In 1891, the government completely redesigned the currency. Most of the portraits were Civil War heroes. The backs contained more white space, a move that was designed to make counterfeit bills easier to spot. Also included in this set are the 3 silver certificates from the 1896 series, which some consider the most beautifully designed notes ever produced in this country.

The 1896 notes are nicknamed the \”Education Series\” for the allegorical designs, and include the $1 History Instructing Youth, the $2 Science presents Steam and Electricity to Commerce and Manufacture, and the $5 Electricity as the Dominant Force in the World.

My research indicates that this was the last of the \”large bill\” issues of treasury notes. The government went to the more modern size in 1923. As a side note, modern size bills of any era are impossible to reproduce accurately without encountering counterfeiting issues. 

This set includes at total of 8 notes; the $1, $2, $5, $10, and $20 bills from the 1891 issue of United States treasury notes, and the $1, $2, and $5 Silver certificates from the beautiful 1896 series.