You’ve probably seen a hundred-dollar bill and felt like a high roller. Maybe you’ve even glimpsed a rare five-hundred or a thousand-dollar note in a museum or a high-end coin shop. But the $10,000 bill is the white whale of American currency. It’s huge. It’s legendary. And honestly, it’s mostly gone.
If you’re looking for a hard number on how many $10000 dollar bills are there, the answer isn't as simple as a single digit. It’s a moving target. According to the most recent estimates from the Federal Reserve and collectors who track these things like hawks, there are roughly 336 to 350 of these bills still "in the wild."
💡 You might also like: Monika Pandey Technical Recruiter: The Truth About Tech Sourcing in 2026
When I say "in the wild," I don't mean they are sitting in cash registers at a 7-Eleven. Most are locked in climate-controlled safes, tucked away in private collections, or sitting in the archives of the Smithsonian.
The Mystery of the Missing Thousands
Why are there so few? Basically, the government went on a destruction spree. Back in 1969, the Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve decided they were done with big bills. They officially discontinued the $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 notes.
They weren't just being mean. They were worried about money laundering and the fact that nobody was really using them for groceries anyway. These bills were primarily used for bank-to-bank transfers before we had the internet to move millions with a click.
Once the order came down, the Fed started pulling every high-denomination note they could find out of circulation. If a $10,000 bill hit a bank vault, it was sent to the Fed and shredded.
It’s kinda wild to think about. Millions of dollars in face value—worth way more now to collectors—just turned into confetti.
Who is on the $10,000 Bill?
Most people guess it’s a president. Maybe Lincoln? Nope. The man on the face of the $10,000 bill is Salmon P. Chase.
If that name sounds familiar, you might be thinking of Chase Bank. There’s a connection, though he didn't found it. Salmon P. Chase was Abraham Lincoln’s Secretary of the Treasury. He was the guy who basically invented our modern paper money system during the Civil War. He was also a bit of an ego-maniac. He famously put his own face on the $1 bill back in 1862 because, well, he could.
🔗 Read more: Why Staff of the Month Programs Usually Fail and How to Fix Them
The $10,000 bill features a portrait of him that was taken in 1862 by a photographer named Henry Ulke. It’s a stern, impressive look. Fitting for a bill that could have bought a whole mansion back when it was first printed.
Can You Still Spend One?
Technically? Yes. These bills are still legal tender.
If you walked into a store and handed over a crisp 1934 Series $10,000 bill to pay for a pack of gum, the store would be legally allowed to take it. But you’d be the world's biggest loser if you did.
Here’s why:
A $10,000 bill is worth way more than $10,000.
In recent years, the market for these has exploded. In September 2023, Heritage Auctions sold a 1934 $10,000 Federal Reserve Note for a staggering **$480,000**. That’s nearly half a million dollars for a piece of paper that says ten thousand on it. Even the ones in "bad" condition (if you can even call a $10k bill bad) usually start at $30,000 to $50,000.
Where did the 336 number come from?
The specific number of 336 notes often cited comes from a 2009 report. Since then, the number hasn't changed much because nobody is turning them in to be destroyed anymore. Why would you? You’d be trading a $100,000+ asset for ten grand.
However, we don't know exactly where every single one is. Some might be in old floorboards. Some are definitely in offshore accounts. But for the most part, the "population" of these bills is tracked by grading companies like PMG (Paper Money Guaranty).
The Different "Flavors" of the $10,000 Bill
Not all ten-thousand-dollar bills are the same. Collectors get really nerdy about the "seals."
- Blue Seals: These are the 1918 Series. They are much larger than modern money. Only a handful of these exist. If you find one, you’re looking at a seven-figure payday.
- Green Seals: These are the "small-size" notes from 1928 and 1934. These are the ones most likely to pop up at an auction.
- Gold Certificates: There was a 1934 $100,000 Gold Certificate (featuring Woodrow Wilson), but those were never for the public. It is actually illegal for a private citizen to own one. If you have one, the Secret Service will literally come to your house and take it.
The $10,000 bill is the highest denomination ever intended for public circulation. While it was never "common," it was out there.
Is It Possible to Find One Today?
Honestly, the odds are basically zero unless you are a high-end estate lawyer or a professional numismatist.
Most of the surviving stock came from a few specific sources. One of the most famous was the Binion’s Horseshoe Casino display in Las Vegas. They had a display of 100 $10,000 bills (a cool million dollars) framed for decades. When the casino ran into financial trouble and was sold, that display was broken up and the bills were sold to collectors.
👉 See also: Converting 125 English Pounds in US Dollars: Why the Rate You See Online Isn't What You Get
That single event is why we have a decent "supply" of them in the collector market today. Before that, they were even rarer.
What You Should Do If You See One
First, don't touch it with your bare hands if you can help it. Skin oils are the enemy of vintage paper.
Second, look at the serial number. If it’s a "star note" (with a little star at the end of the number), it’s worth even more.
Third, get it authenticated. There are plenty of fakes out there—reprints from the 70s or 80s that people find in their grandpa’s attic. A real $10,000 bill has specific "red and blue" security fibers embedded in the paper. If it looks like it was printed on an inkjet, it’s a fake.
Practical Next Steps for Curious Collectors
If you're genuinely interested in the history of how many $10000 dollar bills are there, or if you want to see one in person, here is how you actually do it:
- Visit the Smithsonian: The National Numismatic Collection in Washington D.C. has several on display, including some of the rarest series ever printed.
- Check Heritage Auctions: They are the "big leagues" for this kind of thing. You can browse their archives to see what the most recent sales were and look at high-res photos of the bills.
- Look for Local Coin Shows: Large regional shows (like the Whitman Expo in Baltimore or the Long Beach Expo) often have "educational" displays where high-value notes are shown under heavy guard.
- Verify Before Buying: If you ever find yourself in a position to buy one, only purchase notes that have been "slabbed" or graded by PMG or PCGS. These plastic holders certify that the bill is genuine and assign it a grade from 1 to 70.
Owning a $10,000 bill is more than just having money; it’s owning a piece of American history that the government tried very hard to erase. The fact that only 350 or so remain makes them one of the most exclusive "clubs" in the world.