The United States once printed $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 bills — all of which were discontinued in 1969 and are now collectible items worth far more than their face value. The rarest surviving $10,000 bills sell for $60,000 to over $100,000 at auction. Even a worn $500 bill is worth at least $600 at any currency dealer. Here is everything you need to know about America’s big bills.
For current information on bank accounts and everyday banking, see the Banking Guide 2026.
Quick Reference: All Large Denomination US Bills
| Bill | Portrait | Last Printed | Est. Surviving | Collector Value (circulated) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | William McKinley | 1945 | ~884,000 | $600–$1,500+ |
| $1,000 | Grover Cleveland | 1945 | ~165,000 | $2,000–$5,000+ |
| $5,000 | James Madison | 1945 | ~342 | $30,000–$100,000+ |
| $10,000 | Salmon P. Chase | 1945 | ~336 | $60,000–$200,000+ |
| $100,000* | Woodrow Wilson | 1935 | ~0 public | Never publicly circulated |
The $100,000 gold certificate was used solely for Federal Reserve interbank transfers; none were ever released to the public.
The $500 Bill
Portrait: President William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, assassinated in 1901.
Back design: The word “Five Hundred Dollars” in ornate script.
Series: Several series were issued, with the 1934 Federal Reserve Note being the most commonly encountered by collectors.
What it is worth: In circulated condition, a genuine $500 bill typically brings $600–$1,000 at a currency dealer or auction. An uncirculated specimen (crisp, no folds) can sell for $1,200–$2,500 or more depending on the specific Federal Reserve district, the series date, and whether the serial number is interesting (low numbers, repeating digits, or star notes command premiums).
Fun fact: McKinley was chosen partly because the $500 bill was a denomination primarily used by banks — the denomination did not circulate widely — and McKinley’s administration presided over the Gold Standard Act of 1900, linking currency to precious metal.
The $1,000 Bill
Portrait: President Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President — the only US president to serve two non-consecutive terms.
Back design: “One Thousand Dollars” in ornate green engraving.
What it is worth: Circulated examples typically sell for $2,000–$5,000. Uncirculated specimens can reach $8,000–$15,000 or beyond. Star notes (replacement notes with a star at the end of the serial number) and notes from low-distribution Federal Reserve districts carry significant premiums.
Collector note: The 1928 series $1,000 bill is among the most sought-after by collectors and is noticeably rarer than the 1934 series.
The $5,000 Bill
Portrait: President James Madison, the fourth President and primary architect of the US Constitution.
Back design: “Five Thousand Dollars.”
What it is worth: With only an estimated 342 known to exist, a $5,000 bill in circulated condition is worth $30,000–$60,000. Fine or better examples can exceed $100,000. Auction records show exceptional specimens selling above $300,000.
Why so few survive: The Federal Reserve actively removed large-denomination notes from circulation throughout the 1950s and 1960s, well before the official 1969 discontinuation date. Banks were instructed to return them to the Federal Reserve upon receipt rather than recirculate them. Most were destroyed.
The $10,000 Bill
Portrait: Salmon P. Chase — not a president, but a highly significant figure. Chase served as Secretary of the Treasury under Abraham Lincoln (he is responsible for putting “In God We Trust” on US currency), Governor of Ohio, US Senator, and ultimately Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Back design: “Ten Thousand Dollars.”
What it is worth: With approximately 336 estimated to survive — and many of those held by the Federal Reserve itself and museums — collector specimens are extraordinarily rare. A circulated example in average condition sells for $60,000–$100,000. Uncirculated examples at major auctions have sold for $180,000–$480,000.
The highest-value denomination in private collector hands: While the $100,000 gold certificate technically outranks it by face value, no $100,000 bills are legally held by private collectors. The $10,000 is the highest denomination that private individuals can legally own.
The $100,000 Gold Certificate — The Bill Nobody Can Own
Portrait: Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President.
Why it was created: During 1934–1935, the US government needed a mechanism for Federal Reserve Banks to transfer large sums between each other. Creating a physical $100,000 certificate was cheaper and simpler than wire infrastructure at the time.
Why you cannot own one: These certificates were never intended for public use and were never legal for private circulation. The Federal Reserve banks that received them were required to return them when no longer needed. Today, a handful are held in government archives and a few are on display at institutions like the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and the Federal Reserve Banks’ public galleries.
Why Were Large Bills Discontinued?
The Federal Reserve officially discontinued $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 bills on July 14, 1969, under Treasury Secretary David Kennedy during the Nixon administration. Two main reasons:
1. Lack of use. By the 1960s, businesses and banks had largely replaced large-denomination cash with checks, wire transfers, and other payment systems. The bills sat in bank vaults rather than circulating.
2. Criminal use concerns. Large bills facilitated anonymous large-value transactions. The Treasury and FBI argued that discontinuing them would hinder organized crime, tax evasion, and other illegal cash-heavy activity. This was the same era the government was pursuing large-scale efforts against organized crime.
All bills already in circulation were (and remain) legal tender, but the Federal Reserve instructed banks to remove them from circulation and return them when received.
How to Authenticate a Large Denomination Bill
Counterfeits of large bills do exist, though they are far less common than counterfeit $100 notes. If you acquire a large-denomination bill:
- Submit to a currency authentication service — PCGS Currency and PMG (Paper Money Guaranty) both authenticate and grade large-denomination notes. This is essential for any bill above $500.
- Check under UV light — period-correct currency has specific fluorescence characteristics that counterfeit bills rarely replicate accurately.
- Verify serial numbers — cross-reference the serial number with known census data compiled by currency collector organizations.
- Examine the paper — period US currency has a distinctive feel from cotton-linen fiber paper with embedded red and blue threads.
Never pay large amounts for a raw (ungraded) large-denomination bill without independent expert verification.
Where to Buy and Sell Large-Denomination Bills
- Heritage Auctions (ha.com) — the largest US currency auction house
- Stack’s Bowers Galleries — specializes in coins and currency
- PCGS Currency Marketplace — certified notes with guaranteed authenticity
- Established currency dealers — look for members of the Professional Currency Dealers Association (PCDA)
Prices realized at auction are publicly available through auction house archives, giving you an accurate baseline for any denomination and condition.
Key Takeaways
- The $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 bills were all discontinued in 1969 but remain legal tender
- The $10,000 bill (Salmon P. Chase) is the rarest and most valuable — surviving examples sell for $60,000 to $480,000
- Only about 336 $10,000 bills and 342 $5,000 bills are known to still exist
- Always authenticate large-denomination bills through a recognized grading service before buying or selling
- The $100,000 gold certificate exists but cannot legally be owned by private individuals
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