What The Star At The End Of A Dollar Bill's Serial Number Really Means

Most people handle dozens of dollar bills without ever noticing a small, blue five-pointed detail that only some carry. This small star at the end of a U.S. bill's serial number shows that the bill is a replacement note. If a bill gets damaged or misprinted after the serial number is printed, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing removes it from circulation and uses a special bill to replace it. These replacement bills have their own serial numbers and end with a star instead of a letter, because making two bills with the same number would be costly and confusing.

When you see a star at the end, it simply means the bill was made to take the place of one that could not be used. This is one of several hidden symbols on dollar bills that most people overlook. Star notes work the same as regular money. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing makes them, sends them into circulation, and you can use them just like any other Federal Reserve note. It does not mean the note is rare or worth more unless in special conditions, like the rare $50 bills that have both a star and other features that collectors look for.

Most star notes are only worth what is printed on them, but some can be valuable to collectors because of how rare they are or how many were made. For instance, if only 640,000 of star notes were printed to replace damaged bills, it is rare according to APMEX. If the number is 160,000 or less, it is scarce, and when only 16,000 or fewer are made, it is even more scarce — extremely rare. The year the bill was made, the signatures, and which Federal Reserve district printed the note also matter, because some districts printed fewer replacement bills than others.

A bill is usually worth more to collectors if it's in perfect, unused shape or uncirculated and if it has a unique serial number. Collectors prefer PMG-grade bills and add special labels if the note is original and hasn't been used, just as scarcity and pristine shape can make a $500 bill worth three times its face value. Serial numbers also play a role in PMG's grading system. Bills that start with a lot of zeros, go in order (like 12345678), read the same forward and backward, or repeat numbers, can increase the prices, even if the note is common in other ways. In simple terms, a star note becomes valuable if only a few were made, it is in great condition, and its serial number is unusual.