scrip

Privately made paper money or chits, not issued as regular government currency.

Second Charter Note

Numismatic term for Series of 1882 National Bank Notes.

security features

Aspects of the design or printing of a note intended to deter copying and counterfeiting. In early times this consisted of minute design elements expertly engraved, as well as printing on special paper (often with silk fibers embedded) ordered by the Treasury Department. In recent years other features have included watermark designs; color-shifting ink (which changes when a note is viewed from different angles); micro-printing; and the embedment of plastic strips.

semi-numismatic

A common-date coin whose value is based mostly on the value of the bullion it contains.

semiregal issue

A coin or token struck under authority of a local government but without the sanction of the monarch.

series

A set of one coin of each year issued from each mint of a specific design and denomination. As an example, Lincoln cents from 1909 to 1958.

series number on face of note

On early federal currency, such as Legal Tender Notes of the early 1860s, a series number such as Series 17 was added to the face of a note. The serial numbering machines went only to 99,999, and after that number was reached the figure 100,000 was hand-set, after which the counter was reset to 1 and a new series number was added. Accordingly, in Series 17 the 100,000 note was followed by Series 18 with serial number 1.

series of notes

Describes a type or class of currency, for large-size notes usually signifying a change in authorization or design, such as Series 1875 National Bank Notes and Series 1886 Silver Certificates. For small-size notes series typically signifies a change in signature combinations.

sheet of notes

An uncut group of notes, as printed, usually four subjects for large-size notes of 1861 to 1929; 12 subjects (cut apart into two six-subject sheets) for early small-size notes of the late 1920s and early 1930s; later 12 subjects; and today 36 subjects.

shinplaster

In Canadian numismatics, the paper 25¢ notes issued by the Dominion in 1870, 1900, and 1923.

siege pieces

Emergency coins struck during battle, also called obsidional coins or money of necessity.

signatures on notes, Federal Reserve Bank officials

Federal Reserve Bank Notes bear the printed signatures of two Federal Reserve Bank officials, usually the cashier and governor, in addition to two Treasury officials.

signatures on notes, National Bank Notes

National Bank Notes of 1863 to 1935 bear the printed signatures of two Treasury Department officials plus signatures of the cashier and president of the National Bank. All early notes, to the 1890s, were required to be hand-signed in ink by the bank officials. Later, rubber-stamped signatures were permitted. In a very few instances later in the large-size note era, banks paid an extra amount and had the names of officials added to the printing plate. Most 20th-century bills were hand-signed or rubber-stamped. Small-size National Bank Notes of 1929 to 1935 bear printed signatures of bank officials. In some instances another official signed for one or another bank position, such as assistant or acting cashier and vice president, noting this with an abbreviation such as “Asst.,” in front of the printed word “Cashier,” or “V” before the printed word “President,” and so on.

signatures on notes, Treasury officials

Most federal currency of 1861 to date includes the signatures of two Treasury Department officials. Certainly very early notes were hand-signed by the officials or designated assistants. All others, constituting the vast majority, bear printed signatures. Register of the Treasury and treasurer: The first combination is of Lucius E. Chittenden, register of the Treasury, and F.E. Spinner, treasurer of the United States, who were in office jointly from April 17, 1861, to August 10, 1864. The last combination printed on notes was Edward E. Jones and Walter O. Woods, who served together from January 22, 1929, to May 31, 1933. Secretary of the Treasury and treasurer: In time, with some overlapping of use, notes bore the imprint of these two officials, the practice in use today. The first combination printed on currency was William G. McAdoo, register, and John Burke, treasurer, in office from April 1, 1913, to December 15, 1918.

Silver Certificate

A note from $1 to $1,000 issued in large-size and small-size formats, redeemable first in silver dollars, and later in silver bullion.

Silver Dollar Note

Numismatic nickname for the $5 Series of 1886 Silver Certificates depicting five Morgan silver dollars in a row on the back (four reverses and the center coin showing the obverse of an 1886 dollar), printed in green.

slab

A hard plastic case containing a coin that has been graded and encapsulated by a third-party certification service.

Society of Paper Money Collectors

A nonprofit organization, founded in 1961, devoted to the study and appreciation of currency. Publisher of Paper Money, a magazine issued six times per year.

specie

Money in the form of gold and/or silver coins.

specimen finish

A recent term used by the Royal Canadian Mint, defined as brilliant relief details on a parallel-lined background. Also known as Bullion Finish.

Specimen note

A Specimen note is an impression for test or other purposes, from a complete or partially complete plate, to illustrate its appearance. Such notes usually bear no serial numbers, or else just zeroes, and may be missing other elements, such as the Treasury seal and signatures. Specimen Fractional Currency note: general term for a Fractional Currency bill printed on one side only, face or back, and made for distribution to collectors, these being popular in the era in which they were made, the 1860s and 1870s. Usually capitalized, as Specimen.

spot price

The daily quoted market value of precious metals in bullion form.

square rim

A characteristic of a Proof coin, caused by the extra pressure and/or multiple strikes used to create such coins, forcing the coin’s metal into solid contact with the collar and producing rims with flat, rather than rounded, tops.

star note

A large-size (beginning with silver certificates in 1910 and soon expanded to include all other series) or small-size note with a star next to the serial number is a replacement note, made after the first note with this number was found to be defective and then destroyed. “Star notes” form a collecting specialty, especially for small-size notes. Stars added to serial numbers before 1910 are decorative and without meaning (examples including Series of 1890 Coin or Treasury Notes).

stickered

A reference to a certified coin that has an additional label attached to indicate that a second independent service has rendered its opinion as to the quality of the piece.