$50.00 United States Notes
(Legal Tenders)


Large Sized $50.00 Legal Tenders were issued for seven series: 1862, 1863, 1869, 1874, 1875, 1878 and 1880.

There are eleven distinct varieties (major differences with Face Design, Seal Type and / or Back Design) within this denomination.

These notes are commonly called "Legal Tenders" because of their payment obligation stating "This Note is a Legal Tender.."





Series
1862

Series 1862 Face Design
Series 1862
Face Design

Series 1862 Back Design
Series 1862
Back Design


Series 1862 is the first Series of $50.00 Silver Certificates. The Portrait to the left of center is of Alexander Hamilton.

Series 1862

Series 1862 - Overprinted with Small Red Seal at upper right. This Note has the "First Obligation" back.


Identifier
LUS50-1

Fr. #
148

Register
Chittenden

Treasurer
Spinner




Series 1862

Series 1862 - Overprinted with Small Red Seal at upper right. This Note has the "Second Obligation" back.


Identifier
LUS50-2

Fr. #
149

Register
Chittenden

Treasurer
Spinner





Series
1863

Series 1863 Face Design
Series 1863
Face Design
Series 1863 Back Design
Series 1863
Back Design

The face and back of Series 1863 $50.00 Legal Tenders are very similar to those of the previous Series.

Series 1863 with One Serial No.

Series 1863 - Overprinted with Small Red Seal at upper right and 1 Serial Number at left.


Identifier
LUS50-3

Fr. #
150/a

Register
Chittenden

Treasurer
Spinner




Series
1869

Series 1869 Face Design
Series 1869
Face Design
Series 1869 Back Design
Series 1869
Back Design

The Series 1869 $50.00 Legal Tenders represent a complete new design from the previous Series. The Portrait at the right of the face is Henry Clay, Secretary of State from 1825 through 1829. The allegorical figure at the left of the face represents "Peace holding a laurel branch and a Statue of Mercury".

Because of the vivid colors and the blue tinted paper, this Series is refered to as the "Rainbow" series.


Series 1869

Series 1869 - Overprinted with a Large Red Seal at the Upper Center.


Identifier
LUS50-4

Fr. #
151

Register
Allison

Treasurer
Spinner




Series
1874

Series 1874 Face Design
Series 1874
Face Design
Series 1874 Back Design
Series 1874
Back Design

The Faces and Backs of 1874 $100.00 Legal Tenders represent complete new designs from those of the previous Series. The Portrait on the left is of Benjamin Franklin and the allegorical figure on the right is "Liberty Dressed as Columbia" representing "America".

This Series reverses the signature locations of the Register (usually on the left side) and the Treasurer (usually on the right side).


Series 1874

Series 1874 - Overprinted with a Small Red Seal with Rays at Center at two Large Red "L"s on both sides of Seal.


Identifier
LUS50-5

Fr. #
152

Register
Allison

Treasurer
Spinner




Series
1875

Series 1875 Face Design
Series 1875
Face Design
Series 1875 Back Design
Series 1875
Back Design

The Faces and Backs of 1875 $100.00 Legal Tenders are similar to those of the previous Series.

The positions of the signatures of the Register and Treasurer are replaced to their normal positions.


Series 1875

Series 1875 - Overprinted with a Small Red Seal with Rays at the Right of Center.


Identifier
LUS50-6

Fr. #
153

Register
Allison

Treasurer
Wyman




Series
1878

Series 1878 Face Design
Series 1878
Face Design
Series 1878 Back Design
Series 1878
Back Design

The Faces and Backs of 1878 $100.00 Legal Tenders are similar to those of the previous Series.


Series 1878

Series 1878 - Overprinted with a Small Red Seal with Rays at Center.


Identifier
LUS50-7

Fr. #
154

Register
Allison

Treasurer
Gilfillan




Series
1880

Series 1880 Face Design
Series 1880
Face Design
Series 1880 Back Design
Series 1880
Back Design

The Face and Back of 1880 are very similar to those ofthe previous Series.


Series 1880 - Large Brown Seal

Series 1880 - Overprinted with a Large Brown Seal.


Identifier
LUS50-8
LUS50-9
LUS50-10

Fr. #
155
156
161

Register
Bruce
Bruce
Rosecrans

Treasurer
Gilfillan
Wyman
Huston





Series 1880 - Large Red Plain Seal

Series 1880 - Overprinted with a Large Plain Red Seal.


Identifier
LUS50-11
LUS50-12

Fr. #
157
158

Register
Rosecrans
Rosecrans

Treasurer
Hyatt
Jordan





Series 1880 - Large Red Spiked Seal

Series 1880 - Overprinted with a Large Spiked Red Seal.


Identifier
LUS50-13
LUS50-14

Fr. #
159
160

Register
Rosecrans
Rosecrans

Treasurer
Hyatt
Huston





Series 1880 - Small Red Scalloped Seal

Series 1880 - Overprinted with a Small Scalloped Red Seal.


Identifier
LUS50-15
LUS50-16
LUS50-17

Fr. #
162
163
164

Register
Morgan
Roberts
Roberts

Treasurer
Tillman
Bruce