What year did the U.S. Treasury (Federal Reserve) begin taking 500, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 dollar bills out of circulation?

U.S. Treasury discontinued public use of high denomination currency (bills) in 1969. The Federal Reserve began taking high-denomination currency out of circulation (destroying large bills received by banks) in 1969, after an executive order was signed by President Nixon. As of May 30, 2009, only 336 $10,000 bills were known to exist; 342 remaining $5,000 bills; and 165,372 remaining $1,000 bills. Due to their rarity, collectors often pay considerably more than the face value of the bills to acquire them. Some are in museums in other parts of the world.

The last $500 bill rolled off the presses in 1945. Its market value far exceeds its face value; even worn $500 bills are commanding upward of a 40% premium on the open market. Like the $500 bill, the $1,000 bill, seems to have a lot more value. It is a good item to hold on to tightly. The $5,000 bill has James Madison featured. Finding one today takes pluck, luck and significantly more than $5,000. The largest denomination ever printed for public consumption, the $10,000 bill never got much use. So, like its $5,000 counterpart, only a few hundred authenticated samples survived the 1969 purge. Always remember that high denomination bills are still technically legal tender in the United States.