graybunny
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They used to be a lot bigger! In fact, they've been called "horse blankets", although they're not really THAT much bigger. See the article at https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/what-is-a-horse-blanket-note.html for more information -- which is also illustrated with a 1923 one-dollar silver certificate. (It would have been really freaky if it was the same one, but no such luck, the serial numbers are different!)
In the 1800s, United States paper money looked very different than it does today. It was pretty much black printing on white paper, and while it frequently featured Washington and other presidents and notables, they weren't centered they way then have been for the last century. The styling change happened pretty abruptly after 1900, when bills started to resemble what we're familiar with now. But there was one more important change to come, as illustrated by this 1923 dollar bill versus a current one out of my wallet.
Johnsky
Back when currency was backed by metals, and not an empty promise.
graybunny
At the same time, there were also bills labelled "National Currency"! And Federal Reserve Notes. US paper money is complicated.