The SilverTowne Vault Blog

100 Greatest American Currency Notes Series: The Ultimate Treasury-Issued Display Item Fractional Currency Shield

Published 08/11/2022

This go ‘round’s feature over one of the top 100 picks from Whitman Publishing’s 100 Greatest American Currency Notes publication is a little different than the rest. While not a currency note itself, it has made its way near the top after the survey taken revealing such a compilation showcased its results. A favorite among collectors and numismatists, authors Q. David Bowers and David M. Sundman will help us navigate this unique selection.

#14 - The Ultimate Treasury-Issued Display Item Fractional Currency Shield

Created by the Treasury Department in the late 1860s, the famous Fractional Currency Shield was intended for display but has since become a popular collector specimen. Intended for use by National Banks to help compare counterfeit currency with genuine notes, their attraction was apparent from the very get-go. The outline of the shield is printed in black as an eagle and stars appear at the top. The eagle is the same...read more