Spent American notes (4)

I believe the answer is:

used

'spent' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'american notes' is the wordplay.
'american' becomes 'us' (abbreviation for United States).
'notes' becomes 'ed' ().
'us'+'ed'='USED'

(Other definitions for used that I've seen before include "No longer new" , "cast off" , "Manipulated American editor" , "Of clothes or cars, second-hand" , "Second-hand; consumed" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail and The Telegraph.

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