Native American Currency

The Indian Chief Vignette on $5 and $10 Silver Certificates: How Native American Imagery Was Used and Later Retired

June 15, 2026June 15, 2026 by

Among the most visually striking notes in all of American paper money history, the $5 and $10 Silver Certificates featuring Native American portrait vignettes occupy a unique and contested place in numismatic lore. This deep dive explores the origins, printing history, signature combinations, and collector market for these iconic 19th-century issues.

The Running Antelope on the 1899 $5 Silver Certificate: The Most Controversial Portrait Choice in US Currency History

June 15, 2026 by

The 1899 $5 Silver Certificate features the only Native American portrait ever printed on US paper currency, and the story behind it is far more complicated than most collectors realize. From the identity dispute surrounding Running Antelope to the spectacular engraving work of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, this note remains one of the most historically significant and visually stunning pieces in American numismatics.