Today In History....

July 14, 1969 – 

 The United States $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 bills are officially withdrawn from circulation:

The $500 bill featured William McKinley on the obverse and the words "Five Hundred Dollars" on the reverse. It was released as a small-size Federal Reserve Note (sometimes nicknamed "watermelon notes" due to the design on the reverse) in 1918 and 1934, and a small-size Gold Certificate in 1928.

 The $1,000 bill featured Grover Cleveland on the obverse and the words "One Thousand Dollars" on the reverse. It was printed as a small-size Federal Reserve Note in 1918, 1934 and 1934A, and a small-size Gold Certificate in 1928 and 1934. As of May 30, 2009, 165,372 $1,000 bills were known to exist. Let's Make a Deal game-show host Monty Hall occasionally gave $500 and $1,000 bills away as prizes, until they were discontinued.

 The $5,000 bill featured James Madison on the obverse. There is a large-sized $5,000 Federal Reserve Note on display at the Smithsonian Museum of American History. The $5,000 bill was printed as a gold certificate in 1928, and a federal reserve note in 1928, 1934, and 1934A. As of May 30, 2009, 342 $5,000 bills were known to exist. Currently, there are no known 1928 $5000 Gold Certificates in existence except the unique specimen (# A00000001A) in the Smithsonian Institution.

 Salmon P. Chase appears on the $10,000 bill. It is the largest denomination of U.S. currency ever in public circulation, and was issued until 1946. As of May 30, 2009, only 336 $10,000 bills were known to have survived. Currently, there are no known 1928 $10,000 Gold Certificates in existence except the unique specimen (# A00000001A) in the Smithsonian Institution. Photographic records show that at least three 1934 $10,000 Gold Certificates are still in existence (#s A00000001A, A00000537A, A00000540A) within government archives.

The $100,000 Series 1934 Gold Certificate featuring the portrait of Woodrow Wilson. These notes were printed from December 18, 1934, through January 9, 1935, and were issued by the Treasurer of the United States to Federal Reserve Banks only against an equal amount of gold bullion held by the Treasury Department. The notes were used only for official transactions between Federal Reserve Banks and were not circulated among the general public. Photographic records show that at least seven 1934 $100,000 Gold Certificates are still in existence (#s A00000001A, A00020102A, A00020106A, A00020108A, A00020109A, A00020110A, A00020113A) as well as a number of specimen notes, including an uncut sheet of 12 specimen notes.