The red "R" is the feature of interest and is not a novelty addition or an alteration. In 1944, with wartime pressure on raw materials and concern over the durability and supply of currency paper, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing ran a controlled experiment on Series 1935A one dollar Silver Certificates. Notes printed on paper of the normal composition were overprinted with a red "R" for regular, and an equal quantity printed on an alternative experimental stock was overprinted with a red "S" for special. The two groups were released into circulation together so that their wear rates could be compared. 1,184,000 of each type were printed, and the trial produced no conclusive result, so the alternative paper was never adopted.
Authenticity of these notes rests on the serial number, since a red letter is easily faked on an ordinary 1935A note. The genuine "R" notes fall within the range S70884001C to S72068000C, and the "S" notes within S73884001C to S75068000C. This note's serial number, S 71226263 C, falls squarely within the "R" range, confirming it as a genuine experimental note of the SC block rather than a later addition.
The experimental notes represent well under one per cent of the total Series 1935A production, and the star replacement notes for the trial are far scarcer still, with only 12,000 printed for each letter. Alongside the Hawaii brown-seal and North Africa yellow-seal emergency issues, the R and S notes form part of the group of wartime special printings within the 1935A series, and they remain the only United States Silver Certificates identified by a prominent red control letter.
Portrait of George Washington at center.
Treasurer's Signature and 1 at left.
Secretary's Signature and Treasury Seal at right.
Scripts: Latin, Latin (cursive)
Lettering:
SILVER CERTIFICATE
THIS CERTIFIES THERE IS ON DEPOSIT IN THE TREASURY OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
THIS CERTIFICATE IS LEGAL TENDER
FOR ALL DEBTS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
ONE DOLLAR
IN SILVER PAYABLE TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND
Great Seal of the United States around ONE.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ONE
ONE DOLLAR
1935 Series A Experimental Notes: To test the durability of two types of paper, two groups of 1.184 million notes were released into circulation on June 20, 1944. Notes printed on "Regular Paper" were stamped with a red R on the lower right side of the note (Serial # S 708 84001 C - S 720 68000 C). Notes printed on "Special Paper" were stamped with a red S (Serial # S 738 84001 - S 750 68000 C).
Title 1935A USA 1 Dollar Silver Certificate Red R Experimental Fr 1609 WWII Banknote
Front Description United States one dollar Silver Certificate, Series 1935A, printed by intaglio in black on white cotton-linen paper with embedded red and blue security fibres, the seal and serial numbers applied by overprint in blue and the experimental control letter in red.
Across the top, within a reversed panel, is the heading "SILVER CERTIFICATE", flanked by the word "ONE" repeated in the upper border. Beneath runs the certification clause "THIS CERTIFIES THAT THERE IS ON DEPOSIT IN THE TREASURY OF" above "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" in large shadowed capitals.
The central vignette is the engraved portrait of George Washington after Gilbert Stuart, in three-quarter profile within an ornate oval frame, the name "WASHINGTON" on a scroll beneath.
At left of the portrait is a large ghosted numeral "1" in outline, overlaid with the legal tender clause "THIS CERTIFICATE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBTS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE". The plate position letter "K" appears at upper left.
At right of the portrait is the blue Treasury seal with scalloped border, bearing the balance scales, chevron of stars and key, with the legend "THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 1789". Above it is the denomination "ONE DOLLAR" in shadowed capitals, and beneath it "WASHINGTON, D.C."
Immediately to the right of the Treasury seal is a large red overprinted letter "R", the experimental control mark that distinguishes this issue.
Below appears "SERIES 1935 A" with the face plate number "K 5534" at the right margin.
Two engraved facsimile signatures appear at lower left and lower right: William A. Julian, captioned "Treasurer of the United States", and Henry Morgenthau Jr., captioned "Secretary of the Treasury".
The serial number is printed twice in blue: "S 71226263 C", at upper right and lower left.
Across the foot, within an ornamental panel: "ONE DOLLAR", with beneath it "IN SILVER PAYABLE TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND". Large numerals "1" occupy the left and right ends within engine-turned lathe work, with "ONE" repeated vertically in the side borders.
Condition: heavily circulated. The note shows extensive fine wrinkling and creasing across the whole surface, multiple vertical and horizontal folds, and general soiling and darkening from handling. There is a brown stain at the top centre of the note running into the upper border, and light edge wear with small nicks and soft rounded corners. The paper remains whole with no tears or losses and the printing is fully legible. Overall grade approximately Very Good.
Back Description Printed in green intaglio.
"THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" runs across the top in shadowed capitals, with numerals "1" and the word "ONE" at each upper corner and again at each lower corner.
The centre carries the word "ONE" in very large shadowed capitals.
At left is the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States: the unfinished thirteen-course pyramid surmounted by the radiant Eye of Providence within a triangle, the mottoes "ANNUIT COEPTIS" above and "NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM" below, with "MDCCLXXVI" on the base course and "THE GREAT SEAL" on the encircling ribbon.
At right is the obverse of the Great Seal: the American bald eagle displayed with the shield of thirteen stripes on its breast, an olive branch in one talon and a bundle of arrows in the other, the ribbon motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM" in its beak and a glory of stars above, with "OF THE UNITED STATES" on the encircling ribbon.
Across the foot: "ONE DOLLAR". The back plate number "3347" appears at lower centre right.
The brown stain from the face shows through at the top centre, together with a faint impression of the blue Treasury seal.
Character and Text Summary
SILVER CERTIFICATE THIS CERTIFIES THAT THERE IS ON DEPOSIT IN THE TREASURY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THIS CERTIFICATE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBTS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ONE DOLLAR IN SILVER PAYABLE TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND SERIES 1935 A WASHINGTON, D.C.
ANNUIT COEPTIS (Latin) "He has favoured our undertakings"
NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM (Latin) "A new order of the ages"
MDCCLXXVI (Roman numerals) "1776"
E PLURIBUS UNUM (Latin) "Out of many, one"
R (red overprint) "Regular" — the control designation identifying paper of standard composition in the 1944 Bureau of Engraving and Printing paper trial