Check Your Cash—$1 Bills With Typos Could Be Worth Six Digits
Photo 179382894 © Deaconsdocs | Dreamstime.com
Here’s how you might turn your money into even more money. Several seemingly ordinary US$1 bills could be hiding a small fortune thanks to a printing error by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), which is responsible for safeguarding the integrity of US currency. However, it’s not immune to making mistakes and occasionally experiences glitches in its printing process.
Millions of bills printed in New York in 2014 and Washington DC in 2016 feature a rather basic error—duplicate serial numbers—that has had collectors scrambling. For context, the typical dollar bill in circulation carries a unique serial number for tracking and security purposes, but this printing mistake saw multiple sporting the same identification code, a significant oversight that bypassed quality control.
While the Federal Reserve quickly removed them from circulation once the blunder was identified, estimates suggest over 6.4 million duplicates made it into the public sphere. Though functionally equivalent to a regular dollar bill, the printing error has transformed these bills into collector’s items. According to Wealthynickel.com, depending on the condition and specific details, a pair of misprinted notes can fetch up to US$20,000 to US$150,000.
The key to identifying a potential windfall lies in the fine print. Look for the series date (usually located near the portrait)—it should ideally read “Series 2013” with a “B” Federal Reserve Seal nestled above the serial number. Also, that serial number needs to end with a star symbol and fall within a specific range: B00000001 – B00250000 or B03200001 – B09600000.
The seemingly normal series 2013 $1 bill in your wallet might be worth thousands.https://t.co/sMgK2Cbc0w#Noteoftheday #papermoney #banknotes #fiat #Currency #banknotecollecting #numismatics #edutainment #2013 pic.twitter.com/X7LgZJ6Gqg
— 'cartoon' on RedBubble. (@pastexpiry) January 23, 2023
Unraveling a single bill with these characteristics from your wallet may be exciting, but the real treasure lies in finding its matching pair. As the American Numismatic Association points out, the rarity of a misprint significantly boosts its value. With only nine matching pairs confirmed so far, it seems millions are still waiting to be discovered.
This isn’t the only instance a printing gaffe has sent collectors into a frenzy. In 2019, Australia discovered a typo in its new $50 notes.
So, the next time you have a $1 bill in your hand, don’t spend it on that soda yet. Take a closer look; you might be holding a small fortune. Moolah-la.
[via NBC Washington and NJ.com, cover photo 179382894 © Deaconsdocs | Dreamstime.com]
