Large Size Federal Reserve Notes were printed from 1878 to 1923 in the United States as part of its circulation of paper currency and were initially redeemable in the same face value of silver dollar coins, and later in raw silver bullion. Issued in the large size of 7-3/8 by 3-1/8 inches (about 50 percent larger than today’s paper currency), the design of the Series 1914 $100 Federal Reserve Note reflects a time in American history when currency was not just money but also a work of art. The obverse of the Series 1914 $100 Federal Reserve Note features a portrait of Benjamin Franklin. The first of these Series 1914 notes had distinctive red Treasury seals at the right (later notes in the same Series had blue seals, such as the example shown here), as well as a black seal on the left bearing both the district number (1-12) and the district letter (A-L) of the Federal Reserve Bank of issuance (the twelve Federal Reserve Districts were Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond, Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas, and San Francisco). This regional seal is a design facet unique to Federal Reserve Notes, because almost all other types of notes were issued directly by the U.S. Treasury. The obverse also bears the phrases, "FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE", "AUTHORIZED BY FEDERAL RESERVE ACT OF DECEMBER 23, 1913" and "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL PAY TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS."

Note that, while all Series 1914 $100 Federal Reserve Notes were printed in Washington DC, they were issued for all twelve Federal Reserve districts (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond, Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas, and San Francisco). The black seal on this particular note indicates that it was issued for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, New York.

The reverse features a scene depicting five allegorical figures from mythology (three seated and two standing), one of whom appears to be the Greek god Hermes (called Mercury by the Romans). It also bears the rather lengthy redemption clause that states, "THIS NOTE IS RECEIVABLE BY ALL NATIONAL AND MEMBER BANKS AND FEDERAL RESERVE BANKS AND FOR ALL TAXES, CUSTOMS AND OTHER PUBLIC DUES. IT IS REDEEMABLE IN GOLD ON DEMAND AT THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OR IN GOLD OR LAWFUL MONEY AT ANY FEDERAL RESERVE BANK."

Once redeemable for gold on demand, U.S. Gold Certificates are among the most sought after of all paper currency. Rendered obsolete by Franklin Roosevelt’s Gold Recall Order of 1933, the Series 1928 $100 Gold Certificate features an engraved portrait of Benjamin Franklin and bears a distinctive gold Treasury seal and serial numbers. The obverse bears the obligation "THIS CERTIFIES THAT THERE HAVE BEEN DEPOSITED IN THE TREASURY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS IN GOLD COIN PAYABLE TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND" as well as the redemption clause stating, "THIS CERTIFICATE IS A LEGAL TENDER IN THE AMOUNT THEREOF IN PAYMENT OF ALL DEBTS AND DUES PUBLIC AND PRIVATE."

The green reverse features an engraving of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA.

The obverse of the Series 1928 $100 Federal Reserve Note features a portrait of Benjamin Franklin, while the reverse of the note features an engraving of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA. As with all Federal Reserve Notes, the obverse features a green Treasury Seal on the right and a special black seal on the left bearing the identity of the Federal Reserve Bank of issuance. Since the issuance of these notes predated the Gold Reserve Act of 1933, the obligation clause on the obverse reads, "REDEEMABLE IN GOLD ON DEMAND AT THE UNITED STATES TREASURY, OR IN GOLD OR LAWFUL MONEY AT ANY FEDERAL RESERVE BANK." Also printed on the front are the phrases, "FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE" and "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL PAY TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS."

Note that, unlike previous Federal Reserve Notes that used both the district number and district letter to represent the specific bank of issuance, the Series 1928 version of this note used just the distict number (1-12) to represent the specific bank of issuance, while the Series 1928A version used the district letter (A-L) instead.

Series 1929 $100 National Currency Notes have a distinctive brown seal and were issued in two different varieties. The first type (which are properly called "National Currency Bank Notes") were issued by individual local banks from every state. The second type (which are more properly known as "Federal Reserve Bank Notes") were issued by all twelve Federal Reserve districts (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond, Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas, and San Francisco).

This particular note is a Federal Reserve Bank Note issued by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Illinois. The obverse bears the legend, "NATIONAL CURRENCY SECURED BY UNITED STATES BONDS DEPOSITED WITH THE TREASURER OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR BY LIKE DEPOSIT OF OTHER SECURITIES" and a redemption clause that reads, "REDEEMABLE IN LAWFUL MONEY OF THE UNITED STATES, AT UNITED STATES TREASURY OR AT THE BANK OF ISSUE." The obligation clause reads, "THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF CHICAGO ILLINOIS WILL PAY TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS." The reverse features an image of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA.

The obverse of the Series 1934 $100 Federal Reserve Note features a portrait of Benjamin Franklin, while the reverse of the note features an engraving of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA. As with all Federal Reserve Notes, the obverse features a green Treasury Seal on the right and a special black seal on the left bearing the identity of the Federal Reserve Bank of issuance. Since these notes were issued after the Gold Reserve Act of 1933, the obligation clause on the obverse reads, "THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBTS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, AND IS REDEEMABLE IN LAWFUL MONEY AT THE UNITED STATES TREASURY, OR AT ANY FEDERAL RESERVE BANK." Also printed on the front are the phrases, "FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE" and "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL PAY TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS."

The Series 1950 $100 Federal Reserve Note is very similar to the 1934 version, except that the green Treasury Seal on the right is a little darker and smaller, the words "WASHINGTON, D.C." now appear above the seal instead of below it, and the font of the obligation clause has been shrunk to fit on three lines instead of four. The obligation clause reads, "THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBTS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, AND IS REDEEMABLE IN LAWFUL MONEY AT THE UNITED STATES TREASURY, OR AT ANY FEDERAL RESERVE BANK." The redemption clause on the obverse states, "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL PAY TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS."

The Series 1963 $100 Federal Reserve Note is very similar to the 1950 version, except that obligation clause on the obverse simply reads, "THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBTS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE" and the redemption clause (e.g., "PAYABLE TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND") has been removed completely to indicate the fact that U.S. currency was now considered fiat money, unbacked by any physical asset. Also, the words "IN GOD WE TRUST" have been added to the reverse.

This particular example is special because it has a star in its serial number, indicating that it is a "replacement note" issued in place of one that was damaged during the printing process in order to keep numbers sequential.

The Series 1966 $100 Legal Tender Note was issued mainly for accounting purposes to comply with an 1878 law that mandated that there must be a fixed value ($346,681,016) of Legal Tender Notes in circulation. In September 1994, the Riegle Improvement Act released the Treasury from its long-standing obligation to keep the notes in circulation and finally, in 1996, the Treasury announced that its stock of $100 United States Notes had been destroyed.

The obverse of the Series 1966 $100 Legal Tender Note features a central portrait of Benjamin Franklin and bears bears the distinctive red seal and serial numbers unique to Legal Tender Notes. The obligation clause on the obverse reads, "THIS NOTE IS A LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBTS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE". Also on the obverse is the phrase, "UNITED STATES NOTE."

The reverse of the note features an engraving of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA.