Jeff Smith, President and CEO Treasuredstocks.com

Jeff Smith, President and CEO Treasuredstocks.com
Jeff Smith

Friday, October 7, 2016

History and intrigue behind Chief Silver Certificates

Chief Silver Certificates
One of my all-time favorite Large Size currency notes is the 1899 Large Size Blue Seal Five Dollar “Chief”.

This note shows, as its center and central figure, the image of brave Chief Running Antelope who became Head Chief of the Hunkpapa in 1851.

He was born in South Dakota in 1821 and raised in native traditional skills and values. As diplomat, communicator, and warrior Chief Running Antelope was a friend and adviser to Chief Sitting Bull during the Plains Indian conflicts. He believed, however, that native nations should compromise with, not fight against, whites.

If you are looking at a Chief Silver Certificate you are looking at a picture of the only Native American Indian to be featured on a US Currency item. The engraved picture is not without controversy, however. The story is that Chief Running Antelope is shown wearing a Pawnee head dress, not Hunkpapa, because the one the Chief actually wore was too tall for the engraving. Another version of that story is that the Chief was told to wear the Pawnee head dress during the photographic session which he adamantly refused to do. Either way, the head dress show on his head is Pawnee.

Chief Running Antelope was pictured on the five dollar Silver Certificate in 1899. Unfortunately, he died long before the printing, sometime between 1896 and 1897. 
These notes are also known as “onepapa,”  (a bit of a misnomer for the Oncpapa/Hunkpapa Tribe of the Sioux Nation), “Chief Antelope,” “Chief Onepapa” or quite often just the “$5 Chief..”

The “Chief” notes are highly sought-after, collectable, and if graded at a higher scale, extremely valuable.
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For more information and stunning examples of Silver Certificates, Large Size Notes, and Blue Seal 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!
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How to Start a Currency Collection

I want to start collecting coins and currency items; where do I start?

Collectors of coins and currency do so for many reasons. One of the most common collector is the hobiest who collects more for fun and appeal, rather than profit. Often, this attraction begins as a child who, by chance or purpose, receives an item that is both fascinating and historical.

An increasingly popular reason to pursue collecting of coins and currency is to do so as an investment Persons who use collections as a kind of investing do so with the idea that the value of the items, in singular or total, will increase over time. Supply and demand is the key concept here as well as a critical understanding that collections do not “make” money until they are sold and may even incur costs, such as the costs of safe and secure storage.

A third type of collector is the person who acquires a collection via inheritance. This person may or may not have any real interest in the items but appreciates potential value.

One great advantage we have today is the internet. For example, take a careful look around our Treasuredstocks.com web site and you will see over 4,000 items, of all categories, grades, and prices, all graded and all in full color view. And now a bit about grading. A graded item allows collectors to speak the same language when it comes to the condition of the item.

The term “Numismatics” refers to the study or collecting of coin/currency. A numismatist is someone who does this by hobby or profession. Here is a great web site to use, when learning more about such an exciting field. There’s even several links specifically designed for children.

http://www.numismatics.tv/

We are official members of multiple numismatic-related organizations. Therefore, Treasuredstocks.com welcomes any and all questions regarding our 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