About the Silver Certificates (Educational Notes) of 1896:

The Silver Certificates of 1896, popularly known as the "Educational Series" were authorized by the Act of August 4, 1886, and have been recognized as the United States' most beautiful paper currency. The obverse (front) sides of all three notes feature allegorical themes depicting technology new to the 19th century. These notes are masterpieces of artistic perfection, flawlessly engraved and printed. No collection of paper money could be considered complete without one example of each denomination in crisp, uncirculated condition. The Act of 1886 authorized only the design and printing of $1, $2 and $5 denomination notes. We offer the following information about each note to assist in your appreciation of this unbeatable series of late 19th century United States currency:

• The $1 Silver Certificate: The Obverse (front) theme is titled "History Instructing Youth." The illustrator, Will H. Low, chose for his theme the glory of our national heritage and features a panoramic view of early Washington, D.C. viewed from the Virginia side of the Potomac River, with the Capitol building and the Washington Monument dominating the landscape. Appearing within wreaths across the top, left and right sides are the names of the most prominent Americans throughout our nation's early history. Names such as Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Franklin, Longfellow, Hawthorne, Calhoun, Clay, Webster, Farragut, and many others. To the far right rests an open book, both sides of which appear the Constitution of the United States. The Reverse (back) presents Martha and George Washington in separate oval portraits.
• The $2 Silver Certificate: The Obverse theme is titled "Science Presenting Steam and Electricity to Commerce and Manufacture," designed by Edwin H. Blashfield, who was a prominent allegorical painter of the late 19th century. Originally intended as the design for a $50 note, it was assigned to the $2 note when another design was rejected. The Reverse presents portraits of two American Inventors, Robert Fulton (1765-1815), inventor of the steamboat, and Samuel Morse (1791-1872), inventor of the telegraph.
• The $5 Silver Certificate: The Obverse features the theme "Electricity Presenting Light to the World," also called "Electricity as the Dominant Force in the World." Electricity is represented by a winged goddess at the center, holding aloft a lighted bulb. To the left is Jupiter, representing force; Fame with her trumpet, representing the progress of the nation; and Peace with a dove. On the Reverse are two portraits; left side is Ulysses Simpson Grant, Commander-In-Chief of the Union armies during the American Civil War and later, the 18th President of the United States. On the right, William Tecumseh Sherman, Union General and Commanding General of the U.S. Army during Grant's Presidency.
• Note: A $10 design (obverse only) was completed in the event the original Act of 1886 might later include a $10 note, but it never happened. There is speculation that a $10 reverse was designed but has never been found. As beautiful as this series is, it was short-lived, replaced by another set of notes released in 1899. There were many complaints about this particular series, especially the $5 denomination, as it clearly shows an exposed left breast and lower abdomen of the centrally positioned winged goddess, as well as a side view of Fame's right breast. In 19th century Victorian America, this was beyond social acceptance.