Fr. 2201-B 1934 $500 Light Green Seal (LGS) Federal Reserve Note – Legacy Currency Grading VF30
Own a remarkable piece of American monetary history with this Series 1934 $500 Federal Reserve Note, cataloged as Fr. 2201-B, issued by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (District B). This impressive high-denomination note has been professionally authenticated and graded Very Fine 30 (VF30) by Legacy Currency Grading, making it an outstanding addition to any advanced U.S. currency collection.
This example features the highly desirable Light Green Seal (LGS) variety, recognized by collectors for its lighter-colored Treasury seal and serial numbers used on early printings before the Bureau of Engraving and Printing adopted the darker green ink found on later Series 1934 notes.
Item Details
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Friedberg Number: Fr. 2201-B
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Denomination: $500
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Series: 1934
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Type: Federal Reserve Note
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Federal Reserve Bank: New York (District B)
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Seal Variety: Light Green Seal (LGS)
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Serial Number: B00109010A
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Portrait: President William McKinley
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Treasury Signatures: W. A. Julian (Treasurer of the United States) and Henry Morgenthau Jr. (Secretary of the Treasury)
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Grade: Legacy Currency Grading Very Fine 30 (VF30)
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Holder: Legacy Currency Grading Certified
History
The Series 1934 $500 Federal Reserve Note was issued during one of the most significant periods in American financial history. Following the Banking Act of 1933 and the nation's departure from the domestic gold standard, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing introduced the Series 1934 notes as part of a redesigned currency system intended to restore confidence in the nation's banking industry during the Great Depression.
The $500 denomination was never intended for everyday commerce. Instead, it was primarily used by banks, Federal Reserve branches, large corporations, and government agencies to move substantial sums of money before the development of electronic wire transfers. While these notes were available to the public and remain legal tender today, very few Americans ever encountered one in circulation.
This note was issued by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, designated by the letter "B", the nation's largest and most influential Federal Reserve district. New York served as the center of American banking and international finance, making notes from this district particularly significant in U.S. monetary history.
Featured on the front is President William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States. McKinley oversaw a period of rapid economic growth and industrial expansion in the late 19th century and strongly supported the gold standard, making his portrait an appropriate choice for one of America's highest circulating denominations.
The signatures on this note belong to W. A. Julian, Treasurer of the United States, and Henry Morgenthau Jr., Secretary of the Treasury. Morgenthau played a major role in shaping American financial policy throughout the Great Depression and World War II, while Julian served as Treasurer from 1933 through 1949, making this one of the longest-serving signature combinations found on U.S. currency.
Collectors especially seek the Light Green Seal (LGS) variety because it represents the earliest printings of the Series 1934 notes. The lighter shade of green used for the Treasury seal and serial numbers was later replaced with a darker green ink, creating an identifiable subtype that has become highly desirable among paper money specialists.
Production of $500 Federal Reserve Notes ceased in 1945, although existing notes continued to circulate. In 1969, the Federal Reserve officially discontinued the $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 denominations because advances in electronic banking eliminated the need for large-value paper currency. Since then, surviving examples have become increasingly scarce as many were redeemed and destroyed by banks.
Today, genuine $500 Federal Reserve Notes are among the most iconic pieces of American paper money. Their combination of historical importance, limited surviving population, and connection to Depression-era banking has made them one of the most sought-after high-denomination notes in the numismatic market.
Professionally graded Legacy Currency Grading VF30, this Fr. 2201-B 1934 $500 Light Green Seal Federal Reserve Note from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, serial number B00109010A, represents an exceptional opportunity to own a certified example of one of the most famous and collectible United States banknotes ever produced.