Washington, D.C. – U.S. currency collectors are on the lookout for rare $1 bills with a printing error that could be worth thousands of dollars. These unique bills were mistakenly circulated by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, making them highly sought after by collectors and consumers alike.
The error occurred in 2014 and 2016, when two sets of $1 bills were printed with duplicate serial numbers, contrary to the norm of each bill having a unique serial number. The mistake went unnoticed by the Bureau but was discovered by keen-eyed collectors who are now searching for matching pairs of dollar bills with the same serial numbers to maximize their value.
Chad Hawk, vice president of PMG, a professional paper money grading company, emphasized the rarity of such errors in U.S. currency. With over 6.4 million pairs of $1 bills with matching serial numbers in circulation, only a few have been matched so far, underscoring the potential value of finding a matching pair.
Local dealers like Bill Bailey in Robinson, Texas, encourage individuals to have their currency graded through companies like PMG or PCGS to determine their bills’ value based on their condition. The better the condition of the bill, the more valuable it is likely to be, with grading scores ranging from 15 to 70 indicating the bill’s quality.
To identify potentially valuable dollar bills, individuals can look for specific indicators such as the Series date reading “Series 2013,” a “B” Federal Reserve Seal above the serial number, and a serial number ending with a star (*) falling within certain ranges. These unique characteristics can signal the presence of a rare $1 bill with significant worth.
Hawk advised individuals who suspect they might have one of these valuable dollar bills to search online and on social media platforms for potential matches. Connecting with other collectors or consumers who are also on the lookout for matching pairs can lead to a substantial premium if a match is found. Overall, the hunt for these rare $1 bills continues, offering the possibility of a lucrative discovery for those lucky enough to find a matching pair.