The 1899 $1 Black Eagle Silver note was in production for about twenty years. This is true despite the fact that each note will have the year 1899 shown on it. To determine the actual year in which this bill was printed you will want to pay attention to the combination signature, as well as the block letters. This bill is one of the more common notes from that era, and as such is great for currency collectors who are just starting out.

Black Eagle Silver Certificate Facts And Highlights

In total, it is estimated that over one hundred million Black Eagle Silver Certificates were produced, of which thousands exist today. The name of this note is taken from the three vignettes which can be seen on it, most notably the eagle, along with Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S Grant. It is the eagle that has gotten most of the attention over the years, likely due to the fact that Lincoln and Grant appear on other notes, so the bill was nicknamed after the bird.

This note at the present time is not considered rare by most senior American currency collectors, which of course can change as time passes. There are many ways in which it can be collected. It is quite probable for many collectors to find lower serial numbers from each of the 12 combination signatures. Low and fancy serial numbers appear frequently among these notes, and collectors will also notice many courtesy autographs, which implies that the signature of a treasury official appears on the bill, which may have been signed by hand. Hundreds of such notes exist, and can influence collection value.

How To Grade And Value The Black Eagle Silver Certificate

There are three key factors which determine the value of these notes. The first is its condition. Collectors will pay more for a higher grade. Combination signatures are second, as some are rare and can result in a premium. Last is the serial number itself. Any number lower than one hundred is desirable, especially those that start with a star symbol. A generic bill that is in pristine condition will sell for a few hundred dollars, but one with a distinct serial number could be worth double. However, a note in good condition that has a combination signature which is rare could be triple or quadruple the price of a standard note.

This is why it is so important to collaborate with a specialist when attempting to figure out the value of paper currency. It can be tough to list each variable which influences value. The grades which have been established for the Black Eagle Silver Certificate include Choice Uncirculated, Extremely Fine or About Uncirculated, Fine or Very Fine, and Very Good. Notes which are in very good condition are typically what you’ll come across in most coin shops, antique stores or flea markets.