SUBCHAPTER XII—FEDERAL RESERVE NOTES
§411. Issuance to reserve banks; nature of obligation; redemption
Federal reserve notes, to be issued at the discretion of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the purpose of making advances to Federal reserve banks through the Federal reserve agents as hereinafter set forth and for no other purpose, are authorized. The said notes shall be obligations of the United States and shall be receivable by all national and member banks and Federal reserve banks and for all taxes, customs, and other public dues. They shall be redeemed in lawful money on demand at the Treasury Department of the United States, in the city of Washington, District of Columbia, or at any Federal Reserve bank.
(Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6, §16 (par.),
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Phrase "hereinafter set forth" is from section 16 of the Federal Reserve Act, act Dec. 23, 1913. Reference probably means as set forth in sections 17 et seq. of the Federal Reserve Act. For classification of these sections to the Code, see Tables.
Codification
Section is comprised of first par. of section 16 of act Dec. 23, 1913. Pars. 2 to 5, 6 (formerly 7), 7 to 10 (formerly 8 to 11, respectively), 12 (formerly 13), 13 (formerly 14), and 14 to 16 (formerly 15, 16, and 18, respectively) of section 16 of act Dec. 23, 1913, are classified to sections 412 to 415, 416, 418 to 421, 360, 248–1, and 467, respectively, of this title.
Former pars. 6 and 17 of section 16 of act Dec. 23, 1913, formerly classified to sections 415 and 467, respectively, of this title, were repealed by
Par. 11 (formerly 12) of section 16 of act Dec. 23, 1913, formerly classified to
Amendments
1934—Act Jan. 30, 1934, struck out from last sentence provision permitting redemption in gold.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Section 203(a) of act Aug. 23, 1935, changed name of Federal Reserve Board to Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
§412. Application for notes; collateral required
Any Federal Reserve bank may make application to the local Federal Reserve agent for such amount of the Federal Reserve notes hereinbefore provided for as it may require. Such application shall be accompanied with a tender to the local Federal Reserve agent of collateral in amount equal to the sum of the Federal Reserve notes thus applied for and issued pursuant to such application. The collateral security thus offered shall be notes, drafts, bills of exchange, or acceptances acquired under
(Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6, §16 (par.),
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section is comprised of second par. of section 16 of act Dec. 23, 1913. For classification to this title of other pars. of section 16, see Codification note set out under
Amendments
2003—
1999—
1980—
1978—
1968—
1945—Act June 12, 1945, substituted ", or direct obligations of the United States." for proviso after "gold certificates" in first sentence which limited period during which direct obligations of the United States could be accepted as collateral security.
1943—Act May 25, 1943, substituted "June 30, 1945" for "June 30, 1943," in proviso.
1941—Act June 30, 1941, substituted "June 30, 1943" for "June 30, 1941" in proviso.
1939—Act June 30, 1939, substituted "June 30, 1941" for "June 30, 1939" in proviso.
1937—Act Mar. 1, 1937, extended until June 30, 1939, period within which direct obligations of the United States may be accepted as collateral security under this section, and struck out provision authorizing President to extend period.
1934—Act Mar. 6, 1934, amended proviso and two sentences immediately following.
Act Jan. 30, 1934, amended portion of third sentence before proviso.
1933—Act Feb. 3, 1933, substituted "March 3, 1934" for "March 3, 1933" wherever appearing.
1932—Act Feb. 27, 1932, inserted proviso and two sentences immediately following.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Section 203(a) of act Aug. 23, 1935, changed name of Federal Reserve Board to Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment effective upon expiration of 120 days after Nov. 10, 1978, see sec. 2101 of
United States Obligations as Collateral; Extension of Period
The period within which direct obligations of the United States could be accepted as collateral security under this section was extended to Mar. 3, 1937, by Proclamation No. 2117, of Feb. 14, 1935,
§413. Distinctive letter and serial number of notes; cancellation of notes unfit for circulation; accounting; apportionment of credit among Federal Reserve banks
Federal Reserve notes shall bear upon their faces a distinctive letter and serial number which shall be assigned by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to each Federal Reserve bank. Federal Reserve notes unfit for circulation shall be canceled, destroyed, and accounted for under procedures prescribed and at locations designated by the Secretary of the Treasury. Upon destruction of such notes, credit with respect thereto shall be apportioned among the twelve Federal Reserve banks as determined by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
(Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6, §16 (par.),
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section is comprised of third par. of section 16 of act Dec. 23, 1913. For classification to this title of other pars. of section 16, see Codification note set out under
Amendments
1968—
1966—
1965—
1954—Act July 19, 1954, which directed striking out "Whenever Federal reserve notes issued through one Federal Reserve bank shall be received by another Federal Reserve bank, they shall be promptly returned for credit or redemption to the Federal Reserve bank through which they were originally issued or, upon direction of such Federal Reserve bank, they shall be forwarded direct to the Treasurer of the United States to be retired. No Federal Reserve bank shall pay out notes issued through another under penalty of a tax of 10 per centum upon the face value of notes so paid out.", was executed, to reflect the probable intent of Congress, by striking out the third and fourth sentences, which read as follows: "Whenever Federal reserve notes issued through one Federal reserve bank shall be received by another Federal reserve bank, they shall be promptly returned for credit or redemption to the Federal reserve bank through which they were originally issued or, upon direction of such Federal reserve bank, they shall be forwarded direct to the Treasurer of the United States to be retired. No Federal reserve bank shall pay out notes issued through another under penalty of a tax of ten per centum upon the face value of notes so paid out."
1945—Act June 12, 1945, amended first sentence generally by striking out "or lawful money" after "reserves in gold certificates", substituting "25 per centum" for "35 per centum" and "40 per centum", respectively.
1934—Act Jan. 30, 1934, amended first, fifth, and sixth sentences.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Section 203(a) of Act Aug. 23, 1935, changed name of Federal Reserve Board to Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
§414. Authority of Board of Governors respecting issuance of notes; interest; lien
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall have the right, acting through the Federal Reserve agent, to grant in whole or in part, or to reject entirely the application of any Federal Reserve bank for Federal Reserve notes; but to the extent that such application may be granted the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall, through its local Federal Reserve agent, supply Federal Reserve notes to the banks so applying, and such bank shall be charged with the amount of the notes issued to it and shall pay such rate of interest as may be established by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System on only that amount of such notes which equals the total amount of its outstanding Federal Reserve notes less the amount of gold certificates held by the Federal Reserve agent as collateral security. Federal Reserve notes issued to any such bank shall, upon delivery, together with such notes of such Federal Reserve bank as may be issued under subchapter XIII 1 of this chapter upon security of United States 2 per centum Government bonds, become a first and paramount lien on all the assets of such bank.
(Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6, §16 (par.),
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Subchapter XIII of this chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "section 18 of this Act", meaning section 18 of act Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6,
Codification
Section is comprised of fourth par. of section 16 of act Dec. 23, 1913. For classification to this title of other pars. of section 16, see Codification note set out under
Amendments
1968—
1945—Act June 12, 1945, substituted in first sentence "25 per centum reserve required by
1934—Act Jan. 30, 1934, amended first sentence.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Section 203(a) of act Aug. 23, 1935, changed name of Federal Reserve Board to Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
1 See References in Text note below.
§415. Reduction of liability for outstanding notes by depositing notes and collateral and payment of notes of series prior to 1928; reissue of deposited notes
Any Federal Reserve bank may at any time reduce its liability for outstanding Federal Reserve notes by depositing with the Federal Reserve agent its Federal Reserve notes, gold certificates, Special Drawing Right certificates, or lawful money of the United States. Federal Reserve notes so deposited shall not be reissued, except upon compliance with the conditions of an original issue. The liability of a Federal Reserve bank with respect to its outstanding Federal Reserve notes shall be reduced by an amount paid by such bank to the Secretary of the Treasury under section 4 of the Old Series Currency Adjustment Act.
(Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6, §16 (par.),
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 4 of the Old Series Currency Adjustment Act, referred to in text, which was classified to section 913 of former Title 31, was repealed by
Codification
Section is comprised of the fifth par. of section 16 of act Dec. 23, 1913. Section was formerly comprised of the fifth and sixth pars. of section 16 of act Dec. 23, 1913, before repeal of the sixth par. by
Amendments
1968—
1961—
1934—Act Jan. 30, 1934, struck out "gold" wherever it appeared before "gold certificates," and inserted "certificates" after "gold" wherever latter stood alone.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Section 203(a) of act Aug. 23, 1935, changed name of Federal Reserve Board to Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
§416. Withdrawal of collateral deposited to protect notes and substitution of other collateral; retirement of notes; payment of notes of series prior to 1928; recovery of collateral; reissue of deposited notes
Any Federal Reserve bank may at its discretion withdraw collateral deposited with the local Federal Reserve agent for the protection of its Federal Reserve notes issued to it, and shall at the same time substitute therefor other collateral of equal amount with the approval of the Federal Reserve agent under regulations to be prescribed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Any Federal Reserve bank may retire any of its Federal Reserve notes by depositing them with the Federal Reserve agent or with the Treasurer of the United States, and such Federal Reserve bank shall thereupon be entitled to receive back the collateral deposited with the Federal Reserve agent for the security of such notes. Any Federal Reserve bank shall further be entitled to receive back the collateral deposited with the Federal Reserve agent for the security of any notes with respect to which such bank has made payment to the Secretary of the Treasury under section 4 of the Old Series Currency Adjustment Act. Federal Reserve notes so deposited shall not be reissued except upon compliance with the conditions of an original issue.
(Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6, §16 (par.),
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 4 of the Old Series Currency Adjustment Act, referred to in text, which was classified to section 913 of former Title 31, was repealed by
Codification
Section is comprised of the sixth par. (formerly the seventh par.) of section 16 of act Dec. 23, 1913. For classification to this title of other pars. of section 16, see Codification note set out under
Amendments
1968—
1961—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Section 203(a) of act Aug. 23, 1935, changed name of Federal Reserve Board to Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of functions to Secretary of the Treasury, see note set out under
§417. Custody and safe-keeping of notes issued to and collateral deposited with Reserve agent
All Federal Reserve notes and all gold certificates, Special Drawing Right certificates, and lawful money issued to or deposited with any Federal Reserve agent under the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act shall hereafter be held for such agent, under such rules and regulations as the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System may prescribe, in the joint custody of himself and the Federal Reserve bank to which he is accredited. Such agent and such Federal Reserve bank shall be jointly liable for the safe-keeping of such Federal Reserve notes, gold certificates, Special Drawing Right certificates, and lawful money. Nothing herein contained, however, shall be construed to prohibit a Federal Reserve agent from depositing gold certificates and Special Drawing Right certificates with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, to be held by such Board subject to his order, or with the Treasurer of the United States for the purposes authorized by law.
(June 21, 1917, ch. 32, §7 (par.),
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Federal Reserve Act, referred to in text, is act Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6,
Hereafter, referred to in text, probably means on and after June 21, 1917.
Codification
Section is comprised of last par. of section 7 of act June 21, 1917. The preceding pars. of section 7 amended pars. two, three, four, five, six, and seven of section 16 of act Dec. 23, 1913. For classification to this title of section 16, see Codification note set out under
Amendments
1968—
1934—Act Jan. 30, 1934, which directed general amendment of the eighth par. of section 16 of the Federal Reserve Act, was executed to this section, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "All Federal reserve notes and all gold, gold certificates, and lawful money issued to or deposited with any Federal reserve agent under the provisions of the Federal reserve Act shall hereafter be held for such agent, under such rules and regulations as the Federal Reserve Board may prescribe, in the joint custody of himself and the Federal reserve bank to which he is accredited. Such agent and such Federal reserve bank shall be jointly liable for the safe-keeping of such Federal reserve notes, gold, gold certificates, and lawful money. Nothing herein contained, however, shall be construed to prohibit a Federal reserve agent from depositing gold or gold certificates with the Federal Reserve Board, to be held by such board subject to his order, or with the Treasurer of the United States for the purposes authorized by law."
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Section 203(a) of act Aug. 23, 1935, changed name of Federal Reserve Board to Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of functions to Secretary of the Treasury, see note set out under
§418. Printing of notes; denomination and form
In order to furnish suitable notes for circulation as Federal reserve notes, the Secretary of the Treasury shall cause plates and dies to be engraved in the best manner to guard against counterfeits and fraudulent alterations, and shall have printed therefrom and numbered such quantities of such notes of the denominations of $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000 as may be required to supply the Federal Reserve banks. Such notes shall be in form and tenor as directed by the Secretary of the Treasury under the provisions of this chapter and shall bear the distinctive numbers of the several Federal reserve banks through which they are issued.
(Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6, §16 (par.),
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this Act", meaning act Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6,
Codification
Section is comprised of the seventh par. (formerly the eighth par.) of section 16 of act Dec. 23, 1913. For classification to this title of other pars. of section 16, see Codification note set out under
Amendments
1994—
1963—
1918—Act Sept. 26, 1918, which directed general amendment of "the ninth paragraph of section sixteen of the Federal reserve Act, as amended by the Acts approved September seventh, nineteen hundred and sixteen, and June twenty-first, nineteen hundred and seventeen," was executed to the eighth par. of section 16 of act Dec. 23, 1913 (now classified to this section), to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "In order to furnish suitable notes for circulation as Federal reserve notes, the Comptroller of the Currency shall, under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, cause plates and dies to be engraved in the best manner to guard against counterfeits and fraudulent alterations, and shall have printed therefrom and numbered such quantities of such notes of the denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, as may be required to supply the Federal reserve banks. Such notes shall be in form and tenor as directed by the Secretary of the Treasury under the provisions of this Act and shall bear the distinctive numbers of the several Federal reserve banks through which they are issued."
§419. Delivery of notes prior to delivery to banks
When such notes have been prepared, the notes shall be delivered to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System subject to the order of the Secretary of the Treasury for the delivery of such notes in accordance with this chapter.
(Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6, §16 (par.),
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this Act", meaning act Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6,
Codification
Section is comprised of the eighth par. (formerly the ninth par.) of section 16 of act Dec. 23, 1913. For classification to this title of other pars. of section 16, see Codification note set out under
On authority of act May 29, 1920, which abolished offices of Assistant Treasurers and distributed their functions, "designated depositary" substituted for "subtreasury" in 1926 ed. of the Code.
Amendments
1994—
§420. Control and direction of plates and dies; expense of issue and retirement of notes paid by banks
The plates and dies to be procured by the Secretary of the Treasury for the printing of such circulating notes shall remain under his control and direction, and the expenses necessarily incurred in executing the laws relating to the procuring of such notes, and all other expenses incidental to their issue and retirement, shall be paid by the Federal reserve banks, and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall include in its estimate of expenses levied against the Federal reserve banks a sufficient amount to cover the expenses herein provided for.
(Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6, §16 (par.),
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Phrase "herein provided for", referred to in text, probably means as provided for in section 16 of act Dec. 23, 1913. For classification to this title of section 16, see Codification note set out under
Codification
Section is comprised of the ninth par. (formerly the tenth par.) of section 16 of act Dec. 23, 1913. For classification to this title of other pars. of section 16, see Codification note set out under
Amendments
1994—
§421. Examination of plates and dies
The Secretary of the Treasury may examine the plates, dies, bed pieces, and other material used in the printing of Federal Reserve notes and issue regulations relating to such examinations.
(Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6, §16 (par.),
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section is comprised of the tenth (formerly the eleventh) par. of section 16 of act Dec. 23, 1913. For classification to this title of other pars. of section 16, see Codification note set out under
Amendments
1994—
§422. Omitted
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section, act Dec. 23, 1913, ch. 6, §16 (par.),