Popular Large Size Nickname Notes
Picture Guide To Nickname Notes
If you are new to the world of currency collecting then you are probably wondering what all the nicknames are. There are a lot of unique design types out there. Rather than saying “I just bought a new series of 1901 $10 legal tender note” most people say “I just bought a new bison.” It is just slang terms that collectors use to save time. We have a guide for the 25 most popular nickname notes. Others could be on the list, but we wanted to keep it relatively short.
Battleship
Series of 1918 $2 Federal Reserve Bank Note
Nicknamed for the large battleship featured on the back side of each bill.
Bison
Series of 1901 $10 Legal Tender
This is just one of a handful of notes nicknamed after the animal featured on it.
Black Eagle
Series of 1899 $1 Silver Certificate
Most people assume this should be a Lincoln and Grant note. But black eagle was easier.
Chief
Series of 1899 $5 Silver Certificate
This is the only Native American to be the central image on a piece of U.S. paper money.
Diamond Back
Series of 1886 $20 Silver Certificate
You don’t hear this name much because this piece of paper money is very rare.
Diamond Bracelent
Series of 1917 $2 Legal Tender
The back design with shells looks like a diamond bracelet to some people.
Flying Eagle
Series of 1918 $1 Federal Reserve Bank Note
This is one of several pieces of paper money that has a bird themed nickname. Don’t confuse them.
Hancock
Series of 1886 $2 Silver Certificate
The central portrait is that of General Hancock, hence the quick and easy nickname.
Jackass
1869 – 1880 $10 Legal Tender
If you turn these notes upside down then the vignette of an eagle looks like a mule (jackass).
Lazy Deuce
$2 National Bank Note
The fronts of these notes have a large image of a “2” laying on its side. I guess it is being lazy.
Martha
1886 or 1891 $1 Silver Certificate
This name is obvious. Martha Washington is on the front of the bill. She was also used on the back of paper money from 1896.
Mini-Porthole
Series of 1899 $2 Silver Certificate
It looks like George Washington is looking at us through a small porthole on a ship.
Morgan Back
Series of 1886 $5 Silver Certificate
The back of this kind of paper money has an image showing a Morgan silver dollar.
Poker Chip
Series of 1923 $10 Legal Tender
Those two little green circular stacks appear to be poker chips to some collectors.
Porthole
Series of 1923 $5 Silver Certificate
It appears as if Abraham Lincoln is watching the viewer from behind a ship’s porthole.
Spread Eagle
Series of 1862 $100 Legal Tender
This is a very rare note that has an eagle perched menacingly on it with its wings spread.
Technicolor
Series of 1905 $20 Gold Certificate
The front of this gold certificate is especially bright and colorful, hence the technicolor name.
Tombstone
1886 – 1908 $10 Silver Certificate
The portrait of Thomas Hendricks is cropped inside an image of a classic tombstone.
Windom
Series of 1891 $2 Silver Certificate
The bookish looking man on the front of these bills is William Windom.
Wood Chopper
1869 – 1907 $5 Legal Tender
The man on the front of these bills is holding an ax and chopping wood for his family.
Black Backs
1878 & 1880 Silver Certificates
Silver certificates from 1878 and 1880 have really unique black backs.
Brown Backs
Series of 1882 National Bank Notes
Some national bank notes have a back that is brown and contains each bank’s charter number.
Educationals
Series of 1896 Silver Certificates
This series was promoted as the educational series when it was originally printed in the late 19th century.
Ornate Backs
1890 Treasury Notes
1890 treasury notes have a very unique and dark green back. The term is occasionally used to describe 1886 silver certificates as well.
Rainbows
Series of 1869 Legal Tenders
The paper used to print all money from the series of 1869 was especially colorful and multi-toned.