Rare dollar bills are typically older issues, large denominations ($500, $1000+), star notes (replacements for errors), mislabeled or misprinted bills (like misaligned serials or color errors), or bills with fancy serial numbers (palindromes, repeaters), with some error notes potentially worth thousands, like specific 1935 $1 Hawaii emergency notes.
Rare Dollar Bills in Circulation
Dollar bills from certain years, especially those from before 1963 or bills with rare serial numbers, can be worth more than face value.
A specific type of misprinted $1 bill from the 2013 Series, particularly in matching pairs, can be worth up to $150,000 to collectors, due to an error where millions were printed with duplicate serial numbers. To identify one, check for a "Series 2013" date near George Washington's photo, a "B" Federal Reserve seal, and a serial number ending in a star (★) within specific ranges (e.g., B00000001★ - B00250000★).
Rare Serial Numbers: Fancy numbers like low serials (00000001), repeating digits, or palindromes are highly prized. Star Notes: These replace misprinted bills and are marked with a star at the end of the serial number.
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“A serial number '1′ for a 1976 $2 bill would be worth $20,000 or more,” Dustin Johnston, vice president of Heritage Auctions, told MarketWatch. Other high-value serial numbers include so-called “ladder” or “solid” numbers. Solid serial numbers are codes that have the same digit, such as 88888888888.
Here are three things to look for on your bills if they are worth more than a dollar:
The potential high value stems from a printing error where pairs of $1 bills were printed with matching serial numbers. This occurred between 2014 and 2016, involving bills from the 2013 series. To have a potentially high value, you need to have a matching pair of these bills.
Although 42,000 were printed, only 12 remain in existence and it's illegal to own one. (Issued in 1934-1935. The approximate buying power: 2.4 Million dollars in today's money).
According to auction results, the most valuable one-dollar bill is an 1874 $1 United States Note. It sold in March 2024 for $26,400 through Stack's Bowers Galleries. This bill stands out not only for its rarity but also for its condition. Very few similar bills are so well-preserved.
This 1990 series $100 bill is a rare find for collectors, with a misprint that makes it even more unique. The United States currency features an error in the printing process, making it a valuable addition to any collection. The bill has circulated and has been handled, adding to its character and history.
Serial Number
A unique combination of eleven numbers and letters appears twice on the front of the note. Each note has a unique serial number. The first letter of the serial number corresponds to the series year.
Document serial numbers like these are the kind of serial numbers that will make a note more valuable. Low Serial Numbers - Serial numbers between 00000001 and 00000009 are sought after. These are usually the first few notes printed in a series and, therefore, are scarce and collectible.
For example, an Almost Uncirculated 1973 one-dollar note with the right serial number could be worth $250. You may want to store your bills in some sort of plastic sleeve or binder to prevent further damage that could affect their value.
Some notes can be particularly valuable if they have the right serial numbers or if they're in mint condition. The rarest $1 notes can sell for up to $7,500 each. Within Australia, the RBA has estimated that approximately 19 million one dollar notes are still in circulation.
The Series date located near the photograph of George Washington must read “Series 2013” The bill must have a “B” Federal Reserve Seal above the serial number. The serial number must end with a star (*) and fall between B00000001* – B00250000* or B03200001*-B09600000*
You can tell if your dollar bills are worth money by checking your bill's serial number. Low, high, repeating, solid, consecutive, doubles, and stars in serial numbers are a few details to look out for when determining if your dollar bills are more valuable than their face value.
To check a serial number, look for a sticker on the product's body (back, bottom, side) or packaging; use your device's settings (e.g., Settings > About Phone on Android, About This Mac or Terminal on Mac, Settings > General > About on iPhone/iPad). For PCs, Command Prompt (wmic bios get serialnumber) or PowerShell (get-wmiobject win32_bios | select-object serialnumber) are effective. You can also often find it on the original receipt or by using a universal code like *#06# on phones.
Source Summary for the Curious Owner • Your bill is a Series 1988 $20 Federal Reserve Note from the Richmond district (“E5”). Its serial number is standard, not a “fancy” or star note. In normal condition, it's worth about $20. In uncirculated condition, it may bring $25–$35.
Highly Valuable $1 Bills To Look Out For
It's a common misconception that $2 bills are particularly rare or valuable. This has led many people to hoard them and, as a result, there are large numbers of $2 bills in good condition that aren't being circulated. However, the vast majority of $2 bills are worth exactly that: two dollars.
Even certain modern bills are selling for shocking prices–a 2003 $2 bill sold online for $2,400, then resold just two weeks later for $4,000, according to Heritage Auctions.