American Money History
Quick check: 5 signs
- Series year. Printed to the right of the portrait. Series 1957 and earlier are Silver Certificates, United States Notes or older types; Federal Reserve Notes with a green seal replaced Silver Certificates from 1963.45
- Seal color and wording. Green seal and "Federal Reserve Note": a modern note. Blue seal and "Silver Certificate": issued until the early 1960s. Red seal: mostly United States Notes (1862 to 1928).4
- Star. A star where the last serial letter should be marks a replacement note.4
- Serial number. Letter, eight digits, letter. Very low numbers and patterns such as repeats or sequences are called fancy serials.
- Condition. Crisp and unfolded, or folded and worn? Catalogs grade from Fine up to Gem Uncirculated (65).4 Do not clean or press a bill.
If one of the first three points looks unusual, read on. If all five look ordinary, the note is very likely worth face value.
Types and series of $1 bills
The $1 has been issued as many different types since 1862. The table lists what the Standard Catalog of United States Paper Money records, with facts only.4
| Type | Series | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| United States Note (Legal Tender) | 1862, 1869, 1874 to 1880, 1917, 1923, 1928 | Mostly red seals. 1862: Salmon P. Chase at left with "1 2 3" in the centre. 1869 on: Washington with Columbus's landing at upper left. Several 1880 notes have large brown seals. The 1928 "Red Seal" note was issued in one series only, in fewer than two million notes, mostly released in Puerto Rico more than 20 years after printing (Fr. 1500). |
| Treasury (Coin) Note | 1890, 1891 | Edwin M. Stanton at left. Large brown or small red seals. |
| Silver Certificate, large size | 1886, 1891, 1896, 1899, 1923 | 1886: Martha Washington, the first woman on US currency.5 1896: "History instructing youth", the Educational note. 1899: eagle on a flag with the Capitol behind it, small portraits of Lincoln and Grant, small blue seal. 1923: Washington at centre, small blue seal. |
| Silver Certificate, small size | 1928 to 1928E, 1934, 1935 to 1935H, 1957 to 1957B | Blue seal. See the series table below. |
| National Bank Note | Original Series, 1875 | Concordia clasping hands before an altar. Spiked red seal (Original) or scalloped red seal (1875). |
| Federal Reserve Bank Note | 1918 | George Washington at left, eagle on a flag on the back. Issued by 12 Federal Reserve Banks with varying signatures. The only large-size $1 of its kind.5 |
| Federal Reserve Note | 1963 to 2013 (our source ends at 2013) | Green seal. See the series table below. Later series are not covered by our catalog source; check the Treasury or BEP for current issues. |
| Special issues | 1935A | "HAWAII" overprint on face and back with brown seal and serial numbers (Fr. 2300). Yellow seal for North Africa (Fr. 2306). Experimental notes with a red R (Fr. 1609) or red S (Fr. 1610) at lower right. |
Small-size Silver Certificates, 1928 to 1957
| Series | Signatures (Treasurer, Secretary) | Fr. no. |
|---|---|---|
| 1928 | Tate, Mellon | 1600 |
| 1928A | Woods, Mellon | 1601 |
| 1928B | Woods, Mills | 1602 |
| 1928C | Woods, Woodin | 1603 |
| 1928D | Julian, Woodin | 1604 |
| 1928E | Julian, Morgenthau | 1605 |
| 1934 | Julian, Morgenthau | 1606 |
| 1935 | Julian, Morgenthau | 1607 |
| 1935A | Julian, Morgenthau | 1608 (special issues: 1609, 1610, 2300, 2306) |
| 1935B | Julian, Vinson | 1611 |
| 1935C | Julian, Snyder | 1612 |
| 1935D | Clark, Snyder | 1613 (wide back, plate number 5015 or less; narrow back, plate 5017 or more, is a separate variety) |
| 1935E | Priest, Humphrey | 1614 |
| 1935F | Priest, Anderson | 1615 |
| 1935G | Smith, Dillon | 1616, 1617 (second variety) |
| 1935H | Granahan, Dillon | 1618 |
| 1957 | Priest, Anderson | 1619 |
| 1957A | Smith, Dillon | 1620 |
| 1957B | Granahan, Dillon | 1621 |
Federal Reserve Notes, 1963 to 2013
| Series | Signatures (Treasurer, Secretary) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Granahan, Dillon | All 12 districts (Fr. 1900A to 1900L) |
| 1963A | Granahan, Fowler | All 12 districts (Fr. 1901) |
| 1963B | Granahan, Barr | Fr. 1902; catalog lists only some districts |
| 1969 | Elston, Kennedy | All 12 districts (Fr. 1903) |
| 1969A | Kabis, Kennedy | All 12 districts (Fr. 1904) |
| 1969B | Kabis, Connally | All 12 districts (Fr. 1905) |
| 1969C | Banuelos, Connally | Fr. 1906; catalog lists only some districts |
| 1969D | Banuelos, Shultz | All 12 districts (Fr. 1907) |
| 1974 | Neff, Simon | All 12 districts (Fr. 1908) |
| 1977 | Morton, Blumenthal | All 12 districts |
| 1977A | Morton, Miller | All 12 districts (Fr. 1910) |
| 1981 | Buchanan, Regan | All 12 districts (Fr. 1911) |
| 1981A | Ortega, Regan | All 12 districts (Fr. 1912) |
| 1985 | Ortega, Baker | All 12 districts (Fr. 1913) |
| 1988 | Ortega, Brady | All 12 districts (Fr. 1914) |
| 1988A | Villalpando, Brady | Printed in Washington DC (Fr. 1915) and at Fort Worth (Fr. 1916) |
| 1993 | Withrow, Bentsen | Washington DC and Fort Worth |
| 1995 | Withrow, Rubin | Washington DC (Fr. 1921) and Fort Worth (Fr. 1922) |
| 1999 | Withrow, Summers | Washington DC (Fr. 1924) and Fort Worth (Fr. 1925) |
| 2001 | Marin, O'Neill | Washington DC (Fr. 1926) and Fort Worth (Fr. 1927) |
| 2003 | Marin, Snow | Washington DC (Fr. 1928) and Fort Worth (Fr. 1929) |
| 2003A | Cabral, Snow | Washington DC and Fort Worth |
| 2006 | Cabral, Paulson | Washington DC and Fort Worth |
| 2009 | Rios, Geithner | Washington DC and Fort Worth |
| 2013 | Rios, Lew | Washington DC and Fort Worth |
How to read a $1 bill
The marks to find, on a real example. This is a Series 1957 Silver Certificate; a modern Federal Reserve Note has the same layout with a green seal and a Federal Reserve Bank seal at left.
- Series year. Printed to the right of the portrait on this example (1957). A letter after the year (1957A, 1957B) marks a change of signatures or design.
- Seal. The Treasury seal sits to the right of the portrait; here it is blue, which marks a Silver Certificate. A Federal Reserve Note has a green Treasury seal at right and a Federal Reserve Bank seal with a district letter to the left of the portrait. This example is a Silver Certificate, so it has no Federal Reserve Bank seal.
- Serial number. Printed twice. Standard format: letter, eight digits, letter.
- Star position. On a star note the final letter is replaced by a star (★).
- Signatures. Treasurer of the United States at left, Secretary of the Treasury at right. On this note: Priest and Anderson.
District letters on Federal Reserve Notes: A Boston, B New York, C Philadelphia, D Cleveland, E Richmond, F Atlanta, G Chicago, H St. Louis, I Minneapolis, J Kansas City, K Dallas, L San Francisco.4
What makes a $1 bill worth more
- Star notes. A star note replaced a note damaged in production, so fewer exist.4 Scarcity varies a lot by series and district, so look up the run before assuming. MyCurrencyCollection.com has a free Star Note Lookup that shows the print run for a series and serial range.
- Older types. United States Notes, Treasury Notes, large-size Silver Certificates and the 1918 Federal Reserve Bank Notes were issued in far smaller numbers than modern notes, and the catalog lists many signature combinations for each.4
- Specific varieties the catalog singles out. The 1928 Red Seal United States Note (Fr. 1500), especially as a star note. Star notes of Silver Certificate series 1928C, 1928D and 1928E. The 1890 Treasury Note with large brown seal (Fr. 348). The 1899 Silver Certificate with Vernon and McClung signatures (Fr. 229a). The scarcest 1918 Federal Reserve Bank Note listed (Atlanta, Fr. 725).4
- Special issues, and their fakes. The 1935A Hawaii, North Africa and R and S experimental notes. About 1,184,000 of each R and S type were released. Genuine R serials run from S70884001C to S72068000C and genuine S serials from S73884001C to S75068000C; phony R and S overprints have been added to ordinary 1935A notes, so a red R or S alone proves nothing.4
- Errors and varieties. The catalog lists error notes and varieties, for example certain Series 1981A notes with "Back plate #129 at left", and Web Press notes of 1988A to 1995, identified by district letter and block letter.4
- Fancy serial numbers. Very low numbers and patterns are sought by some collectors. How much a pattern adds is set by what a buyer will pay, so check sold listings.
- Condition. A crisp, unfolded note and a folded, soiled note of the same type are different things to a buyer. Catalogs grade from Fine to Gem Uncirculated (65).4
Price guide: how to find what your bill sold for
Approximate — not an appraisal. We publish a price range only when we can link to specific recorded sales with dates. We have not published ranges for the $1 yet, because we do not copy catalog prices and we have no verified public sale links to cite. What we can say is what the price depends on: the type and series, whether it has a star, the signature combination, the district, the serial number and the condition.
To check real prices yourself:
- Note the exact type, series, Friedberg number (if you have it) and star status.
- Search the sold or past-lot archives of auction houses such as Heritage Auctions and Stack's Bowers for the same type and series. Some archives need a free registration.
- On eBay, filter by "Sold items", not by asking price, and compare only notes in a similar condition.
- Prefer professionally graded notes for comparison. PMG's Population Report shows how many have been graded; its Price Guide covers world notes, not US notes.
Prices move. Look at several recent sales, not one.
A short history of the $1 bill
The first $1 bill was a Legal Tender Note issued in 1862 with a portrait of Salmon P. Chase. In 1869 Washington and the discovery of America by Columbus took over the design. In 1886 a Silver Certificate featured Martha Washington, the first woman on US currency. The 1896 Educational Series note is considered one of the most beautiful American notes. In 1918 the only large-size Federal Reserve Bank Note $1 was issued.5
Notes shrank to today's size in 1928, with the odd-looking "ONE" on the back that earned them the nickname "Funnyback". The current reverse, with both sides of the Great Seal, dates from 1935. Treasury Secretary Morgenthau's diary records on 1 July 1935 that President Roosevelt "o.k'd the new $1.00 bill with the Great Seal on it"6, and the new bill went on sale at most banks from 18 December 1935.7 In 1957 the $1 became the first paper US currency to carry IN GOD WE TRUST.5
Silver Certificates ended in the 1960s: from 1963 the $1 was a Federal Reserve Note with a green seal, and in 1969 the Treasury seal changed from Latin to English wording.5 The $1 is now the oldest design in use, with the reverse dating from 1935 and the face from 1963; the 2025 Federal Reserve cost figure is 4.1 cents per $1 or $2 note1, and the Treasury estimates a $1 note lasts 7.2 years in circulation.3
On the channel: How America Really Prints Its Money (documentary, 21 min) and His Fake Dollars Spelled Washington Wrong. 10 Years Free (documentary, 20 min).
What to do next
- Do not clean, flatten, iron or tape the bill. Handle it by the edges and keep it flat in a protective holder.
- If it looks unusual (star note of an older series, red or yellow seal, special overprint, rare serial), compare it with sold lots as described above.
- For authentication and grading, use a third-party service such as PMG or PCGS Banknote. We can't authenticate a bill from photos.
- If you decide to sell, options include auction houses, coin and currency dealers and online marketplaces. Get more than one opinion. This page has no ads and no affiliate links.
- Send it to us with the form below. Free for everyone. Subscribers get priority — and a chance to see their bill on our channel.
Frequently asked questions
How much is my dollar bill worth?
Most $1 bills in circulation are worth face value. Value above $1 depends on the type (Silver Certificate, United States Note, older large-size notes), the series and signatures, whether it is a star note, an unusual serial number, and above all condition. We publish no price figures here until we can link each one to a recorded sale; check sold lots at auction houses and on eBay's sold listings. Any price is approximate, not an appraisal.
What is a star note and is it valuable?
A star at the end of the serial number marks a replacement note, one that replaced a note damaged during production. A normal note reads letter, eight digits, letter; a star note reads letter, eight digits, star. Fewer star notes are printed, so collectors look for them, but how scarce one is depends on the series and the printing run, so check before assuming anything.
Is a 1957 silver certificate worth anything?
Series 1957, 1957A and 1957B $1 Silver Certificates (Fr. 1619 to 1621) are the last $1 Silver Certificates. They carry a blue seal and the words Silver Certificate. Value depends mainly on condition and on whether the note is a star note. Check recently sold lots for your exact series and condition.
What does a blue seal on a $1 bill mean?
A blue Treasury seal marks a Silver Certificate, a type issued until the early 1960s. Modern Federal Reserve Notes have green seals. Red seals appear on United States Notes and on some older Silver Certificates.
How do I read a dollar bill serial number?
On a standard small-size $1 the serial number is a letter, eight digits and a letter, printed twice on the face. A star in place of the last letter marks a replacement note. The series year is printed to the right of the portrait.
What is a fancy serial number?
Collectors prize unusual serial numbers such as very low numbers or repeating and sequential digit patterns. Tools such as the Fancy Serial Checker at MyCurrencyCollection.com can test a number. Whether a pattern adds value depends on the buyer, so look at sold listings.
What do the district letters on a Federal Reserve Note mean?
Federal Reserve Notes are issued by the twelve Federal Reserve Banks, lettered A to L: A Boston, B New York, C Philadelphia, D Cleveland, E Richmond, F Atlanta, G Chicago, H St. Louis, I Minneapolis, J Kansas City, K Dallas, L San Francisco. Some district and series combinations are scarcer than others.
Can you tell me if my bill is real from photos?
No. We can't authenticate a bill from photos. For authentication and grading use a third-party service such as PMG or PCGS Banknote.
Is Check your bill free?
Yes. Free for everyone. Subscribers get priority, and a chance to see their bill on our channel. Our answers are general information, not an appraisal.
Sources
- Federal Reserve Board, "How much does it cost to produce currency and coin?" (2025 variable cost, $1 and $2: 4.1 cents per note) — federalreserve.gov/faqs/currency_12771.htm
- Federal Reserve Board, currency in circulation by denomination (2025: 15.2 billion $1 notes) — federalreserve.gov/paymentsystems/coin_currcircvolume.htm
- U.S. Currency Education Program, life-cycle data (estimated lifespan of a $1 note: 7.2 years, May 2025) — uscurrency.gov/life-cycle/data
- Standard Catalog of United States Paper Money, 34th edition (2015), ed. George S. Cuhaj, Krause Publications: $1 listings, pp. 18 to 28, 131 to 158. Used for facts only (series, signatures, seals, types, catalog numbers); no catalog prices are reproduced.
- "United States one-dollar bill", Wikipedia (secondary source, used for design history) — en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_one-dollar_bill
- Morgenthau Diaries, Book 8 (July 1935), Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, National Archives, NAID 28275761 — catalog.archives.gov/id/28275761
- Morgenthau Diaries, Book 13 (December 1935), United Press ticker of 12 December 1935, NAID 28275771 — catalog.archives.gov/id/28275771
- Image: Series 1957 $1 Silver Certificate, Fr. 1619, National Numismatic Collection, Smithsonian Institution, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain) — commons.wikimedia.org. Shown in line with 31 CFR 411.1 (one side, size outside 75 to 150 percent).
Last updated 22 October 2026. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].