Did you know that a simple $1 bill in your wallet could be worth thousands of dollars? Some U.S. coin and currency collectors are searching for rare $1 bills with a specific printing error. This mistake, made by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, has collectors eager to find these special bills.
In 2014 and 2016, the Federal Reserve mistakenly printed two sets of $1 bills with the same serial numbers. Each bill is supposed to have a unique serial number, but over 6 million bills were printed with duplicate numbers. These bills were put into circulation before the error was noticed, and now they’re highly sought after by collectors.
The Value of These $1 Bills
According to Chad Hawk, Vice President of PMG, a professional paper money grading company, this kind of mistake is very rare. While individual bills with the duplicate serial numbers may only be worth $1 or $2 on their own, the real value comes from finding a pair of $1 bills with the same serial number. A pair of matching bills could sell for thousands of dollars, depending on their condition.
Hawk noted that one pair of these $1 bills sold for $6,000. However, only nine pairs have been matched so far, so there’s still a chance that many more are out there waiting to be found.
How to Identify the Rare $1 Bills
If you want to check if your $1 bill is part of this rare collection, here are three key indicators:
- Series Date: Look for the “Series 2013” date near the portrait of George Washington.
- Federal Reserve Seal: The bill must have a “B” seal above the serial number, indicating it came from the New York Federal Reserve.
- Serial Number: The serial number should end with a star (*) and fall between these ranges:
- B00000001* – B00250000*
- B03200001* – B09600000*
If your $1 bill matches these criteria, it might be part of the rare set, and you could be holding onto something valuable.
The Importance of Condition
Just like with coins, the condition of the bill plays a big role in determining its value. Bill Bailey, owner of Century Coins in Texas, mentioned that the better the condition of the note, the higher the price it can fetch. Uncirculated or lightly circulated bills are more valuable, and currency grading services like PMG or PCGS can help determine the grade of your bill. The grading scale ranges from 15 to 70, with 70 being the highest (best condition) and most valuable.
How to Find a Matching Pair
Since the value lies in finding matching pairs of bills with the same serial numbers, collectors and everyday people alike are searching for these pairs. Hawk explained that many people have been able to connect through social media and other online communities to match their bills. If you think you have one of these rare $1 bills, the best thing to do is search online to see if anyone has the matching serial number.
With billions of $1 bills in circulation, finding these pairs can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. These bills have been in circulation for several years, so they could be anywhere.
The rare printing error that led to duplicate serial numbers on $1 bills from 2013 has created a treasure hunt for collectors. If you have one of these bills, it could be worth much more than its face value, especially if you find its matching pair. The key indicators include the series date, Federal Reserve seal, and serial number with a star. If you think you have one of these bills, it might be worth getting it graded and checking online for a match. With the possibility of earning thousands of dollars, it’s definitely worth taking a closer look at your cash.
