Banknote Identifiers and Symbols (2024)

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Banknote Identifiers and Symbols? ›

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. A “star” suffix is used to identify notes that serve as replacements during the production process.

The set of the first four letters and numbers on a serial number is known as the 'cypher' (eg AA01). It represents the banknote's position on the sheet on which it is printed. The serial number is the six numbers that follow the cypher (eg 123456) and relates to the number of the sheet the note is printed on.

Serial numbers are found on the front of U.S. currency and are always printed twice.

“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.”

George Washington, our nation's first president, is a nationally recognized symbol of unity and trust. But he was not always there. Pyramids, eagles, goddesses, and frogs — even Santa Claus. These are just a few of the images that have appeared on American currency over the past three centuries.

People also enjoy collecting currency with high numbers, and these can be even more valuable than lower numbers because there are fewer in circulation. Bills marked with 99999900 and higher are especially prized.

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.

But, if you have two $1 bills with the same printing error, you could find yourself sitting on a great big stack of cash. According to WealthyNickel.com, coin and currency collectors are willing to pay up to $150,000 for rare $1 bills with particular printing errors from the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

It all comes down to three factors: the serial number, the date and the note's condition. “What we look at is fancy serial numbers,” Johnston said. “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.

What are the 13 symbols on the dollar bill? ›

There are 13 arrows, 13 olive branch leaves, 13 olive fruits, 13 stars above the eagle, 13 steps of the pyramid, and 13 bars on the shield. Plus, although this is probably a coincidence, “annuit cœptis” and “e pluribus unum” both have 13 letters. These facts about money will make your jaw drop.

Florin. The Dutch florin (also called the guilder or gulden) was the basic unit of money in the Netherlands until it was replaced by the euro. The florin symbol looks like a swash lowercase 'f'. The keystrokes on a Mac for the florin symbol are option+f.

If you are referring to the letter K surrounded by a decorative circular pattern on the left side of the obverse (portrait) face of a bill, in the position where the B is located (red square) here: The letter K in that position indicates that the bill originated at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, TX. (

Which serial numbers are valuable? The best fivers are those from the first batch, with serial numbers starting “AA01”. The rest of the number should be low to guarantee a high price.

It all comes down to three factors: the serial number, the date and the note's condition. “What we look at is fancy serial numbers,” Johnston said. “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.

The 2017A series was due to a minor change in production, possibly of the ink used. Changes in design, such as the recent changes to the $20 bill to deter counterfeiting, are still considered major changes. Tate-Mellon: 1928 $1 Silver Certificate, 1928 $2 United States Note, 1928 $5, $10, and $20 Federal Reserve Notes.

Most circulated Federal Reserve Notes from more modern series are worth no more than face value. Some of the early series notes (1928 and 1934) do carry a small premium, although for circulated notes this premium is small, usually 10% to 30%.