<P> (approximately 7.4218 × 3.125 in ≅ 189 × 79 mm) </P> <Ul> <Li> 1861: Three - year 100 - dollar Interest Bearing Notes were issued that paid 7.3% interest per year . These notes were not primarily designed to circulate and were payable to the original purchaser of the dollar bill . The obverse of the note featured a portrait of General Winfield Scott . </Li> <Li> 1862: The first $100 United States Note was issued . Variations of this note were issued that resulted in slightly different wording (obligations) on the reverse; the note was issued again in Series of 1863 . </Li> <Li> 1863: Both one and two and one half year Interest Bearing Notes were issued that paid 5% interest . The one - year Interest Bearing Notes featured a vignette of George Washington in the center, and allegorical figures representing "The Guardian" to the right and "Justice" to the left . The two - year notes featured a vignette of the U.S. treasury building in the center, a farmer and mechanic to the left, and sailors firing a cannon to the right . </Li> <Li> 1863: The first $100 Gold Certificates were issued with a bald eagle to the left and large green 100 in the middle of the obverse . The reverse was distinctly printed in orange instead of green like all other U.S. federal government issued notes of the time . </Li> <Li> 1864: Compound Interest Treasury Notes were issued that were intended to circulate for three years and paid 6% interest compounded semi-annually . The obverse is similar to the 1863 one - year Interest Bearing Note . </Li> <Li> 1869: A new $100 United States Note was issued with a portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the left of the obverse and an allegorical figure representing architecture on the right . Although this note is technically a United States Note, TREASURY NOTE appeared on it instead of UNITED STATES NOTE . </Li> <Li> 1870: A new $100 Gold Certificate with a portrait of Thomas Hart Benton on the left side of the obverse was issued . The note was one - sided . </Li> <Li> 1870: One hundred dollar National Gold Bank Notes were issued specifically for payment in gold coin by participating national gold banks . The obverse featured vignettes of Perry leaving the USS St. Lawrence and an allegorical figure to the right; the reverse featured a vignette of U.S. gold coins . </Li> <Li> 1875: The reverse of the Series of 1869 United States Note was redesigned . Also, TREASURY NOTE was changed to UNITED STATES NOTE on the obverse . This note was issued again in Series of 1878 and Series of 1880 . </Li> <Li> 1878: The first $100 silver certificate was issued with a portrait of James Monroe on the left side of the obverse . The reverse was printed in black ink, unlike any other U.S. Federal Government issued bill . </Li> <Li> 1882: A new and revised $100 Gold Certificate was issued . The obverse was partially the same as the Series 1870 gold certificate; the border design, portrait of Thomas H. Benton, and large word GOLD, and gold - colored ink behind the serial numbers were all retained . The reverse featured a perched bald eagle and the Roman numeral for 100, C . </Li> <Li> 1890: One hundred dollar Treasury or "Coin Notes" were issued for government purchases of silver bullion from the silver mining industry . The note featured a portrait of Admiral David G. Farragut . The note was also nicknamed a "watermelon note" because of the watermelon - shaped 0's in the large numeral 100 on the reverse; the large numeral 100 was surrounded by an ornate design that occupied almost the entire note . </Li> <Li> 1891: The reverse of the Series of 1890 Treasury Note was redesigned because the Treasury felt that it was too "busy" which would make it too easy to counterfeit . More open space was incorporated into the new design . </Li> <Li> 1891: The obverse of the $100 Silver Certificate was slightly revised with some aspects of the design changed . The reverse was completely redesigned and also began to be printed in green ink . </Li> <Li> 1914: The first $100 Federal Reserve Note was issued with a portrait of Benjamin Franklin on the obverse and allegorical figures representing labor, plenty, America, peace, and commerce on the reverse . </Li> <Li> 1922: The Series of 1880 Gold Certificate was re-issued with an obligation to the right of the bottom - left serial number on the obverse . </Li> </Ul> <Li> 1861: Three - year 100 - dollar Interest Bearing Notes were issued that paid 7.3% interest per year . These notes were not primarily designed to circulate and were payable to the original purchaser of the dollar bill . The obverse of the note featured a portrait of General Winfield Scott . </Li> <Li> 1862: The first $100 United States Note was issued . Variations of this note were issued that resulted in slightly different wording (obligations) on the reverse; the note was issued again in Series of 1863 . </Li>

Independence hall clock on the back of the 100 bill