The 1935A Hawaii $1 Silver Certificate: A Reminder of a Critical Time in American History

There are a number of reasons why collectors are willing to shell out far more for certain coins and banknotes than their actual face value worth.

The 1935A $1 silver certificate from Hawaii is a popular collectible among numismatists. It is also a reminder of a critical time in American history.

There are a number of reasons why collectors are willing to shell out far more for certain coins and banknotes than their actual face value worth. According to currency website US First Exchange, the value of a coin or bill is determined based on three main factors: rarity, the condition/grade of the coin or bill, and market conditions or demand for it. The combination of these three factors determines whether a coin or bill is worth more or less money.

Another factor though can also play a role like its historical significance which can send its value into the millions as is the case with a rare 1794 silver dollar coin, believed to be one of the first to be minted by the United States Mint. One specimen fetched $10 million.

While the 1935A Hawaii $1 Silver Certificate might not be worth that record-breaking amount it is still one of the most distinctive and historically significant notes in US paper money history. It was issued specifically for Hawaii after the attack on Pearl Harbor in case the Japanese invaded and occupied the island chain. This and its relative rarity have help to make it a highly sought-after collectible item.

The 1935A Hawaii $1 Silver Certificate is unique not only for its history, there were other special issues of one-dollar bills during WWII, but also because it had a large ‘HAWAII’ overprinted horizontally on the reverse as well as smaller ones vertically on the right and left side of the obverse. Additionally, the seal and serial numbers were printed in brown/red ink, which differentiated it from the regular US $1 Silver Certificate on which blue ink was used.

The 1935A Hawaii $1 Silver Certificate is fairly rare these days despite over a million being issued during WWII. After the war, a large portion were recalled to be taken out of circulation and later destroyed.