Historical Figures

What did the dollar bill look like in 1970?

The $1 bill of 1970 looked much like the current version, but there are a few key differences:

- The color was slightly different – the bill had more black ink than it does today, giving it a darker appearance.

- The border around the bill was smaller. On the current one-dollar bill, the bottom border is significantly larger.

- The reverse side showed the Seal of the United States, which has been replaced with the Great Seal of the United States.

- The signature appearing to the lower left of George Washington's portrait was that of David M. Kennedy, Treasury Secretary from 1969 to 1972, replacing Fowler Hamilton's signature.

- The Federal Reserve Seal did not have the note designation letter (Series 1969A), which was added to the bills starting with the redesign in 1996.