What was the largest denominations of US paper money ever printed: was it $1000, $5,000, or $10,000?

When exploring the history of United States paper money, it's fascinating to discover the large denominations that once existed. While today our highest circulating bill is the $100 note, there was a time when much larger sums were printed. Among the choices of $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000, the $10,000 bill was indeed the largest denomination of US paper money ever to publicly circulate. These high-value notes were part of a series that included $500, $1,000, and $5,000 bills, all of which featured portraits of prominent American figures. The $10,000 bill, for instance, prominently displayed the image of Salmon P. Chase, who served as Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of the Treasury.

It's important to note a distinction, however. While the $10,000 bill was the highest denomination for general public use, an even larger note was printed: the $100,000 Gold Certificate. This impressive bill, featuring a portrait of President Woodrow Wilson, was produced in 1934. However, it was never intended for public circulation. Instead, these $100,000 certificates served a very specific purpose, used exclusively for official transactions between Federal Reserve Banks. This meant they functioned as an accounting instrument for large transfers of funds within the banking system, rather than for everyday commerce.

The printing of these large denominations, including the $10,000 bill, largely ceased in 1945, though they remained legal tender for many years. In 1969, the United States Department of the Treasury announced that all notes in denominations greater than $100 would be officially discontinued due to declining demand and to combat organized crime. Today, any remaining $10,000 bills are extremely rare and highly sought after by collectors, often fetching prices far exceeding their face value at auction due to their historical significance and scarcity.