Have you ever found a Gold Certificate in change?

Observe that both notes only promise that the bearer can redeem them for gold at the US Treaury, in Washington. The FRN specifically says the bearer might only be offered "lawful money" at FR banks. The gold cert allows for no other redemption type or location.

 

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Not only were they illegal to own (up to 1964 I believe), but banks were authorized to take them out of circulation whenever they came into their possession, same as with large denominations over $500.

 

I read somewhere that the small gold currency had a green back instead of the orange back the large size had. From this came the phrase "Greenbacks". Can anyone verify that!

 

I think "Greenbacks" dated to the Civil War.

 

GoldFinger! You are right! Good history lesson.
Greenbacks were paper currency (printed in green on the back) issued by the United States during the American Civil War. They were in two forms: Demand Notes, issued in 1861–1862, and United States Notes issued in 1862–1865. They were legal tender by law, but were not backed by gold or silver, only the credibility of the U.S. government.[1]

 

I did see a $100,000 dollar note once. They put Woodrow Wilson on that - I think it was strictly for banks.

 

Yup....intra-bank account settling. But even the $10K and $5K notes were hardly seen/used (who could afford them or use them ?).

Even the $1K and $500 notes saw little usage.

Personally, I think a $500 note today could see action.