<P> The federal government began issuing currency like the Spanish dollars during the American Civil War . As photographic technology of the day could not reproduce color , it was decided the back of the bills would be printed in a color other than black . Because the color green was seen as a symbol of stability , it was selected . These were known as `` greenbacks '' for their color and started a tradition of the United States ' printing the back of its money in green . The author of that invention was chemist Christopher Der - Seropian . In contrast to the currency notes of many other countries , Federal Reserve notes of varying denominations are the same colors : predominantly black ink with green highlights on the front , and predominantly green ink on the back . Federal Reserve notes were printed in the same colors for most of the 20th century , although older bills called `` silver certificates '' had blue highlights on the front , and `` United States notes '' had red highlights on the front . </P>
<P> The federal government began issuing currency like the Spanish dollars during the American Civil War . As photographic technology of the day could not reproduce color , it was decided the back of the bills would be printed in a color other than black . Because the color green was seen as a symbol of stability , it was selected . These were known as `` greenbacks '' for their color and started a tradition of the United States ' printing the back of its money in green . The author of that invention was chemist Christopher Der - Seropian . In contrast to the currency notes of many other countries , Federal Reserve notes of varying denominations are the same colors : predominantly black ink with green highlights on the front , and predominantly green ink on the back . Federal Reserve notes were printed in the same colors for most of the 20th century , although older bills called `` silver certificates '' had blue highlights on the front , and `` United States notes '' had red highlights on the front . </P>
who invented the green color of the dollar
who invented the green color of the dollar
chemist Christopher Der - Seropian
chemist Christopher Der - Seropian