The U.S. $1000 Dollar Bills
Is the 1000 dollar bill real? Somewhat surprisingly, the answer is yes. There have been several series of $1000 bills printed in the United States since the Revolutionary War. $1000 bills are now prized collectibles that are in high demand.
In this guide, I’m going to share all of the information you need to know about $1000 bills, including what is a $1000 bill worth, who is on the $1000 bill, when was the $1000 bill made, and much more.
The U.S. $1000 bill is one of the most interesting notes ever minted. It is the fourth largest bill created by the U.S. Mint, behind the $5,000, $10,000, and $100,000 dollar bills. This makes it something of a novelty, enhancing its collectibility and value.
Although the $1000 bill is no longer printed by the U.S. government, it remains legal tender, which makes it worth a minimum of $1,000. However, its collectibility means that its true value is much higher. It remains extremely popular amongst collectors because of its rarity, novelty, and wonderful design, so the rarest bills can fetch huge sums at auction.
The History Of The U.S. $1000 Bill
The origins of the $1000 bill can be traced all the way back to the beginning of the United States. The first $1000 bills were created by the Continental Congress, the body of delegates that represented the 13 colonies. This type of currency, known as “Continental” currency, was made between 1775 and 1779 to help finance the Revolutionary War.
Although it seems like a ridiculously large sum of money, its value declined very quickly. Because it wasn’t backed by gold or silver, and because many bills were printed, it came to be worth about $20 of “real” money (British pounds). Eventually, Continentals were considered virtually worthless, which led to the disparaging saying “not worth a continental.”
In 1792, the U.S. mint was formed and the U.S. Coinage Act of 1792 led to the replacement of all paper continentals. $1000 bills were printed again around the time of the Civil War to support the war. These large denomination bills were made purchasing war supplies much easier.
The Civil-war era $1000 notes are extremely rare and most are locked up in museums or in the homes of very wealthy collectors. Some of the bills created during this time featured depictions of slaves working in the fields as well as slave-owning presidents like George Washington (on the $50 and $100 bill) and Andrew Jackson (on the $1,000 bill).
In the years that followed, $1000 bills became more commonplace and were often used for real estate deals and payments between banks. There were several series created over the years. The notes that are still reasonably obtainable by collectors include the:
- 1918 $1000 Federal Reserve Note
- 1907 $1000 Gold Certificate Bill
- 1922 $1000 Gold Certificate Bill
- 1928 $1000 Gold Certificate Bill
- 1928 $1000 Federal Reserve Note
- 1934 $1000 Federal Reserve Note
- 1934A $1000 Federal Reserve Note
The Federal Government discontinued all high-denomination bills in July of 1969, including the $500 dollar bill, $1,000 dollar bill, $5,000 dollar bill, $10,000 dollar bill, and $100,000 dollar bill. They were then taken out of circulation.
Surprisingly, $1000 bills were still seen in circulation until the early 1970s. It would be extremely unlikely to see one in circulation now, given their high value and rarity. Only very damaged $1000 bills would be worth close to face value, with even common notes in “Fair” condition going for over $1600.
Fun fact: Many of the $1000 bills that were taken out of circulation were shredded and recycled into building materials like insulation and roofing shingles. A part of your house might be made from $1000 bills!
U.S. $1000 Bill Series
Although there were several series of the $1000 produced, only a few are easily obtainable by collectors. You are most likely to see bills from the 1928, 1934, and 1934A series, as they were produced in large quantities.
The main determinants of value for a $1000 note are its condition, rarity, serial number, and any unique features. The impact of condition and rarity are obvious enough (rare notes in better condition are worth more). When it comes to serial numbers, notes that have a number below 100 will attract a premium.
About 1% of $1000 notes also feature a star in the serial number. These “star notes” were produced to take the place of any notes that were misprinted at the mint. Some series of the $1000 bill has fewer star notes than others, like the 1928 series. This makes 1928 star notes worth much more than a standard note.
A final point of distinction between the $1000 bill series is the issuing district. Some series were printed in a variety of cities including New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Boston, Richmond, Atlanta, and San Francisco. Because certain cities produced fewer notes than others, their collectibility will be higher.
Some notes will have a colored seal on them (usually green, blue, gold, silver, or red). In some cases, the city that printed the note will have used a slightly different ink for the color of the seal. This can affect the value. The $1000 notes that collectors are most likely to encounter include:
1918 $1000 Federal Reserve Note (Blue Seal Bill)
Year:1918
Denomination:One Thousand Dollar Bill
Type:Federal Reserve Note
Portrait:Alexander Hamilton
The 1918 $1000 Federal Reserve Note is the highest denomination note from this series which is available to collectors. Although $5,000 and $10,000 Federal Reserve Notes were also made in 1918, they are so rare that they will only be found in museums.
The front of the bill features a portrait of Alexander Hamilton and a distinctive blue seal. The rear side has a beautiful illustration of a bald eagle clutching some arrows, a wreath, and the American flag.
One interesting feature of this note is that it has a dollar sign on its back. It is one of a handful of notes to do so, which enhances its collectibility. The serial number on this bill doesn’t affect its value much, as many notes with low serial numbers are still in existence.
The main determinants of value will be the note’s condition and the issuing district. This note is highly valuable and you can expect a note in ‘good’ or ‘fair’ condition to be worth around the $8,000 to $10,000 mark. Rarer notes in excellent condition can be over $100,000.
1907 $1000 Gold Certificate Bill
Year:1907
Denomination:One Thousand Dollar Bill
Type:Gold Certificate
Portrait:Alexander Hamilton
The 1907 $1000 Gold Certificate Bill is a popular note amongst collectors because of its beautiful design. There are six different 1907 $1,000 gold certificates in existence. The most common types are signed by Parker and Burke or Teehee and Burke.These bills are worth between $10,000 and $30,000 based on their condition.
Rarer bills which are in excellent condition can go for much more (over $100,000 in some cases). 1907 $1000 Gold Certificate bills look identical to 1922 $1000 Gold Certificate bills, so you will need to examine the serial number or signatures to determine which series a bill is.
The front of the note features a portrait of Alexander Hamilton while the rear is gold/orange and features a seal with a bald eagle in it.
1922 $1000 Gold Certificate Bill
Year:1922
Denomination:One Thousand Dollar Bill
Type:Gold Certificate
Portrait:Alexander Hamilton
This bill looks virtually identical to the 1907 $1000 Gold Certificate Bill. The only difference will be the serial number and the signature. 1922 bills are signed by Speelman and White. This bill has a similar value to the 1907 one: between $10,000 and $30,000 for common notes and over $100,000 for extremely rare ones in excellent condition.
1928 $1000 Gold Certificate
Year:1928
Denomination:One Thousand Dollar Bill
Type:Gold Certificate
Portrait:Grover Cleveland
The affordability of this note makes it a common entry point for collectors purchasing their first $1000 dollar bill. This series is easy to identify thanks to the empty space on the right-hand side of the bill. Although it looks like a misprint, this is completely normal.
There are no varieties for this note as they were all signed by Woods and Mellon, and there are no star notes. As a result, the price of a 1928 $1000 Gold Certificate will be based almost entirely upon its condition.
You can expect notes that are heavily circulated to be worth anywhere between $2,000 to $5,000. Notes that are in Good to Fine condition can go for between $5,000 to $12,000. notes that are uncirculated or in almost-uncirculated condition can be worth 10’s of thousandsof dollars.
The front of this bill has a portrait of Grover Cleveland and has a gold stamp on the left hand side. The back is green and features the text “The United States of America – One Thousand Dollars”
1928 $1000 Federal Reserve Note
Year:1928
Denomination:One Thousand Dollar Bill
Type:Federal Reserve Note
Portrait:Grover Cleveland
This note features the same portrait as the 1928 $1000 Gold Certificate and some similar detailing. However, it has a green sigil on the right side of the note and a federal reserve stamp on the left.
It is also marked as a Federal Reserve Note and has green serial numbers. The back of the note is also green and features the text “The United States of America – One Thousand Dollars”. Although this bill says it is payable in gold, it is not a gold certificate.
This type of note is relatively common, which makes it affordable for most collectors. A circulated note in good condition will sell for about $1,800, while circulated notes in excellent condition can reach $3,000. Notes that have star symbols can be valued at over $10,000.
1934 $1000 Federal Reserve Note
Year:1928
Denomination:One Thousand Dollar Bill
Type:Federal Reserve Note
Portrait:Grover Cleveland
This note also features a portrait of Grover Cleveland. It is distinguishable from the 1928 Federal Reserve Note by the date, the signatures, and the letters used in the serial numbers.
One of the key differences between 1934 $1000 Federal Reserve Notes is the color of the seal. While most notes will have a pale green seal, some have a lime green seal. Lime green is somewhat rarer and will attract a premium. Notes that have a serial number under 100 are very valuable and star notes are popular.
A common circulated $1000 Federal Reserve Note might cost somewhere in the $1,500 to $2,500 range. Star notes are worth at least $2,000 and can go up to several thousand dollars. Notes with lime greens seals can be worth several thousand dollars or 10’s of thousands if in excellent condition.
The 1934A note is virtually identical but will have an A at the end of the serial. They are fairly generic and usually sell around the $1,500 mark. Uncirculated notes can cost between $2,500 to $3,000. Very low-quality notes with holes or tears may only be worth face value ($1,000).
How much is a $1000 dollar bill worth?
As mentioned earlier, the price of a $1000 bill varies greatly, based on its rarity, condition, and demand. A rare uncirculated $1000 bill could easily achieve $100,000 at an auction while a common circulated note in poor condition could be worth as little as $1,500. Here is a little more information on rarity, condition, and demand:
- Rarity
Obviously, bills that are extremely rare are worth more. When it comes to $1000 notes, this means that old bills, bills with misprints, bills with unusual markings, and bills with rare serial numbers will attract a premium. - Demand
The laws of supply and demand apply to the currency market. If collectors are suddenly interested in obtaining a specific type of $1,000 bill, its value will increase. - Condition
$1,000 Bills are usually graded from best to worst as uncirculated, about uncirculated, extremely fine, very fine, fine, very good, good, fair, and poor. Learn more about currency valuation here.
The values for the most common U.S. $1,000 bills are:
The information below is based on research on the $1,000 bill. It’s recommended that you should always get a professional appraisal before purchasing a $1,000 bill.
- 1918 $1000 Federal Reserve Note
A bill that is worth around the $8,000 to $10,000 mark. Rarer notes in excellent condition can be over $100,000. - 1907 $1000 Gold Certificate Bill and 1922 $1000 Gold Certificate Bill
These bills are worth between $10,000 and $30,000 based on their condition. Rarer bills can go for over $100,000 in some cases. - 1928 $1000 Gold Certificate Bill
Heavily circulated bills are worth anywhere between $2,000 to $5,000. Bills in Good to Fine condition can go for between $5,000 to $12,000. Uncirculated or almost-uncirculated notes can be worth 10’s of thousands of dollars. - 1928 $1000 Federal Reserve Note
Circulated notes in good condition are worth about $1,800. Circulated notes in excellent condition can reach $3,000. Notes that have star symbols can be valued at over $10,000. - 1934 $1000 Federal Reserve Note and 1934A $1000 Federal Reserve Note
Common circulated notes will sell in the $1,500 to $2,500 range. Star notes are worth at least $2,000 and can reach up to several thousand dollars. Notes with lime greens seals can be worth several thousand dollars. Rare combinations can be worth 10’s of thousands of dollars.
Here are some screenshots from $1,000 bills that have sold on eBay.
This one you can see the condition is quite poor is still worth over the face value of the bill
This one you can see is in much better shape and is uncirculated.
Commonly Asked Questions About The $1000 Bill
Why isn’t my $1000 bill on the list?
The list above only includes the $1000 bills that are regularly traded between collectors. It doesn’t include extremely rare $1000 bills which are commonly held by museums and libraries. If you have a bill that is not listed above, contact a currency dealer to have it professionally appraised.
Is the $1000 legal tender?
Yes! You could cash your $1,000 note tomorrow at a bank or spend it at a shop (although the shop’s owner might need to authenticate the note first). However, the value of the note is probably well above $1000.
Can you get $1000 bills from the bank?
No, $1000 bills are no longer printed and are not held by banks.
What does a $1000 bill look like?
$1000 bills come in a wide range of designs, from beautiful 1907 Gold certificates through to more familiar-looking 1934 federal reserve notes. However, they all feature portraits of presidents on one side of the not.
When was the last $1000 bill printed?
The U.S. federal government stopped printing all large denomination bills by 1946 and took them out of circulation in 1969.
Where to get a $1000 bill?
You can purchase a $1000 bill online or via currency dealers. Rarer bills can be obtained from larger currency dealers and auction houses.
Why was the $1000 bill discontinued?
The government claims that large denomination bills were canceled because they weren’t used very often. However, the real reason is that they often used for money laundering and other illegal activities.
Who Is On The $1000 Bill?
Several different presidents appeared on the $1000 bill including Abraham Lincoln, Alexander Hamilton, and Grover Cleveland. The 1890 series featured General George Meade, who commanded the Union forces at Gettysburg.
Are misprinted $1000 bills worth more?
Yes, but they are extremely rare.
What types of $1000 bills were issued?
Many different types of bills have been issued including confederate notes, treasury notes, gold certificates, and federal reserve notes.
What was the most valuable $1000 note sold for?
The most expensive $1000 note was sold at auction for $3.29 million dollars. It was a very rare 1890 series treasury note named “The grand watermelon” because it features many ornate zeros on it (which look like watermelons). Another note of the same series sold for over $2 million in 2018.
Interested in more large currency information? Check out our $500 dollar bill value write up.
Sources
https://avocadoughtoast.com/1000-dollar-bill/
https://www.marketplace.org/2015/12/23/thousand-dollar-bills/
https://www.raremoneyvalues.com/one-thousand-dollars-1922-gold-certificate-values/
https://www.silverrecyclers.com/blog/1000-dollar-bill.aspx
http://www.antiquemoney.com/old-one-thousand-dollar-bill-value-price-guide/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banknotes_of_the_United_States_dollar#Continental_Currency
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_denominations_of_United_States_currency
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