Low Serial Numbers on Currency – Values and Pricing

Low serial numbers are really a lot of fun to see.  The more leading zeros you have on a piece currency, the higher the value will be.  However, this rule does need to be explained:

Serial number 00000001 – 00000009, most valuable
Serial number 00000010 – 00000099, always carry a premium
Serial number 00000100 – 00000999, could carry a premium
Serial number 00001000 and higher will rarely be worth more than face value

 

 

Currency with low serial numbers have been noticed and collected since currency was printed.  In the old days (pre-1928) low serial number notes were mostly saved as presentation pieces for politicians.  Today most low serial number notes are saved either directly at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, at Federal Reserve Banks, or by astute bank tellers and other money handlers.  It is not uncommon for entire serial number 1 – 100 packs to be saved.

Hands down the most valuable serial number is always serial number 1.  A00000001A is very important.  Serial number one notes are usually going to sell for a few thousand dollars or more.

The next range of serial numbers is two through nine.  You would think that serial number two is more valuable than serial number nine, but that isn’t true.  All single digit serial numbers two through nine are worth about the same.  These typically trade for a few hundred dollars for common circulated issues.

All serial numbers 10 through 99 are going to basically be worth the same as each other.  These can be bought for less than $100 in almost all cases.

Handling serial number 100 through 999 can be tricky.  We don’t recommend spending serial numbers in this range, but it can take time to find the right buyer.  A lot of people might collect serial number 85, but not many people are going to collect serial number 785.

Serial numbers higher than 999 just aren’t rare or collectible.  The only exception would be something like 00003000, 00001234, or a birth year serial number like 00001963.

Keep in mind that low serial number notes aren’t all that rare.  Low serial numbers are printed every day and a lot of low serial numbers get placed directly into collectors’ hands.  So low serial number notes can be valuable, but they really aren’t especially rare.

We love buying low serial number currency.  Nothing spices up a case like a few low serial number notes to show off.  Please let us know what you have and we would be happy to make an offer.