Twenty Dollar Bill Star Note: $20 Star Values by Series

A star in the serial number of a $20 bill means it is a replacement note, printed to take the place of a faulty note (US Currency Auctions). On modern $20s the star comes after the serial number, as in A32741568*; on older notes it can come first (US Currency Auctions). The star is not a defect and the note spends as $20. Whether it is worth more depends on how many stars were printed in its run and on its condition.

Circulated (Fine to Extremely Fine), then uncirculated:

• 1963: $50–$80; $175+
• 1963A, 1969, 1969A: $30–$45; $90–$100+
• 1969B: $35–$75; $450+
• 1969B Kansas City or San Francisco: $125–$175; $750+
• 1969C to 1988A: $30–$45; $80+
• 1981 Minneapolis: $105–$195; $375+
• 1990 to 1999: $28–$45; $40–$50+
• 2001 to 2013: $24–$35; $35–$40+
• 2017 and 2017A: $22–$26; $30+
• 2021: $21–$24; $28+

US Currency Auctions says star notes "most always" bring a small premium, but also that a heavily worn or damaged modern star may be worth only face.

Star notes are printed in runs, and the run size decides scarcity. My Currency Collection gives the common run sizes as 320,000, 640,000, 1,280,000 and 2,560,000 notes, with 3,200,000 as the maximum, and says collectors generally treat stars from runs of 640,000 or fewer as rare enough to be worth more than face. Its $20 tables (Series 1981A to 2017A) include some very small runs:

• Series 2006, IL-1: 128,000 notes
• Series 2017A, PF-3: 160,000 notes
• Series 2013, MB-1: 320,000 notes
• Series 2017A, PB-3: 640,000 notes

The same tables mark each run as SHEET or PACK usage, and My Currency Collection says the two kinds differ in when they are used in the printing process, which significantly affects rarity. They look identical, so only a lookup tells you which you have; see star notes explained.

• Confirm the star is printed in the serial number itself, in the same ink, not stamped or drawn on.
• Read the series year on the front (for example Series 2017A).
• Note the full serial number including the star.
• Enter denomination, series and serial into the My Currency Collection star note lookup, which shows the production run; it was last updated September 4, 2026 with August 2026 production figures.
• If the run is 640,000 or smaller and the note is crisp, keep it or offer it to a currency dealer; if the run is in the millions and the note is worn, it is worth about $20.

For older series (1963 to 1988A), the table above is the better guide, because the district-listed notes are the scarce ones (US Currency Auctions). Check the bank letter with our Federal Reserve Bank letters page.

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.