What's a Dollar Bill Worth These Days? At Least a Look... | My Fisher Grad Life (2024)

I could almost guarantee that everyone that reads this post has touched a dollar bill in the last month. Even if you pay for everything with a debit card (because your new found love for Mint.com makes it easy to track your spending), you probably have some cash on hand for that morning coffee at work or snack machines without credit card swipes. The best part is, the dollar bill has more history on it than you thought, and it has been right in your fingertips since you were old enough to lose a tooth.

I recently read a blog called "15 Things You Never Noticed on a Dollar" and I would like to share parts of the blog with you along with some additional fun facts:

  1. Ever notice that huge letter inside the circular seal to the left of George Washington's face?
    • This marking signifies the Federal Reserve bank that placed the order for the currency.
    • A = Boston, B = New York City, C = Philadelphia, D = Cleveland, E = Richmond, Va., F = Atlanta, G = Chicago, H = St. Louis, I = Minneapolis, J = Kansas City, K = Dallas, and L = San Francisco.
    • The four numbers that are repeating signify the number of the letter of the alphabet that it corresponds to, for example- A-1, D-4, and so on.
  2. How fresh is your Latin? Maybe if you took it in high school, you might already know this, but there are three Latin phrases on the back of the dollar bill, and they are:
    • Annuit Coeptis - meaning "God has favored (or approved) our undertakings".
    • Novus Ordo Seclorum - meaning "New order of the ages".
    • E Pluribus Unum - meaning "Out of many, one".
  3. The unfinished pyramid with the glowing eye has a few features as well:
    • Thirteen steps for the 13 original colonies.
    • Contains the "Eye of Providence" - which is believed to be a representation that God favors the prosperity of the United States.
    • The bottom contains the Roman numerals for 1776.- MDCCLXXVI.
  4. The Bald Eagle on the back is grasping in its talons arrows and olive branches.
    • This is signifying war and peace.
    • The Bald Eagle is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America.
  5. The dollar bill actually has had no value tied to it!
    • This is why it the front of the bill states: "This Note is Legal Tender For All Debts, Public or Private".
  6. According to theBureau of Engraving and Printing,the average life of a $1 bill in circulation is 21 months before it is replaced due to wear.
  7. Also, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing state that approximately 45% of our currency produced today are one-dollar bills.

What's a Dollar Bill Worth These Days? At Least a Look... | My Fisher Grad Life (1)What's a Dollar Bill Worth These Days? At Least a Look... | My Fisher Grad Life (2)

* Please note: These dollar bills were taken from wikipedia.com and are not to be reprinted or used as legal tender.
What's a Dollar Bill Worth These Days? At Least a Look... | My Fisher Grad Life (2024)

FAQs

Is my $1 bill worth anything? ›

Here are three things to look for on your bills if they are worth more than a dollar: 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.

What is the average life of a $1 bill? ›

The average lifespan of a $1 bill is about 6.6 years, which is less than that of a $20 bill, lasting approximately 7.8 years. Smaller denominations like the $5 bill have an even shorter lifespan of about 4.7 years due to their high circulation in daily transactions.

What $2 bill is worth $4,500? ›

If your $2 bill dates back to 1886 and has a red seal with a silver certificate, you're in luck. That bill is worth $4,500. A number of other iterations of the $2 bills with a red seal can also fetch well over a $1,000. Bills with brown seals are also very valuable.

What are the rare $1 dollar bills with Star? ›

Star Notes (also called Replacement Notes) are special paper money issues that are released in much lower numbers than their regular counterparts. That's because they are only printed when a note is damaged or otherwise found to be imperfect during manufacture.

What $2 bill is worth $20,000? ›

A serial number '1' for a 1976 $2 bill would be worth $20,000 or more. But [for] a majority of those people holding 1976 $2 bills, they are only worth face value. There are very few that actually exceed face value.” Other high-value serial numbers include what collectors call “solid” or “ladders.”

Should I keep old dollar bills? ›

It is U.S. government policy that all designs of Federal Reserve notes remain legal tender, or legally valid for payments, regardless of when they were issued. This policy includes all denominations of Federal Reserve notes, from 1914 to present as per 31 U.S.C.

Are old US bills worth more? ›

How much are "Old" Federal Reserve Notes worth? (1928, 1934, 1950, 1963, etc. are the most valuable.) Most circulated Federal Reserve Notes from more modern series are worth no more than face value.

Will old $100 dollar bills be worth anything? ›

Most of the $100 bills that sell for five figures, six figures or more are vintage currency from the pre-1914 era when bills became Benjamins. But plenty of C-notes from the modern era can also be worth big money — and they usually derive their value from their serial numbers.

How much is a $2 bill with a green seal worth? ›

A newer bill with a green one is likely worth face value. With a red seal, the value generally starts to go up. Age is also a huge factor. If you're looking for a high dollar $2 bill, it would be pre-1900, and it would have to be in a very high condition graded condition," said Pinto.

Is a $2 bill from 1995 worth anything? ›

More recently, the USCA lists a value of $500 on certain uncirculated $2 bills from 1995. If you have a $2 bill from the 2003 premium Federal Reserve set of 12, you could get $700 or more. Most $2 bills in circulation are worth exactly that: $2.

How much is a $2 bill with a red seal worth? ›

A circulated $2 bill with a red seal can sell for $2.25 to $2,500. The U.S. Currency Education Program said there are 1.2 billion $2 notes in circulation. While the note is less common, $2 bills are still being printed (108.3 million entered circulation in 2022) and count as legal tender.

How much is my dollar bill worth with a star? ›

Though a 'Star Note' is exceedingly rare compared to the millions & millions of 'normal' dollar bills produced by the US government, this does not typically make the note tremendously valuable. If this note is brand new & in near-perfect condition, it may be worth $1.50 to $2.00.

What two dollar bills are worth keeping? ›

Bills with red, brown and blue seals from 1862 through 1917 can be worth up to $1,000 or more on the U.S. Currency Auctions website, which bases the value on recent and past paper currency auctions. From 1995, according to the site, a set of 12 notes in their original packaging are worth $500 or more.

How do I check my $1 bill? ›

How to check your dollar bill
  1. The series date located on the far right of the photograph of George Washington must read “Series 2013”
  2. The bill has a “B” Federal Reserve Seal above the serial number located to the right of Washington's photo.
May 2, 2024

How do I find out what my star note is worth? ›

Star notes never have a set value—they're only as valuable as other people say they are. That's why the best way to find out the value of yours is to sell the currency on a site like eBay and let other people decide for you in an open auction.

What 1 dollar bill is worth $150,000? ›

Experts estimate a pair could bring in between $20,000 and $150,000, depending on the numbers and condition. According to WealthyNickel, here's what you need to look for: Located near the image of George Washington should be a series date that reads “Series 2013.”

How to check dollar bills? ›

Check the watermark.

Hold the bill up to the light and look for a watermark. Newer bills should have faces. Older bills may just have what looks like a faded spot. If there is no watermark or if the watermark “face” does not match the “face” on the bill, then it is probably counterfeit.

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