Paper Money Market: New Signature, New Collector’s Item?
A historic change to U.S. currency signatures could create unexpected collecting opportunities, especially for the nation’s lowest-denomination notes.
It appears the next series of bank notes to be released will each carry the facsimile signature of President Donald J. Trump rather than that of the U.S. Treasurer. This is a first not only for the United States but for the world as well. No nation has ever carried the name of its current leader on its bank notes.
Looking at this change from a collector’s standpoint, here’s some food for thought. It appears the first of these new notes to enter circulation will be the $100. Since this is the highest denomination in circulation, notes of this value typically last longer in use than do those of the lower “workhorse” denominations.
Should the Bureau of Engraving and Printing change the signatures on new notes in descending denominational order, as is currently understood, this means the $1 will be the last to be printed and to enter circulation. These notes don’t last as long because they are used so often compared to the $100 bills. Furthermore, since they would be the last to be printed, these could be released late during the Trump four-year administration. There is a real possibility that whoever is our next president might decide not to release them, or at least those still stockpiled. Perhaps the next president will either go back to using the treasurer’s signature or quickly replace Trump’s signature with his or her own!
We could be looking at the lowest denominations becoming modern rarities. And, to add some further speculation to this, what about the seldom-used $2? I realize all this is speculation; however, this development offers some very interesting collectible possibilities.
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