Paper money has served the American people in times of peace and crisis. Even during an era when silver and gold coins were readily available, Americans often preferred the convenience of paper. In times of turmoil, when coins no longer freely circulated, paper money served its essential purpose.
Paper money was first used in the American colonies in the early 1690s after the Massachusetts Bay Colony faced a revolt following a failed raid on the French settlers in Quebec. Shortly after, its use spread to other British colonies.
During the American Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress authorized the production of Continental Currency notes. The Federal Government under President Abraham Lincoln did the same during the Civil War by issuing Greenbacks.
Throughout US history, paper money has served an essential purpose, whether those notes were issued by colonial authorities, the Federal Government, the Confederate States of America, or thousands of private banks. With diverse and often beautiful designs and a wide range of denominations, paper money is a popular numismatic collectible with a large and growing collector base.
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