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The Series of 1935 $1 Silver Certificate was America’s last bank note without the motto “In God We Trust” on the back.  The majority of 1935 $1 Silver Certificates were printed without the motto, but a small number were also printed with the motto.

This collection includes one of each bank note – a 1935 $1 Silver Certificate without the motto “In God We Trust” on the back, and a 1935 $1 Silver Certificate with the motto.

Unlike coins, bank notes are not dated by the year of issue but rather by the year the last major design change was made.  The Series of 1935 $1 Silver Certificate without the motto was issued from 1935 to 1962.  It was the first $1 bill to show the familiar back design depicting the Great Seal of the United States – the 13-step pyramid topped by the all-seeing eye of God on the left side, and the American eagle and national motto “E Pluribus Unum” on the right side.

When the design change was made with the addition of the motto on the back in 1957, the series date was changed to the Series of 1957.  Curiously, however, a small number of Series of 1935 notes were made in 1961 with the motto.  According to the dating system for bank notes, these should have been the Series of 1957.

It is not clear whether this was an error on the U.S. Treasury’s part – but what is clear is that the Series of 1935 $1 Silver Certificate with the motto is exceptionally scarce.  In fact, it is about 358 rarer than Series of 1935 $1 Silver Certificates with the motto!

Very few Series of 1935 $1 Silver Certificates remain today, and just a fraction of those are the notes with the motto.  Finding a matching set of 1935 $1 Silver Certificates with and without the motto is a rare treat for collectors.

The Series date can be seen to the bottom left of the Treasury seal on the front of the notes.

Silver Certificates were U.S. Government-issued bank notes that were backed by real silver in the U.S. Treasury.  Until June 24, 1968, the bearer of a Silver Certificate could have redeemed it at the U.S. Treasury for one dollar in silver.  Silver Certificates are the only bank notes that have a blue Treasury seal and serial numbers.

The front of the $1 Silver Certificate shows the portrait of George Washington.  The inscription reads “This certifies that there is on deposit in the Treasury of the United States of America ONE DOLLAR in silver payable to the bearer on demand.”

Amazingly, the Silver Certificates offered here are in About Uncirculated or better condition.  This is a very high grade for classic Silver Certificates like these.  They are protected in a custom display that shows the two back designs – one with the motto “In God We Trust” and one without the motto.