Dude, are you sure? The $500 and $1000 bills were last printed in 1945, and were "officially discontinued" in '69.
My daddy worked in a tiny branch bank from the mid-50s onward and managed to tuck away just a few.
Either you are thinking of the homemade bills you were xeroxing at the time, or you are truly a saver! lol....
Absolutely sure. 1996 to be specific. Not sure of years after that but that one I know for certain. Let the guy in the cubicle next to me hold the cash - he asked if he could so I said no problem.
[homemade bills you were xeroxing at the time]
LOL, oh no.....