Before the establishment of the Federal Reserve System in 1913, currency creation and money issuance in the United States were handled through a decentralized and varied framework involving multiple types of entities. The federal government directly issued legal tender notes, treasury notes, and gold or silver certificates through the United States Department of the Treasury. Additionally, under the National Bank Acts enacted during the Civil War era, privately owned commercial banks chartered by the federal government were permitted to issue national bank notes, which were backed by United States government bonds deposited with the Treasury. Furthermore, during various periods of American history, state-chartered private banks, private clearinghouse associations, and even corporate or municipal entities printed their own paper scrip and circulating notes to facilitate local commerce. This fragmented system meant that hundreds of distinct institutions contributed to the nation's money supply before central banking standardization took root.