$5 1934-A FRN "LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBTS PUBLIC & PRIVATE" Clause Chicago Gangster Money VF

$5 1934-A Federal Reserve Note – Chicago
Fr. 1957-G • “Legal Tender for All Debts Public & Private” Clause • Gangster-Era Appeal • Very Fine

A classic 1934-A Chicago Federal Reserve Note, this piece features the iconic “Legal Tender for All Debts, Public and Private” clause—one of the defining legal statements on mid-20th-century U.S. currency. Issued during a time when Chicago was still buzzing with the aftershocks of its notorious Prohibition-era underworld, notes like this circulated through the same neighborhoods, storefronts, and backroom establishments tied to the city’s legendary gangster history.

While we can’t know whose hands this note passed through, it’s easy to imagine it moving through the vibrant, gritty Chicago of the 1930s and 40s—an era shaped by the remnants of Capone’s Outfit, political machine dealings, and booming underground commerce.

Grading Very Fine, this note shows honest circulation with strong detail and appealing color—an ideal mid-grade example from one of the most collectible districts.