Rare One Dollar Bills and What They’re Worth (Plus, Where to Sell Them)

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Learn if your $1 is worth pennies or thousands of dollars with our guide
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One dollar bills may not get as much shine as bills of higher denominations, but don’t assume they’re not worth much. These little notes can fetch a hefty sum on the currency collecting market, with rare bills selling for hundreds to thousands of dollars! If you’re curious about what the $1 bills in your wallet may be worth, keep reading. We’ll go over what makes a $1 valuable , tell you about some of the most valuable $1 bills ever printed , and explain how to appraise and sell your bills . Read on to learn more!

What are the most valuable $1 bills?

  • Series 2013 bills with duplicated serial numbers: $100-$150,000
  • Bills from the 1800s: $100-$2,000
  • Silver certificates: $10-$1,500
  • Star notes: $5-$1,000
  • Web notes: $5-$1,000
  • Unique serial numbers: $5-$500
Section 1 of 4:

Valuable $1 Bills to Look Out For

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  1. In 2014, the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing asked the Washington D.C. facility to print millions of $1 bills. And in 2016, they accidentally asked the Fort Worth facility to print the same exact bills. So, there are millions of pairs of $1 bills in circulation with the same serial number, which is a huge—and valuable—error! [1]
    • How much is it worth? A single bill might get you a few hundred dollars. But if you have the matching pair, the 2 bills may be worth several thousand dollars, up to $150,000.
    • How to tell you have one of these bills :
      • Look for “Series 2013” to the right of George Washington’s face.
      • Ensure the serial number starts with a “B.”
      • Look for a seal with “B” in it to the left of George Washington.
      • Make sure the serial number has a star at the end.
      • Ensure the serial number is between B00000001 to B00250000 or B03200001 to B09600000.
    • To date, only 33 confirmed matches have been reported.
  2. 2
    Star notes Star notes are $1 bills with a star symbol at the end of the serial number. These are bills that the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing reprinted to replace bills that were misprinted or damaged before they went into circulation. Star notes are more valuable if there weren’t many printed for a given series or year. [2]
    • How much is it worth? $5 to $1,000, depending on the condition, year, and series. For instance, star notes printed in 1981 in the A series can be worth several hundred dollars. [3]
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  3. 3
    Silver certificates Silver certificates were issued between 1886 and 1964, which allowed then citizens to redeem their $1 bill for a silver dollar coin. These bills feature unique images and rare blue, red, yellow, and brown seal colors, which can make them pretty valuable. [4]
    • How much is it worth? $10 to $1,500+, depending on the condition, year, series, and design. For instance, a 1928 $1 bill from the E series and with a blue seal can go for over $1,500. [5]
  4. 4
    1800s and early 1900s notes The older the $1 bill is, the more valuable it’s likely to be due to its rarity. [6] The first $1 bills were printed in 1862, so you can expect bills from the late 1800s to the 1920s to be more valuable than ones printed closer to the present day. Many of these bills are silver certificates, which also increases their value. [7]
    • How much is it worth? $100 to $2,000+, with $1 bills from 1862 worth the most.
    • Old $1 bills are labeled with the print year on the face of the bill. They might include the print date, too.
  5. 5
    Web notes Web notes are $1 bills that were printed between 1992 and 1996 using a different process, called the web press. The process was meant to speed up production, but it led to lots of quality issues and was shut down. Only bills in the 1988A, 1993, and 1995 series were printed with the web press. [8]
    • How much is it worth? $5 to $1,000+, depending on the condition, series run, and any unique issues. Bills from the 1988A series tend to be more valuable, as many bills contain issues or are star notes.
    • How to tell you have one of these bills :
      • On the face side, look for the small plate number in the bottom right corner. It appears alone without any letters next to it.
      • On the back side, look for the small plate number to the right of “TRUST.”
  6. 6
    Misprinted notes $1 bills that have unique errors and printing issues can be pretty valuable. Look for seals and serial numbers printed in the wrong place or printed upside down, poor print quality (i.e., very faded), gutter folds, and ink smears. These bills will typically go for more money if they’re in great condition and uncirculated. [9]
    • How much is it worth? $50 to $500+.
  7. 7
    Unique serial numbers $1 bills with “fancy” serial numbers that contain unique patterns can fetch a pretty penny, too. For instance, look for bills with a very high or low serial number, or bills that have a serial number that ascends or descends in order, as these bills are heavily valued by collectors. [10]
    • How much is it worth? $50 to $500+
    • Learn more about unique and valuable serial numbers in the following section .
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Section 2 of 4:

What makes a $1 bill valuable?

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  1. 1
    The serial number Every $1 bill is printed with an 8-digit serial number, which is listed twice on the face side of the bill. Certain patterns in the serial number can make the bill more valuable than $1. For instance, look out for these serial number sequences: [11]
    • Lows : The serial number is below 00001000
    • Highs : The serial number is above 99999900
    • Flippers : The numbers can be read right-side up and upside down, like 00189600
    • Star notes : The serial number has a star at the end, which indicates the bill is a reprint
    • Repeaters : The serial number has blocks of repeating numbers, like 38843884
    • Super repeaters : The serial number has blocks of 2 repeating numbers, like 27272727
    • Solids : The serial number is only 1 number, or almost 1 number, like 44444414
    • Binarys : The serial number is only comprised of 2 numbers, like 59995595
    • Trinarys : The serial number only contains 3 numbers, like 67117661
    • Ladders : The serial number ascends or descends in order, like 12345678
    • Radars : The serial number is the same backwards and forwards, like 17244271
    • Super radars : Only the beginning and ending numbers are different, like 73333337
    • Birthdays : The serial number contains a famous or meaningful date, like 07041776
    • Consecutives : The serial numbers for 2 separate bills have numbers that follow each other, like 1 bill with 3763428 2 and the other with 3763428 3
  2. 2
    The condition The condition of the $1 bill greatly affects its price. In general, bills that are uncirculated, or have never been used to buy or sell goods, are in pristine condition and more valuable. Circulated bills that have been used but are in good condition can be pretty valuable, too. Most bills are graded using a scale with the following values: [12]
    • 70-65 (Exceptional Paper Quality) : The bill shows no to little signs of being handled and is in pristine condition.
    • 64-60 : The bill is in excellent condition with no folds and very few signs of being handled.
    • 59-56 : The bill is in great condition with 1 fold.
    • 55-46 : The bill is in great condition with up to 2 folds.
    • 45 and below : The bill has many folds, is stained or soiled, and shows signs of heavy circulation (tears, limp feeling instead of crisp).
  3. 3
    The year and series The year a $1 bill was printed can affect its value, as certain bills are less likely to be in circulation and thus, are rarer than others. In general, bills printed in the 1910s and late 1800s are more valuable and can fetch at least several hundred dollars. The bill’s series, or how many bills were circulated for a given design, can be more valuable than others. Series with a more limited run are usually rarer and more valuable. [13]
    • Find the bill’s series in the bottom right corner of the bill, next to George Washington’s face.
  4. 4
    Printing errors Most collectors consider $1 bills more valuable if they have unique printing errors. For instance, bills that were printed with the serial number and seal in the wrong position, weren’t printed with enough ink, were printed off center, or contain ink smears can sell for $50 to several hundred dollars. [14]
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Section 3 of 4:

What is the most expensive $1 bill?

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  1. 1875 Uncirculated $1 Legal Tender Note: $72,000 In March 2020, Stack’s Bowers sold a $1 bill that was printed in 1875. The bill is in pristine condition and has lots of unique features, like a red serial number and seal, and a stamp of Columbus in sight of land, which definitely helps account for its high value! [15]
    • A series of four $1 bills from 1899 technically sold for more in August 2018, going for $180,000. The four bills are on an uncut sheet in pristine condition and feature a unique black eagle image. [16]
Section 4 of 4:

How to Appraise & Sell a $1 Bill

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  1. Visit a local rare coin shop or auction house to get your $1 bill appraised and receive a price that a professional thinks it can sell for. Alternatively, you can do some self-appraisal by searching for your $1 bill online and seeing what it typically sells for. [17]
  2. 2
    Sell your $1 bill at a coin shop, trade show, or reputable online seller. Once you have your $1 appraised, take it to a rare coin shop or auction house if you have one near you. Also, search for nearby trade shows where currency and coins are sold. You can always sell your $1 online, such as at an auction house like Stack’s Bowers or Heritage Auctions , or eBay, too.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/25/collectors-may-pay-thousands-for-dollar-bills-with-printing-error.html
      2. ↑ http://www.mycurrencycollection.com/articles/what-is-a-star-note
      3. ↑ https://www.uscurrencyauctions.com/us-currency-star-notes-value-price-guide.html
      4. ↑ https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/make-money/paper-money-value-serial-numbers/
      5. ↑ https://www.uscurrencyauctions.com/$1-us-currency-value-price-guide.html
      6. ↑ https://www.uscurrencyauctions.com/$1-us-currency-value-price-guide.html
      7. ↑ https://www.bep.gov/currency/circulating-currency/1-note
      8. ↑ https://www.uspapermoney.info/general/webs.html
      9. ↑ https://www.mycurrencycollection.com/articles/what-is-my-note-worth
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/LjnPkmg1BgM?si=wcVDXeh7qxZn21Ex&t=186
      2. ↑ https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/make-money/paper-money-value-serial-numbers/
      3. ↑ https://www.pmgnotes.com/paper-money-grading/grading-scale/
      4. ↑ https://www.uscurrencyauctions.com/$1-us-currency-value-price-guide.html
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/LjnPkmg1BgM?si=Jn3w6bc6pXhB6vKE&t=109
      6. ↑ https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-LYPOL/friedberg-21-1875-1-legal-tender-note-pmg-about-uncirculated-50-serial-number-1
      7. ↑ https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-BIIME/uncut-sheet-of-4-fr-227-1899-1-silver-certificates-pmg-about-uncirculated-50-epq-serial-numbers-1-4
      8. ↑ https://www.mycurrencycollection.com/articles/what-is-my-note-worth

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