While the value of old $20 bills can vary greatly, some rare versions have sold for thousands of dollars. So, while collecting old $20 bills may not be as profitable as investing in stocks or real estate, it can still be a fun and potentially profitable hobby.
See the dark green numbers on the top-left and top-right corners? They could mean your bill is worth much more than its face value. If a serial number's digits are unique or interesting, collectors might be willing to pay big bucks — hundreds or even thousands of dollars — for your bill.
Australian $20 notes were issued from 1966 up until they were replaced in 1994. Some notes can be particularly valuable with the right serial numbers or if in mint condition, prices for a single twenty dollar note can reach up to $19,500 for the rarest note in perfect quality.
$20 in 1965 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $193.72 today, an increase of $173.72 over 58 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 3.99% per year between 1965 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 868.60%.
$20 in 1975 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $113.42 in 2023.
The 1969 series $20 bills are worth around $30 in extremely fine condition. In uncirculated condition the price is around $45-60 for bills with an MS 63 grade. The 1969A series $20 bills are worth around $35 in extremely fine condition. In uncirculated condition the price is around $70-85 for bills with an MS 63 grade.
Australian $2 notes were issued from 1966 right up until they were replaced by Australian 2 dollar coins in 1988. Some Australian 2 dollar notes can be particularly valuable with certain serial numbers or if they are in mint condition. Values can reach up to $5,000 for the rarest old Australian two dollar bill.
Most of the 1950 $20 bills are only worth their face value of $20 in circulated condition. In very fine condition the value is around $25. In uncirculated condition the price is around $50-75 for bills with an MS 63 grade. The 1950E series $20 bills are more valuable.
When it comes to bills, the serial number is a big part of what determines its value. People love interesting serial numbers and are willing to pay more than face value for a cool one. Printing errors are another feature that makes currency worth more.
Hire a professional appraiser to grade your coins and tell you how much it is worth. The American Society of Appraisers and International Society of Appraisers have searchable directories of professional appraisers. A dealer might also be able to help.
But the Bank of England confirmed not all the early £20 notes were reserved, meaning some of the rarest AA notes are in circulation. AA notes are the most valuable, but anything with an A in it could be worth more than the value of the note itself.
Most 1981 series $20 bills are worth around $25 in extremely fine condition. Uncirculated bills with a grade of MS 63 can sell for around $65. Bills issued from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis can sell for more money. The 1981A series $20 bills are worth around $25 in extremely fine condition.
Currently, collectors are vying for higher denomination notes. According to Johnson, that includes “$500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 Federal Reserve notes [that] were printed from 1928 into the 1940s are bringing record prices.”
Most of these bills in circulated condition won't be worth more than their face value of $20. In the better condition grades these bills can sell for a premium. In addition, star notes can sell for higher prices. The 1977 series $20 bills are worth around $25 in extremely fine condition.
The highest value is $4,500 or more for uncirculated notes from 1890, although most of those bills range in value from $550 to $2,500. The values are the same whether the bill has a red or brown seal. An original uncirculated $2 bill from 1862 ranges in value from $500 to more than $2,800.
Some one dollar notes are very valuable if they have the right serial numbers or if they're in mint condition. The rarest Australian dollar note can sell for up to $7,500. Although Australians use one dollar coins today, 1 dollar notes are still incredibly popular with collectors decades after they were replaced.
Depending on the condition, experts say the note could be worth as much as $1,750.
Most commercial banks will redeem old Australian banknotes at face value. A commercial bank may require some time to confirm that a banknote from a previous series is genuine or may need to send such banknotes to the Reserve Bank for confirmation.
786 Holy Fancy Number
The number 786 is considered to be lucky, many collectors like collecting notes with this series appearing on the serial numbers. Now, the choice is yours, apply all kinds of logic, permutations and combinations and make your own fancy number note collection.
1861: A demand note with the Goddess of Liberty holding a sword and shield on the front, and an abstract design on the back. The back is printed green. 1862: A note that is very similar, the first $20 United States note.
What is the current value of the 1985 20 dollar bill? With the 1985 series being a more recent iteration of the $20 note, they have not aged or become rare enough to be worth a lot. On average, you can expect an uncirculated condition 1985 20 dollar bill to sell in the $40 to $50 range.
Value of $20 from 1976 to 2023
$20 in 1976 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $107.24 today, an increase of $87.24 over 47 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 3.64% per year between 1976 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 436.22%.