Dollar bills

Main article: US Dollar

2025: Old Dollars Expiration Date: Exchange, Purchase and Difference from New Bills

Owners of old-style dollar banknotes often face problems when exchanging them - both abroad and in Russian banks. Why difficulties arise, where you can exchange such bills and how they differ from modern ones, in June 2025 said Anna Bebenina, head of the department for the development of payment services at Khlynov Bank.

The main differences between old and new dollars

Banknotes USA issued before the 1990s are characterized by a minimalistic design and the absence of modern protective features: watermarks, metallized threads and colored inserts. Note that the depiction of portraits of presidents is much smaller and shifted to the left. In addition, the bills are printed on light, almost white paper without additional colors, so they were previously called "white dollars."

Large-scale modernization of banknotes began with a redesign of $100 banknotes in 1996 after a 67-year hiatus.

In 1997-2008, the denominations of $50, $20, $10 and $5 were updated. These steps added key security features: color ink, watermarks, micro-printed security threads, and optically variable images (OVIs).

In 2013, the last design of the $100 bill was released, which is currently relevant. However, in 2025 in circulation you can find dollar bills of various series, starting in 1928.

Purchase Opportunities and Risks

Buying old dollars is usually possible, but some aspects need to be taken into account:

1. Authentication: Old bills are more difficult to verify for authenticity due to the lack of modern protective elements. It is best to buy old bills from trusted places, such as banks or specialized exchange offices.

2. Value to collectors: Some old dollar bills may be of interest to collectors, especially if they are rare and in excellent condition. In such cases, their value can significantly exceed the nominal.

The validity of old dollars is indefinite in the United States

All US dollar notes issued earlier than 2009 retain the status of perpetual legal tender in the country. The US Federal Reserve guarantees that any banknotes issued since 1914 are required to be accepted in calculations regardless of the year of issue.

Outside the United States, however, old series banknotes (especially in denominations of $100) may face operational restrictions. Financial institutions and exchange offices in a number of countries, including China, Malaysia, Indonesia and South Africa, often refuse to accept old-style bills because of:

• increased authentication risks,
• lack of modern protective elements,
• internal rules of institutions for dealing with currency.

When planning trips abroad, it is extremely important to study the peculiarities of money circulation in the country in advance. This will avoid additional costs during currency exchange (for example, old US dollars can be accepted at exchange offices at a reduced rate), as well as eliminate the risks of facing refusal. Other than that, if you're planning to keep savings in foreign currency, it's best to choose the latest series of banknotes. You can check bills by serial number (letter at the beginning: D - 1996, J - 2009).

1862: First Dollar Issue

For the first time, a $1 banknote was issued in 1862 with the image of Salmon Portland Chase, who at that time served as US Secretary of the Treasury.