Each currency note is UNIQUEly beautiful, distinctive and one-of-a-kind

Treasuredstocks.com currency notes are absolutely UNIQUE!

Unique is the best and most accurate way to describe each of the currency items we have posted on the treasuredstocks.com web site.

Unique –- But why is each note considered unique? 

Unique is an adjective and, according to several dictionary references, is a term used to describe something that is unusual, remarkable, atypical, exceptional, and different from the norm. For example, consider the sentence, :"he has a unique smile or accent." unique is also used to describe that which is unique, unparalleled, exclusive or “one of a kind” given one or more characteristics. 

Very importantly, there is no parallel and no equal to each and every note posted on the treasuredstocks.com site.

 But “why is each note a one-of-a-kind, unique
 and distinctive item,” you ask? 

Features that make each and every note matchless, irreplaceable, rare, unique and one-of-a-kind -- never to be duplicated --  include:

--  Serial number combined with

o   Series plus  Pick or Friedberg numbers,

o   Grade, appearance, condition, ranking, 

o   Historical presentation, significance, position,

o   Location and origin at time of creation and printing,

o   Post-printing distribution,

o   Paper and security mechanisms,

o   Printing errors and inconsistencies 

Our treasuredstocks.com staff and administration love that all notes on our site are unique, matchless, rare, and irreplaceable. 

Values can only increase as demand for these unique notes skyrocket. 

© Treasuredstocks.com, 2016

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For more information and stunning examples of unique one-of-a-kind notes, visit treasuredstocks.com or call Jeff Smith at 870-670-4255

Treasured stocks.com was founded in 1987 to provide currency enthusiasts and investors with a wide choice of currency items. The site offers a range of national and international coins and currency for the value conscious currency collector and investor. Please contact us at 870-670-4255 or email us at jeff@treasuredstocks.com

We look forward to serving you!

Battleship currency notes -- and the USS Idaho

Today, we here at Treasuredstocks.com started the weekend wondering if the  

USS Idaho – Battleship Idaho – was ever  engraved on the back of a currency note. No, apparently not. But  we did find out a few other details about this magnificent battleship. 

Idaho was the 43^rd state to join the union and became part of the United States back on 3 July, 1890. Most people do not know that this naval vessel was actually the fourth navy ship to be named after our great state. The USS Idaho was built by launched in 1917, commissioned in 1919 and decommissioned in 1946. USS Idaho was stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 1940 but left during the summer of 1941 as part of the fleet protection in the Atlantic. 

USS Idaho was stationed in Iceland on December 7^th 1941 but left two days later, sailing through the Panama Canal, full speed ahead toward Hawaii. She remained in the Pacific (off the coasts of California, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Philippines, Okinawa, Iwo Jima, to name a few) for much of the rest of WWII and proudly earned seven battle stars for her WWII service. On 2 September 1945 the USS Idaho was in Tokyo Bay as witness to the signing of Japan’s surrender on board the Missouri. 

To look at a few really neat battleship notes, click here

Treasuredstocks.com 

1918 $2 Battleship Federal Reserve Bank Note New York PCGS 65 PPQ Gem New Fr#: 752

or more specifically, the battleship site at 

http://www.treasuredstocks.com/currency/large-size-notes/federal-reserve-bank-notes.html

Fractional currency notes (fractionals) and the US Civil War

Highly Collectable Fractional Notes

Historically, politically, socially, and financially, Fractional Currency Notes carry huge significance. 

Printed in five separate issues, Fractional Currency notes were produced in denominations less than one dollar, hence the name “fractionals.” They included denominations as little as three cents and as much as 50 cents. Importantly, Fractional Currency Notes were only produced for a very short time between August 21, 1862 and February 15, 1876, making them extremely sought after by collectors and numismatists alike. 

During the US Civil war, coinage (small change) was very scarce due to understandable but economically difficult widespread hoarding among the populace. Not only were metal coins hoarded, they were melted down for their precious metal content. Hence, coins as a method of commerce were difficult if not impossible to find. The cash-strapped government, therefore, chose to issue “paper coins.” 

These paper coins were and still are also known as fractionals and postage currency due to their postage stamp like size and appearance. 

Unlike other legal US currency notes, fractionals are smaller and do not have serial numbers. Even today, the idea of “paper” coins (paper money worth less than a dollar) can be strange. Hence, this additional peculiarity has contributed significantly to the undervalued nature of these fractional notes. 

An additional reason these notes are so highly sought-after yet undervalued is that fractional currency is one of the least known (understood?) of all the US currencies. Twenty-three distinct designs were printed for just 14 years. While some fractionals are quite common and have less appeal to collectors, others are extremely rare, highly sought after, and in today’s competitive currency market, significantly undervalued. 

Specific and distinctive details on each note also contribute to rarity and value. If you have a fractional note that is a proof, specimen, experimental, or shield or if you own a set of fractionals in sheets or packs, you hold additional rarity and value in your hands. 

For more information and stunning examples of Fractional Currency Notes, visit treasuredstocks.com or call me, Jeff Smith at 870-670-4255

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Treasured stocks.com was founded in 1987 to provide currency enthusiasts and investors with a wide choice of currency items. The site offers a range of national and international coins and currency for the value conscious currency collector and investor. Please contact us at 870-670-4255 or email us at jeff@treasuredstocks.com

We look forward to serving you.

Bison Notes explained ...

Large Size Legal Tender – Bison Notes 

Full of Historical Intrigue

Bison is the designated name given to the $10.00 1901 series of Legal Tender Notes. Contrary to popular believe, the Black Diamond, an American Bison that is shown on this stunning note is not from the great western prairies but rather he is (or was) an inhabitant of the New York City Central Park Zoo. 

On the right and left sides of the note you’ll see featured portraits of Meriweather Lewis (left) and William Clark (right) (of the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition). 

Of great significance is that the Bison Legal Tender Note is the only one to mention the legal provision (center lower front) that allowed the note to be issued.

Bison are huge animals, weighing up to a ton. They are fast, dangerous, and endangered. Bison symbolize size, strength, prosperity, beauty and sacred blessing. As an image, the Bison (also known as the American Buffalo) is used in North America in official names, logos, seals, and symbols. For example, the US Department of Interior has a bison as its symbolic representative. In addition to the $10 “Bison” Legal Tender currency, a number of US coins include the bison including the buffalo nickel (1913 – 1928) several state quarters (Kansas, North Dakota) and the Yellowstone National Park Quarter.  

Though US postage stamps have been issued with bison depictions, I know of no other legal item of currency, other than the “Bison Note” Large Size Legal Tender I’ve described here.

Bison notes are extremely popular, 
sought-after, and rare.

And why is it called “large size?” In 1928, the BEP (Bureau of Engraving and Printing) reduced by about 40% the dimension of their notes to their current size. That’s why we refer to older notes as “large size” notes. They are, indeed, large!

Bison Legal Tender Notes, a.k.a. Bison Notes, tell us a great deal about the founding of our American West. 

For a look at some rare and collectible currency, visit us at

http://www.treasuredstocks.com/currency/

We are official members of multiple numismatic-related organizations. Thus, Treasuredstocks.com welcomes any and all questions regarding our coin and currency postings and our passion for collecting coins and currency of all types. 

We are here to assist you! Please give us a call at 870-670-4255 or email us at jeff@treasuredstocks.com

In honor of all 9-11 heroes -- and all those who serve

A few words about Military Payment Certificates (MPCs) on this 15^th Anniversary of 9-11

Today we honor all those who have served and all those who continue to keep our nation and our communities safe

Military Payment Certificates, also known as MPCs, are paper money in cent denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 50 and dollar denominations of 1, 5, 10, and 20. The MPC program was at its peak during the Vietnam War. 

Here is a picture of one of my favorites

As a major world power, the United States military devised the MPC program immediately following World War II. In post war Europe, US dollars became very valuable due to the high inflation rates of local currencies. Hence, US servicemen stationed overseas could purchase very high value items for relatively small numbers of US dollars. 

To overcome this problem and help stabilize foreign economies, MPCs were developed and used from the time immediately following World War II until about the end of the Vietnam War (1946-1973). 

In the opinion of many military veterans and collectors like me, MPCs include some of the most beautiful currency notes the US has ever printed. I look at these currency notes and see not only the financial impact they made for me while I served overseas in the US Navy, but the military, political and social environments surrounding them. 

 I think that these beautifully engraved Military Payment Certificates are some of most artistic pieces of currency ever made.

So on this historically significant day commemorating all the heroes of 9-11, we wish you God’s Speed and a peaceful, prosperous future.

Only 32 Exist: Chicago Burke-Glass Federal Reserve Note (FRN)

Chicago Burke-Glass Federal Reserve Note

In December of 1913, during his first year in office, Democratic President Woodrow Wilson aggressively influenced and subsequently signed into law the Federal Reserve Act. This Act of Congress established the Federal Reserve System and the US Central Banking System (a major reform for US banking and currency).
Importantly, this Act provided the US central banking system official authority to issue Federal Reserve Notes and Federal Reserve Bank Notes as legally authorized US currency. Strong critics to this day (most especially conservative Republicans) question whether the Federal Government has the constitutional authority to create such sweeping reform. Does this Act (and the Federal Reserve System) protect powerful financial interests and thereby increase recession risks such as what this nation has just experienced? Notably, the bill’s co-sponsor was the Chairmen of the House Banking and Currency Committee, Virginia Congressional Democratic Representative Carter Glass.

 7G (the G denotes Chicago; District: Chicago, Illinois; Series 1918; pp A – plate position A (shows where it was located on the original printed sheet); 30 Very Fine

Though WWI (the Great War, The War to End all Wars) began in Europe in 1914, America did not officially enter this war until 6 April 1917. Democratic President Woodrow Wilson (our 28^th president who served from 1913 to 1921) promised to “keep us out of war” as his running campaign and this promise helped him win the 1913 election. WW1 ended on 11 November 1918 – Armistice Day -- a day we continue recognize and honor the more than 50,000 soldiers who perished during this Great War.

Wilson won presidential election in 1913 due in part to his vow for neutrality, Wilson and Glass helped establish the banking and currency reform that made this series 1918 Federal Reserve Note possible. Both men were from Virginia, both were Democrats, and both advocated for the federal authority behind sweeping banking reform. Carter Glass served as the US Secretary of the Treasury, appointed by President Wilson, from 1918 to 1920 – a very short period of time.

His signature as Secretary of the Treasury is seen on series 1914 and 1918 Federal Reserve Notes, printed while he held that position.
So that explains the Carter Glass signature, but who was John Burke and why is the Burke-Glass signature combination so rare?

John Burke a North Dakota Democrat, staunchly supported Woodrow Wilson’s bid for president during the 1912 Democratic National Convention. Because of Burke, all of North Dakota’s votes favored Wilson. Wilson of course won the election and in gratitude, named Burke US Treasurer a position he held from 1913 to 1921. 

Therefore, this rare signature combination only appears on notes produced for fewer than two short years.

The 7-G notation for District: Chicago, Illinois creates additional interest and rarity. 

The note’s central portrait figure is that of US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall who lived from 1755 to 1835 and served as the fourth US Chief Justice from 1801-1835. Marshall remains the court’s longest serving Chief Justice. Of huge importance were Marshall’s efforts to establish the US Supreme Court as an equal and independent third government branch, along with the executive and legislative branches.

Like Wilson and Glass, Marshall was also a Virginian and like Wilson and Glass, worked to build a strong federal government For example, the 1819 US Supreme Court decision in the McCulloch v. Maryland case upheld the power of the federal government to authorize the Second Bank of the United States.

So the question is: what would this extremely rare series 1918 Chicago Burke-Glass Federal Reserve Note have to say? Would it speak of war, and peace, and political power, intrigue, and favoritism? Would the note tell all of us that the year it was printed, the “War to End all Wars” ended? Perhaps that is why the engraved picture on the back shows a group of Native Americans (1541) with their Chief who is clearly holding a peace pipe? ……Peace…… How amazing would that be? 

© 2016. Treasuredstocks.com

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For more information about and examples of Federal Reserve Notes and other rare currency, please visit treasuredstocks.com. For queries and questions, please call me, Jeff Smith, at 870-670-4255 or email me jeff@treasuredstocks.com

We are official members of multiple numismatic-related organizations. Thus, Treasuredstocks.com welcomes any and all questions regarding our coin and currency postings and our passion for collecting coins and currency of all types.