You’re standing at a checkout counter, or maybe you’re just digging through a jar of loose change to pay the pizza delivery guy. You glance at a single, and something looks off. Right at the end of the serial number—where there’s usually a letter—there’s a tiny, crisp, five-pointed star.
It’s subtle. Most people spend these bills without a second thought. But that 1 dollar bill star isn't a printing error or a secret government code. Well, it is a replacement, which is basically the numismatic version of a "do-over."
Collectors go nuts for these things. Sometimes.
What is a Star Note, Really?
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is a massive operation, but they aren't perfect. They print sheets of currency in huge batches. Occasionally, a sheet comes off the press with a smear, a misalignment, or a "butterfly" fold. Because the serial numbers are tracked so strictly for accounting and security, the BEP can't just print a duplicate serial number to replace the ruined bill.
Instead, they swap in a "Star Note."
Basically, it's a placeholder. The star tells the Federal Reserve that this specific bill was printed to replace a defective one in a specific run. It keeps the count honest. Think of it like a substitute teacher who is way more interesting than the regular one.
The Scarcity Factor: Why Some Stars Shine Brighter
Not all stars are created equal. If you find a 1 dollar bill star from a run of 3.2 million bills, honestly? It’s probably worth exactly one dollar. Or maybe $1.25 if you find a buyer who just likes the look of it.
The real money is in the "short runs."
Collectors use the term "run" to describe a batch of replacement bills printed at once. If the BEP only prints 16,000 or 100,000 star notes for a specific district, that's a rarity. In the world of paper money, rarity equals rent money.
How to Check Your Bill’s Pedigree
You can't just look at the bill and know if it’s rare. You need to know the "run size." There are specialized databases, like mycurrencycollection.com, where you can plug in the series year (like 2017 or 2021) and the serial number.
If the needle on the "rarity scale" hits the red zone, you might be holding something worth $20, $50, or even $500.
I once met a guy at a coin show in Chicago who found a 2013 B-star note. On the surface, it looked like a normal, slightly crinkled single. But because of a specific printing mishap at two different facilities (Fort Worth and D.C.) that resulted in duplicate serial numbers—a massive "no-no" in the banking world—that specific star note became a Holy Grail for modern collectors.
Condition is Everything (And I Mean Everything)
If you find a rare star note but it’s been through a washing machine, has a "Happy Birthday" message written in Sharpie, or is folded into a tiny origami crane, the value plummets.
Paper money grading is brutal.
A "Choice Uncirculated" bill looks like it just fell off the press. It’s crisp. The corners are sharp enough to cut a finger. The ink has a raised, tactile feel. Once that bill enters a wallet and gets that first center crease, it’s no longer "Uncirculated." It drops to "About Uncirculated" or "Extremely Fine."
If you find a 1 dollar bill star that looks brand new, don't fold it. Put it in a book. Or better yet, buy a PVC-free plastic sleeve.
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The Weird World of Fancy Serials
Sometimes the star isn't the only thing going for the bill. Collectors look for "Fancy Serial Numbers."
Imagine finding a star note where the numbers are 00000001. That’s a "Low Serial Star." That bill could potentially auction for thousands of dollars. Then there are "Ladders" (12345678*), "Radars" (numbers that read the same forward and backward), or "Binaries" (only zeros and ones).
When you combine a fancy serial number with a star, you’ve basically hit the paper money jackpot. It’s the double-whammy of the currency world.
Is the "Duplicate" 2013 Star Note Real?
There’s a lot of chatter online about the 2013 $1 star notes. It’s one of those rare instances where the government actually messed up.
The BEP printed a batch of star notes in Washington D.C. and then, accidentally, printed the exact same serial numbers in Fort Worth. This created "matched pairs." If you can find two bills with the exact same serial number, both with stars, you are looking at a payday that could reach into the thousands.
People are literally forming groups online to match their serial numbers with strangers across the country. It’s like a giant, nationwide game of Memory, but with actual stakes.
Why Do People Even Care?
It’s history you can hold.
Every 1 dollar bill star represents a moment where a machine failed and a human (or a very smart sensor) caught the error. It’s a glitch in the matrix of our financial system. Plus, in an era where everything is digital and we pay for coffee with a tap of a phone, there’s something deeply satisfying about hunting for physical treasure in your pocket.
It’s a low-stakes hobby with a high-reward potential. You’re never "losing" money because, at the end of the day, it’s still a dollar. You can always buy a Snickers bar with it if you get bored of collecting.
Where to Sell Your Finds
So, you found a rare one. Now what?
Don't go to a pawn shop. They’ll give you five bucks for a fifty-dollar bill.
Your best bet is a dedicated currency forum or an auction site. eBay is the "Wild West" of currency—lots of buyers, but you have to know how to take good photos. Use natural light. Don't use a flash; it washes out the detail. Take a photo of the front, the back, and a close-up of the serial number and the star.
Heritage Auctions is another big player, but they usually deal with the higher-end stuff. If your bill is worth $500+, that’s where you go.
Common Myths to Ignore
I’ve heard people say that star notes are "withdrawn" by banks. Not really. Tellers don't have time to look for stars. They just count the cash and move on.
Another myth? That the star means the bill is "fake." Nope. It’s as legal as any other tender. You can pay your taxes with star notes if you really want to (though that would be a tragic waste of a good find).
Also, the "color" of the star doesn't matter. On a $1 bill, it’s always green because the serial number is green. On a $100 bill, it might look different because of the security features, but a star is a star.
Practical Steps for the Aspiring Hunter
If you want to start finding these, you don't have to wait for luck.
Go to your local bank. Ask for a "strap" of singles. That’s $100 in one-dollar bills. Sit down with a cup of coffee and flip through them. You’ll almost always find at least one 1 dollar bill star in every few hundred bills.
Check the series date first. Older stars (from the 60s, 70s, or 80s) are generally worth more simply because fewer of them survived the "shredder" at the Fed. When bills get too old and limp, the Federal Reserve pulls them from circulation and destroys them. Any star note that survives 40 years in the wild is a survivor.
What to do right now:
- Check your wallet. Seriously. Do it now. Look at the end of the serial numbers on every single bill you have.
- Look for the "Series" year. It’s usually located to the right of George Washington. If it’s an older year, your star note just got more interesting.
- Check the crispness. If the bill feels like a fresh piece of stationery, handle it by the edges.
- Use a lookup tool. Plug the serial number into a star note research site to see if you have a "Common" or "Rare" run.
- Secure it. If it’s rare, get it out of your wallet. Acid-free plastic holders cost about fifty cents at a hobby shop and can save you hundreds in "grade depreciation."
Finding a star note is a reminder that even in a mass-produced world, there are still anomalies. It’s a tiny reward for paying attention to the details. Whether you’re looking to get rich or just want a cool conversation piece, that little star is worth a second look.
Next time you get change back, take three seconds to scan the serials. You might be surprised at what’s actually hiding in plain sight.
Actionable Insight: Start a "Star Jar." Every time you find a star note, set it aside. Once you have ten or twenty, spend an hour researching their run sizes. You'll likely find that most are common, but the one "Rare" run note you find will pay for the entire hobby and then some. Focus on "Series 2013" bills with a "B" prefix for the highest chance of finding a high-value duplicate error.