$1 Silver Certificate Series 1928 (1928 through 1928E): How to Identify It

Series 1928. Nicknamed the "Funnyback": the Treasury seal on the front has spiked rays, and the text below the Washington portrait reads ONE SILVER DOLLAR; the back is printed with an unusually large ONE in lighter green ink, a design element newly added compared with the previous (1923) issue.

• Series 1928 — Tate (Treasurer) and Mellon (Secretary), blue seal
• Series 1928A — Woods (Treasurer) and Mellon (Secretary), blue seal
• Series 1928B — Woods (Treasurer) and Mills (Secretary), blue seal
• Series 1928C — Woods (Treasurer) and Woodin (Secretary), blue seal
• Series 1928D — Julian (Treasurer) and Woodin (Secretary), blue seal
• Series 1928E — Julian (Treasurer) and Morgenthau (Secretary), blue seal

This certifies that there has (or have) been deposited in the Treasury of the United States of America X silver dollar(s) payable to the bearer on demand (some versions read "X dollars in silver coin payable to the bearer on demand")

• The Treasury seal on the front is blue with spiked rays
• The text below the Washington portrait reads ONE SILVER DOLLAR (not yet changed to ONE DOLLAR)
• The back is the "Funnyback": an unusually large, lighter-green ONE in the center
• The serial numbers are blue

Difference from the 1934 series: the 1934 series changed the front text to ONE DOLLAR and moved the seal to the right, overlapping the ONE, and added a blue numeral 1 on the left; but the Funnyback design on the back is the same as 1928, so the back alone cannot distinguish 1928 from 1934 — check the front text and seal position instead.

Distinguished from the 1928 series only by the signatures.

Distinguished from the other 1928 lettered varieties only by the signatures.

Collectors judge a $1 Silver Certificate Series 1928 by condition first (crisp and uncirculated versus folded or worn), then by whether it is a star note or carries a fancy serial number, then by the series letter and any recognised variety. Published price guides list ranges by grade and they move over time; this page gives none. Photograph both sides in even light and let the app read the series, seal and signatures before you compare.