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Anatomy of a Note
Modern United States paper money is the result of three separate printings.
The first printing is the green reverse of the note. The second printing produces the
black elements of the face of the note including most of the artwork, the portrait, series year, plate position numbers, check number, and the
the two official Treasury signatures. The third printing adds the Overprint consisting of the Serial
Numbers, and Treasury Seal, District Seal (or Universal Seal on denomination of $5.00 and greater from Series 1996 and up) and the District Numbers.
The image below labels most of the major features common to small
size U.S. currency.
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No. |
Description |
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A |
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B |
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C |
Type of Note |
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D |
Payment Obligation |
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E |
Treasury Seal - Green of Federal Reserve Notes, Blue on Silver Certificates, Red on United States Notes, Brown on Federal Reserve Bank Notes and Gold on Gold Certificates. |
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F |
District Seal - Only on Federal Reserve Notes and Federal Reserve Bank Notes. - Click Here for more information. |
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G |
District Number - Only on Federal Reserve Notes and Federal Reserve Bank Notes. - Click Here for more information. |
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H |
Face Plate Position |
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I |
Check Number / Face Plate Number |
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J |
Portrait - Click Here to See Examples. |
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K |
Signature of the Treasurer of the United States - Click Here for Examples. |
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L |
Signature of the Secretary of the Treasury. - Click Here for Examples. |
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M |
Motto - Click Here for More Information. |
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N |
Back Vignette - Click Here to See Examples. |
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O |
Back Plate Number |
