Rare Dollar Notes: Which $1 Bills Are Worth Money

The $1 bills worth more than face are large-size notes, the red-seal 1928 United States Note, the scarce blue-seal silver certificate series (1928C, 1928D, 1928E), the 1935A experimental R and S notes, the HAWAII and North Africa wartime notes, the 1993 Minneapolis note, certain web-press notes, star notes from small runs, the 2013 duplicate-serial stars, fancy serial numbers and genuine printing errors. Green-seal $1s from 1963 to 2021 list at $1 to $1.75 circulated (US Currency Auctions, viewed September 25, 2026).

Circulated, then uncirculated:

• 1869 United States Note, red seal: $425–$1,000; $2,000+
• 1890 Treasury Note: $375–$1,100; $3,000+
• 1896 Educational silver certificate: $275–$500; $1,000+
• 1899 silver certificate, blue seal: $45–$150; $200+
• 1923 United States Note, red seal: $90–$150; $400+
• 1928 United States Note, red seal: $20–$50; $250+
• 1928E silver certificate: $300–$700+; $1,500+
• 1928C silver certificate: $20–$125; $450+
• 1935A with red R or S: $85–$175; $400+
• 1935A North Africa, yellow seal: $40–$80; $200+
• 1935A HAWAII, brown seal: $30–$60; $135+
• 1993 Minneapolis: $30–$45; $125+

At the top of the market, a star next to the serial number multiplies the price of an already scarce series. Greysheet (September 25, 2026), worn to top grade:

• 1928D silver certificate star: $1,000–$100,000
• 1928E silver certificate star: $5,500–$34,000
• 1928 United States Note star (red seal): $1,100–$35,000
• 1935A R experimental star: $1,400–$25,000
• 1935A S experimental star: $1,050–$20,000
• 1928C silver certificate star: $1,800–$18,000

The 1935A R and S notes were a wartime paper test: the R group was the control, printed on the regular paper, and the S group was printed on a different paper the Bureau of Engraving and Printing was testing in case normal paper supply could not be maintained, with serial ranges S70884001C to S72068000C and S73884001C to S75068000C (Wikipedia). That is 1,184,000 notes in each group.

• Web notes: Series 1988A, 1993 and 1995 $1s were partly printed on a web press. You can spot one by the back plate number sitting next to IN GOD WE TRUST, and by the missing face check letter and quadrant number; web production ended in July 1996 (Wikipedia). JM Bullion puts web notes at $1 to $1,000+.
• 2013 duplicate stars: Series 2013 $1 star notes from the Boston bank (B) with serials B00000001* to B00250000* or B03200001* to B09600000* were printed in both Washington, D.C. and Fort Worth with the same numbers, and matching pairs are collected (JM Bullion).
• 1993 Minneapolis: $30–$45 circulated (US Currency Auctions).
• Stars from small runs: see star notes explained.

JM Bullion gives these rough ranges for serial-number types: radar notes $1–$50, birthday notes $1–$30 and ladder notes $1–$25, with low numbers under 1,000, solid numbers and repeaters worth more. Test yours with the fancy serial number list. Misprinted bills range from $1 to $150,000 in the same source; the value depends on how dramatic the error is. A genuine error happened at the printer (shifted print, missing print, cutting error), while folds, ink stains and tears after release are damage and lower the value.

Research and drafting for this page were assisted by AI and checked line by line against the sources listed below. Prices are copied from the named price guide or dealer page with the date we viewed it; where a figure could not be confirmed we say so rather than estimate. Guide prices are reference points, not offers: a dealer buying your note will usually pay less. If you find an error, tell us and we will correct it.