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Have you ever noticed the dark green numbers on your bills’ top-left and top-right corners? Well, those numbers might hold more value than what’s written on the bill.
Some collectors are eager to pay a lot – sometimes hundreds or even thousands of dollars – for bills with unique or interesting serial numbers. Even a $1 bill with a special serial number can fetch more money than a $20 bill. So, it’s smart to check all your cash. Your $100 bill might surprise you with its actual worth.
The value of your paper money often lies in its serial number.
Just like people collect rare items, there are those who collect currency specifically for the uniqueness of its serial number. Moreover, some folks play a game called liar’s poker using these serial numbers as if they were playing cards. In this game, serial numbers with repeated digits are highly sought after.
What are serial numbers?
Serial numbers, consisting of eight digits, are distinctive codes assigned to every bill. They come with additional letters and numbers indicating the bill’s series year and printing location. These unique codes are located on the front of U.S. currency and are always printed twice for identification purposes.
Understanding series years on currency
For bills valued at $5 or more, the serial number begins with a letter denoting the series year of the bill. These years are indicated by letters A through P, corresponding to specific years:
- A: 1996
- B: 1999
- C: 2001
- D: 2003
- E: 2004
- F: 2003A
- G: 2004A
- H: 2006
- I: 2006
- J: 2009
- K: 2006A
- L: 2009A
- M: 2013
- N: 2017
- P: 2017A
- Q: 2021
These series years are printed on the currency between the portrait of the historical figure (e.g., Lincoln on the $5 bill) and the Secretary of the Treasury’s signature in the bill’s bottom right section. You can verify this on a bill you have at home.
However, on $1 bills (and $2 bills), the series year is only visible in the bottom right quadrant.
New series emerge when the Secretary of the Treasury approves a design change or when a new Secretary of the Treasury takes office. Dollar bills serve as significant historical markers documenting these changes.
U.S. Federal Reserve bank identifier
The U.S. Federal Reserve uses specific codes to identify where currency is printed. There are 12 Federal Reserve banks, each represented by a letter-number combination:
- A1: Boston
- B2: New York City
- C3: Philadelphia
- D4: Cleveland
- E5: Richmond
- F6: Atlanta
- G7: Chicago
- H8: St. Louis
- I9: Minneapolis
- J10: Kansas City
- K11: Dallas
- L12: San Francisco
For bills of $5 and higher, the bank identifier is separate from the serial number. However, the letter representing the bank also appears next to the series year before the actual serial number.
On $1 and $2 bills, the letter preceding the serial number matches the bank where the bill was printed (like K for Dallas), and the number part of this identifier is shown separately on the currency.
Categories of U.S. paper money
U.S. paper currency falls into various categories, with some being more valuable to collectors than others.
Silver Certificates, circulated from 1878 to 1964 in $1 to $1,000 denominations, can hold different values. For instance, $1 bills can range from $2 to $20, while $5 bills may fetch $10 to $12, and $10 bills can go for $30 to $5,000, depending on the year of issuance.
Gold Certificates, issued between 1863 and 1933 in denominations from $10 to $10,000, vary in value based on their condition. Worn bills might be valued at $100 or more for $20 denominations, $250 or higher for $50 bills, $1,000 or beyond for $100 bills, $2,500 or more for $500 bills, and $2,000 or above for $1,000 bills.
Confederate Issues, dating back to the Civil War (1861-1865), are generally not sought after by collectors.
Federal Reserve Notes, issued since 1914 in denominations from $1 to $10,000, derive value based on their serial numbers and rarity. Collectors seek distinctive serial numbers that set these notes apart.
15 Types of valuable serial numbers
Want to see if your cash could be worth more than its face value of $1 or $5? Check out these key serial number types to find out.
1. Low serial number
Low serial number bills, typically below 1,000 or even 100 (like 00000100), are prized by collectors. They can fetch prices ranging from $10 to $300 on eBay.
The value of currency increases with lower serial numbers. For instance, a bill numbered 00000001 could be valued as high as $15,000, as reported by SavingAdvice.com.
2. High number
Collectors often find value in currency with high numbers. Bills marked with numbers like 99999900 and above are particularly sought after due to their rarity, making them more valuable compared to lower-numbered bills.
3. Star notes
Star notes are special bills marked with a star instead of a letter in their serial number. They’re replacements made when there’s a printing mistake on the original bill. Since the law prohibits reprinting the same serial number, a star is added at the end.
These error bills are rare, so there aren’t many star notes in circulation. Due to their scarcity, $1 star notes sell for $5 or more on platforms like eBay.
4. Flippers
Flipper notes are special because their numbers can be read both ways, right side up or upside down. These notes often contain combinations of 0s, 6s, and 9s, although some collectors might also be interested in those with 8s or 1s. You can find flippers on sale on eBay for a few bucks or sometimes priced at several hundred dollars.
5. Repeaters and super repeaters
Repeated digit sequences, like 27527527, are in demand, usually priced around $3 to $4 for $1 repeaters on eBay. When the sequence consists of two repeating digits, such as 45454545, it’s called a super repeater and can be even more valuable. On eBay, these can start at a few hundred dollars in some listings.
6. Solids and near solids
Solid serial numbers, such as 55555555, consist of all identical digits. They are quite rare, occurring in only about one out of every 11 million banknotes. Some of these solid notes can be valued at $500 or more, with particularly rare ones fetching thousands of dollars when sold on platforms like eBay.
Due to their scarcity, collectors also seek near-solid serial numbers, where only one digit differs, such as 55555575. While near-solids generally fetch less money compared to solid serial numbers, they are more commonly found.
7. Binary bills
Binary bills are characterized by serial numbers containing only two numbers, like 29299299. These notes also include near-solid numbers that consist of two repeating digits. Certain binary bills fetch over $300 on eBay.
8. Trinary bills
Trinary bills are currency notes that contain three unique digits in different combinations, like 29329939. While binary bills are rare and sought after by collectors, trinary notes are also of interest.
They are sold on platforms like eBay and are usually priced at a few dollars, although some can be listed for several hundred dollars.
9. Ladders
Ladders in collecting refer to serial numbers that either ascend (e.g., 12345678) or descend (e.g., 87654321) in order. Sometimes, there are “near ladders” with a couple of digits breaking the pattern.
These special serial numbers can be sold for prices ranging from $9 on eBay to an impressive $100,000.
10. Birthdays
Collectors often seek banknotes with specific years or dates in the serial numbers, often holding personal significance. For instance, a serial number like 02162006 could be valuable to a collector if it matches a meaningful date, like their child’s birth on February 16, 2006.
Additionally, serial numbers that solely include the year, like 10901985 or 10002010, are also considered desirable among collectors.
11. Radars and super radars
A radar serial number reads the same forwards and backwards, such as 06288260. These unique numbers can fetch around $25 for a good condition, uncirculated $1 bill. However, some might even sell for over $100.
But there’s something even rarer and more valuable than radars – super radars. These are serial numbers where only the end two digits differ, like 27777772. Even a $1 bill with such a serial number can be worth $70 or more when sold on eBay.
12. Consecutives
Consecutive serial numbers are when you have two or more sequential notes, like 25348793 and 25348794. They’re fairly common and can be obtained at any bank. However, they might hold extra value if they also match another category on a collector’s list.
These notes can be sold on eBay for prices ranging from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars.
13. Doubles
Doubles are serial numbers that contain pairs of the same numbers, like 24459387. The most valuable type is called a quad double, which has four sets of doubles, like 55998833.
14. Double quads
Double Quads are special banknotes with serial numbers featuring two sets of four identical numbers. For instance, a bill with the serial number 77776666 is considered a double quad. These notes are rare and hold higher value among collectors.
15. Bookends
Bookends are numbers that have the same digits at both ends of their serial number. For instance, a three-number bookend, such as 36584365, holds higher value compared to a two-digit bookend like 36829736. On eBay, these bookends can sell for around $8, starting from a $1 bookend.
How to check serial numbers on bills
If you suspect that a bill might be worth more than its stated value, you can easily verify it online by checking its serial number.
For instance, we tested a random $5 bill by entering its eight-digit serial number on MyCurrencyCollection.com. The website applies a “Coolness Index” to the number, determined by CoolNumbers.com. This index rates numbers based on their unique properties.
Our $5 bill scored 89.9% on the index, classifying it as “almost cool.” Here are the noteworthy aspects that made it nearly cool:
- It boasted a rare combination: four-of-a-kind and a pair, found on only 2.6% of bills.
- The sum of its digits was 48, a feature shared by just 8% of eight-digit serial numbers.
- It contained four unique digits, a trait found in only 9.3% of these serial numbers.
- It included two paired digits, a characteristic present in merely 10% of paper money serial numbers.
Despite being “almost cool,” this didn’t enhance the $5 bill’s value. Sadly, another bill we tested was ranked as “uncool,” scoring a mere 18.5% on the Coolness Index.
However, discovering whether your money is perceived as cool or not doesn’t guarantee its increased value. The worth of paper money relies on what buyers are willing to pay, irrespective of how it’s listed.
Where to sell your paper money
If you have a unique banknote and want to sell it, there are a few places you can consider.
The simplest way is to sell it on eBay. Look up similar notes to gauge their prices and list yours accordingly. Aim for a reasonable price—not too low to miss out on potential profit, and not too high to risk not selling at all.
If eBay isn’t your preference, explore local options. Search for paper money dealers nearby. They can appraise your banknotes and might make an offer to buy them or guide you to potential buyers.
Which dollar bill serial numbers are worth money?
The value of a dollar bill often depends on the uniqueness of its serial number. Uncommon serial numbers like repeating digits, those ending with a star, or sequential patterns (like 12345678) tend to be worth more than their face value. For a comprehensive list of valuable serial number types, refer to the “15 Types of Valuable Serial Numbers” section above.
How do I know if my dollar bill is valuable?
To find out if your dollar bill is worth more than its face value, look at the serial number printed twice on the bill. It’s an eight-digit number with one or two letters at the beginning, depending on the bill’s denomination.
If the number is rare or has a star following it, there’s a chance it could be valuable. Check out the sections titled “15 Types of Valuable Serial Numbers” and “How to Search Serial Numbers” above for more information.
How do you check serial numbers on money?
You can assess the potential value of your money by checking its serial numbers online. Refer to the section above titled “How to look up serial numbers” for guidance.
What is the value of paper money?
Paper money typically holds its face value, like $1, $5, or $10. However, certain bills with special serial numbers can be sought after by collectors and sell for more than their stated worth. To find out about these valuable serial numbers, check out “15 Types of Valuable Serial Numbers.”