gold certificate

noun

1. a former U.S. paper currency issued by the federal government for circulation from 1865 to 1933, equal to and redeemable for gold to a stated value.

gold certificate

noun

1. a currency note issued exclusively to the Federal Reserve Banks by the US Treasury. It forms a claim on gold reserves deposited by the Federal Reserve Banks at the Treasury and is used to transfer interbank balances within the Federal Reserve System
2. Also calledgold note (formerly) a banknote issued by the US Treasury to the public and redeemable in gold

Word History and Origins

Origin of gold certificate¹

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65

Example Sentences

The investigation, led by the New Jersey State Police and splashed across front pages worldwide, raged on until September 1934, when a $10 gold certificate from the ransom payment was used to buy gasoline in New York.

From Seattle Times

The man gave him a $10 gold certificate.

From Time

A silver certificate for $1,000 weighs no more than a gold certificate for the same amount.

From Project Gutenberg

The lawyer opened the interview by handing Barlow a new twenty-dollar gold certificate, which the lout took eagerly with an idiotic grin, before he even inquired what it was for, and Logan knew he had him.

From Project Gutenberg

One at a time, please," says I. "The amount o' the cash transaction was a twenty-dollar gold certificate.

From Project Gutenberg