Signatures and Signature Varieties

Every U.S. Federal Reserve Note bears two signatures: the Treasurer of the United States (left) and the Secretary of the Treasury (right). These officials change periodically, and each new signature pair creates a distinct collector variety of the same note design.

The Two Officials

Treasurer of the United States

The Treasurer is responsible for managing the financial transactions of the federal government and overseeing the U.S. Mint and Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The Treasurer signature appears on the left side of the front.

Secretary of the Treasury

The Secretary is the head of the Department of the Treasury and the second-highest ranking official in the executive branch (after the President and Vice President). The Secretary's signature appears on the right side of the front.

How Signatures Create Varieties

Same Design, Different Signatures

When either official changes (or both), the signature design elements on notes change:

Series 2009 – Printed with the signatures of Treasury official A and B
Series 2009A – Same design, but new signature from official C (new Treasurer or Secretary)
Series 2009B – Same design, another signature change

Identifying Signature Pairs

To identify which signature pair is on a note, you can:

Compare the actual signatures to known signatures of Treasurers and Secretaries
Consult currency references that list signature combinations and their dates
Use online resources that identify signatures by appearance
Note the series designation with suffix letter (e.g., 2009A indicates a specific signature pair)

Historical Signature Changes

The frequency of signature changes varies. Some officials serve only a year or two; others serve 4-8 years. Examples:

George Washington $1 notes – Over 80 different signature combinations have existed (from 1862 to today)
Modern notes – Generally 4-8 signature combinations per series per denomination

Collector Significance

Type Collecting

Currency collectors who practice "type collecting" seek to own one example of each distinct design type. For series with many signature varieties, this might include collecting several signature pairs to show the variation.

Signature Variety Collecting

Some collectors specialize in collecting all known signature varieties of a specific note. For example:

Collecting all 8 signature combinations of the 2009-series $20 bill
Building a complete set showing each official who served during the series production

Print Run Differences

The rarity of signature varieties varies based on print quantities:

Early signature pairs (first edition of a series) – Sometimes printed in smaller quantities before design evaluation
Middle signature pairs – Often the most abundant, printed during periods of high demand
Late signature pairs – Vary; some are abundant, others scarce, depending on when the next series design was introduced

Value Implications

Signature variety doesn't create significant premium for common notes in circulated condition. However:

Scarcer signature pairs might carry a small premium ($1-$3) for the same denomination and series
In uncirculated condition, signature variety becomes more significant
For rare notes or error notes, the signature variety that exists on that specific error becomes important

Finding Signature Information

To learn about signature combinations:

Online resources – Many currency websites maintain signature guides
Reference books – "Standard Catalog of United States Paper Money" and similar guides list signatures
Dealer websites – Currency dealers often note signature varieties in their listings
Grading service labels – PMG and PCGS typically identify signature combinations on encapsulated notes

Historical Significance

Signature varieties offer a way to track the succession of Treasury officials throughout history. A collection of signature varieties represents the changing leadership of the executive branch over decades. This makes signature variety collecting both numismatically and historically interesting.