The
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
has produced several coins and
banknotes of its dollar which no longer circulate or have been disused. Many of these were removed for specific reasons such as inflation reducing their value, a lack of demand, or being too similar to another denomination.
Treasury notes
The
U.S. Dollar
The United States dollar ( symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the officia ...
has numerous discontinued denominations, particularly
high denomination bills, issued before and in 1934 in six denominations ranging from to . Although still legal tender, most are in the hands of collectors and museums. The
reverse designs featured abstract scroll-work with ornate denomination identifiers. With the exception of the bill, these bills ceased production in the 1940s, and were recalled in 1969. Of these, the was printed only as a Series 1934 gold certificate and was only used for internal government transactions.
The United States also issued
fractional currency for a brief time in the 1860s and 1870s, in several denominations each less than a dollar.
Coinage
There have been numerous coins throughout the United States dollar's history that no longer circulate. Some, like the
half-cent coin were removed due to inflation reducing their value while others such as the
two-cent piece were removed due to a lack of demand.
Note that this table shows the latest status before the coin denomination was rendered obsolete.
Notes
: Some
Early United States commemorative coins
The United States Mint has minted numerous commemorative coins to commemorate persons, places, events, and institutions since 1848. Many of these coins are not intended for general circulation, but are still legal tender. The mint also produces c ...
were minted in this denomination.
: Some
Modern United States commemorative coins
The United States Mint has minted numerous commemorative coins to commemorate persons, places, events, and institutions since 1848. Many of these coins are not intended for general circulation, but are still legal tender. The mint also produces ...
are minted in this denomination.
: The United States government claims that it never officially released the
1933 double eagle
The 1933 double eagle is a United States 20-dollar gold coin. Although 445,500 specimens of this Saint-Gaudens double eagle were minted in 1933, none were ever officially circulated, and all but two were ordered to be melted down. However, 20 ...
. Examples of the coin were minted in that year, but were never released to circulation following
Executive Order 6102
Executive Order 6102 is an executive order signed on April 5, 1933, by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt "forbidding the hoarding of gold coin, gold bullion, and gold certificates within the continental United States." The executive order w ...
.
References
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