1934 $5 Silver Certs

E-A Block

The 1934 Series $5 Silver Certificates had a total of 393,088,368 notes produced, first being printed in 1934 and production ending in 1938. During that time, this series was serial numbered across six different blocks: A-A, B-A, C-A, D-A, E-A, & *-A. The A-A, B-A, and C-A blocks were serial numbered exclusively on 1934 series notes. The D-A block began production in 1937 and continued into 1938. The 1934A series plates went to press in 1938, bearing macro-size FP (front plate) serials, and were also serial numbered within the D-A block. All known 1934A series D-A block notes are Mules, having been mated with only the older micro-size BPs, and all known 1934 series D-A block notes are non-Mules. When E-A block serial numbering began in 1938, some of the 1934 series plates were still being used alongside the 1934A series plates. This created both 1934 and 1934A series notes in both the D-A and E-A blocks.

It was also in 1938 that the new macro-size BPs (back plates) first went to press alongside the older micro-size BPs. As both 1934 and 1934A series plates were in use as well as both the older micro BPs and newer macro BPs, four different varieties within the E-A block were created: 1934 non-Mules (micro FP with older micro BP), 1934 Mules (micro FP with new macro BP), 1934A Mules (new macro FP with older macro BP), and 1934A non-Mules (macro FP with newer macro BP). Due to the lesser number of 1934 series plates still in production, the result was far fewer 1934 series E-A block notes (both non-Mules and Mules) printed than their 1934A series counterparts. Today, the 1934 series E-A block notes are scarce and the 1934A series E-A block notes are common.

As a side note, some of the older micro BPs continued to be used into the early part of 1940, and serial numbering of the 1934A series they were mated to continued into the the H-A block. Thus, 1934A series macro/micro Mules can be found in the D-A, E-A, F-A, G-A, & H-A blocks. The 1934A series G-A and H-A block macro/micro Mules are covered in a separate census.