20 Dollar Bill Rare Types: Which $20 Notes Are Worth More
Quick answer
20 dollar bill rare types: a 1928C San Francisco note lists $350–$1,000+ worn, a 1905 gold certificate $2,000+ (USCA, Sept 2026). Most $20s are face.
Updated 2026-09-25 · Sources: uscurrencyauctions.com, Wikipedia, mycurrencycollection.com
Have one? Scan it to see what it's worth. Free scans every day.
Download on the App StoreWhat are the key facts?
- Priciest large-size: 1905 gold certificate, $2,000–$4,000 circulated (US Currency Auctions, viewed Sept 25, 2026)
- Scarce small-size: 1928C Chicago and San Francisco Federal Reserve Notes
- Wartime issue: 1934 and 1934A HAWAII overprint, brown seal
- Modern notes, circulated: $20–$35 for Series 1969 to 2017 (US Currency Auctions)
How to tell if your $20 bill is rare
A $20 bill is rare when it is a large-size note, a gold certificate, a 1928-series note from a scarce bank, a HAWAII overprint, a star note from a small run, or a note with a fancy serial number. Circulated $20s from Series 1969 to 2017 are worth about $20–$35 (US Currency Auctions, viewed September 25, 2026). A gold seal means a gold certificate, a brown seal with HAWAII printed on it means a wartime issue, and a green seal is a Federal Reserve Note.
The most valuable $20 notes (US Currency Auctions, viewed September 25, 2026)
Circulated range, then uncirculated:
- 1905 gold certificate (red seal): $2,000–$4,000; $12,000+
- 1906 gold certificate: $360–$800; $2,700+
- 1914 Federal Reserve Note (red seal): $400–$1,000; $2,000+
- 1922 gold certificate: $200–$700; $2,000+
- 1928 gold certificate: $160–$475; $900+
- 1928C San Francisco: $350–$1,000+; $3,500+
- 1928C Chicago: $175–$500+; $1,800+
- 1928A Kansas City: $45–$95; $275+
- 1928B Atlanta: $40–$65; $175+
- 1934 HAWAII: $75–$125+; $900+
- 1934A HAWAII: $75–$275+; $800+
- 1996 BEP Premium Set: $500+
- 2004 Designs in Motion set: $125+
Older green-seal $20s
From the same guide: 1928 to 1928B regular notes $22–$45 circulated and $70+ uncirculated; 1934 and 1934A $35–$65 and $115+; 1934B to 1934D $30–$60 and $65–$80+; 1950 to 1950E $26–$65 and $60–$125+; 1963 and 1963A $30–$45 and $60+; 1969 to 1969C $25–$35 and $55+. From Series 1974 onward circulated notes are $20–$32. So an old-looking $20 with a small portrait is usually worth a few dollars over face unless it is uncirculated, a star, or from a scarce bank.
Dating a $20 by its design
- Series 1928 to 1995: small portrait of Andrew Jackson, who has been on the note since Series 1928; microprinting and a plastic security strip were added during Series 1990 production (Wikipedia).
- Series 1996 to 2001: larger off-center portrait and colour-shifting ink, released in 1998 (Wikipedia).
- Series 2004 onward: light green and yellow background colour, released in 2003 (Wikipedia).
The planned Harriet Tubman design will not happen for now: Wikipedia reports that in July 2026 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said her portrait on the $20 is no longer planned.
How this page was made
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 its date; where a figure could not be confirmed we say so rather than estimate. If you find an error, tell us and we will correct it.
FAQ
Which $20 bills are the most valuable?
The 1905 gold certificate ($12,000+ uncirculated), 1914 red-seal notes, 1906 and 1922 gold certificates, and the 1928C San Francisco and Chicago notes (US Currency Auctions, viewed September 25, 2026).
Is my old $20 bill worth anything?
Pre-1974 green-seal $20s usually bring $22–$65 circulated; gold certificates and large-size notes bring hundreds to thousands (US Currency Auctions).
What are some rare $20 notes?
1928C Chicago and San Francisco notes, 1934 and 1934A HAWAII notes, gold certificates, star notes from small runs, and BEP premium sets.
Is a $20 star note worth more?
Only if its print run was small and it is in good condition; runs of 640,000 or fewer are generally treated as scarce (My Currency Collection). A worn star from a big run is worth $20.
More in Rare Dollar Bills: $10 and $20 Notes Worth More
Related
See what your notes are really worth.
Start with a single scan.
Have one? Scan it to see what it's worth. Free scans every day.
Sources
- uscurrencyauctions.comwww.uscurrencyauctions.com/$20-us-currency-value-price-guide.html
- Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_twenty-dollar_bill
- mycurrencycollection.comwww.mycurrencycollection.com/reference/star-notes
Compiled by the NoteLens editorial team
Every fact on this page is taken from the sources listed above; numbers and prices are copied from the source, and prices name the guide or auction and its date. Research and drafting were assisted by AI, and each claim was then checked against the cited sources. Checked 2026-09-25. We do not buy, sell or grade items; the app identifies what you photograph and points you to these references.