1953 $5 Silver Certificate

After 68 years of large-size paper money, the U.S. switched to less expensive, smaller-sized currency. In 1934, the first small-size $5 Silver Certificates rolled off the presses. They featured a blue “5” on the left and large blue seal at right. Beginning in 1953, design changes were made to the notes face. The blue “5” at left was changed to gray, and the blue seal was reduced in size. This design continued through the end of the series. Now you can own a beautiful Choice Crisp Uncirculated 1953 $5 silver certificate with Priest-Humphrey signatures - the first issue to feature that final design.

Silver Certificates were once redeemable for silver dollars or silver bullion on demand! In the early 1960s, when the value of silver in $1 coins rose above face value, it became profitable to redeem Silver Certificates for silver coins. These notes were abolished in 1963, and a year later, the Treasury stopped redeeming them for silver dollars. Millions of Silver Certificates with their distinctive blue seals and serial numbers were redeemed and destroyed, and they all but vanished from circulation within a decade. Fortunately, a limited number were tucked away by farseeing collectors. Now decades later, you can own an obsolete Choice Crisp Uncirculated $5 Silver Certificate.