked Rainbow note with margins all around. Several small margin splits in top margin. View Note | ||||
| 19 | $1 | Legal Tender | 1874 | PMG 35 | $895. |
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A lovely, early issue Legal Tender with red seal and serial numbers, as well as red floral embellishment. Broad margins, […] View Note | ||||
| 27 | $1 | Legal Tender | 1878 | PMG 25NET | $475 |
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Pinholes noted by PMG on this Very Fine note with lovely floral embellishment and blue end paper. Well centered. View Note | ||||
| 28 | $1 | Legal Tender | 1880 | PMG 63EPQ | $1075 |
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A vividly inked and bright large brown seal with red serial numbers and margins all around. Left bottom margin is […] View Note | ||||
| 31 | $1 | Legal Tender | 1917 | CH VF | $1450 |
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A beautiful and boldly inked Legal with a bright background, deep blue serial numbers and vivid large red spiked seal. […] View Note | ||||
| 36 | $1 | Legal Tender | 1917 | PMG 35EPQ | $235 |
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Well centered with bright paper, cherry red seal and numbers and margins all around. Exceptional Paper Quality noted by PMG. View Note | ||||
| 36 | $1 | Legal Tender | 1917 | PMG 58 | $295 |
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| 37 | $1 | Legal Tender | 1917 | PMG 45EPQ | $275 |
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| 37 | $1 | Legal Tender | 1917 | PMG 45EPQ | $275 |
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| 37 | $1 | Legal Tender | 1917 | PMG 45EPQ | $275 |
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| 37 | $1 | Legal Tender | 1917 | AU | $345 |
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Boldly inked with cherry red seal and numbers. Margins all around with pleasing embossing. View Note | ||||
| 38 | $1 | Legal Tender | 1917 | CH VF | $195 |
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An evenly circulated and problem free Choice VF with bright paper and cherry red seal and serial numbers. Lovely green […] View Note | ||||
| 38 | $1 | Legal Tender | 1917 | CH VF | $195 |
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A well-centered, mid-grade example with cherry red seal and numbers and bold green reverse. View Note | ||||
| 39 | $1 | Legal Tender | 1917 | XF | $275 |
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A very bright and nicely centered example with cherry red seal and serial numbers. A typical three-fold XF. View Note | ||||
| 39 | $1 | Legal Tender | 1917 | Gem CU | $535 |
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| 40 | $2 | Legal Tender | 1923 | XF | $365 |
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A broadly margined Red Seal with bold inks on front and back. View Note | ||||
| 42 | $2 | Legal Tender | 1869 | PMG 25 | $1450 |
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Minor Repair (small closed tear in right side margin) noted by PMG on this evenly circulated Rainbow deuce. Well centered […] View Note | ||||
| 42 | $2 | Legal Tender | 1869 | PCGS 58PPQ | $6950 |
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A stunning Rainbow Deuce with beautiful inks, deep blue end paper and pleasing margins all around. Premium Paper Quality is […] View Note | ||||
| 43 | $2 | Legal Tender | 1874 | VF | $595 |
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A decent Very Fine that has retained its vivid red overprints and blue end paper on reverse. One of 166 […] View Note | ||||
| 50 | $2 | Legal Tender | 1880 | PMG 25 | $675 |
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An evenly circulated Jefferson note with margins all around, bold red serial numbers and large brown seal. There are only […] View Note | ||||
| 59 | $2 | Legal Tender | 1917 | VF | $185 |
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Evenly circulated Jefferson bearing Elliott/White signature combination. Margins all around. View Note | ||||
| 60 | $2 | Legal Tender | 1917 | VF | $265 |
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| 60 | $2 | Legal Tender | 1917 | VF | $185 |
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A decent Jefferson with three pleasing margins, bottom cut tight. Small stain on reverse of note. View Note | ||||
| 60 | $2 | Legal Tender | 1917 | CH VF | $325 |
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A very bright and boldly inked example with margins all around – bottom margin is tight but not into note. View Note | ||||
| 60 | $2 | Legal Tender | 1917 | VF | $235 |
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A pleasing example with nice colors and margins all around. View Note | ||||
| 69 | $5 | Legal Tender | 1878 | CH CU | $2350 |
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A beautiful Woodchopper with lovely floral embellishment and vivid blue end paper across top margin. Uncirculated with margins all around. […] View Note | ||||
| 73 | $5 | Legal Tender | 1880 | PMG 58EPQ | $1800 |
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A beautiful Woodchopper with bold blue serial numbers and large red seal. Well centered and vividly inked with pleasing margins […] View Note | ||||
| 73 | $5 | Legal Tender | 1880 | PMG 63 | $1275 |
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Minor Rust noted by PMG on this vividly inked, early issue Woodchopper with large red seal and blue serial numbers. […] View Note | ||||