US Currency Timeline

By MackW
  • The Nations First Bank

    The Nations First Bank
    The Continental Congress made the first bank in Philadelphia to give further financial support to the Revolutionary War.
  • The Dollar

    The Dollar
    The Continental Congress adopted the dollar as the unit for national currency to replace the bank note.
  • US Mint

    US Mint
    The first US Mint was created in Philadelphia. The first American coins were struck in 1793.
  • Second US Bank

    Second US Bank
    The second US bank was created in Philadelphia as well and was granted a 20-year charter.
  • State Bank Notes

    State Bank Notes
    Paper money printed out of state banks. Each state or bank has different colors and designs.
  • Civil War

    Civil War
    On the brink of bankruptcy and pressed to finance the Civil War, Congress authorized the United States Treasury to issue paper money for the first time in the form of non-interest bearing Treasury Notes called Demand Notes.
  • Greenbacks

    Greenbacks
    Demand Notes were replaced by United States Notes. Called greenbacks because of the green tint introduced to discourage photographic counterfeiting, they were last issued in 1971.
  • National Bank Notes

    National Bank Notes
    National Bank Notes, backed by U.S. government securities, became predominant. 75 percent of bank deposits were held by nationally chartered banks.