collecting star notes in general

today i decided to check my drawer at the bank for star notes, and i found two:

2006 $5 IF01936585*
2006 $20 IF06002358*

both are in pretty decent shape, except the $20 has some ink stains across the top edge. i've never collected paper money until fairly recently, and from the research i've done on star notes, these are generally not too collectible due to their serial numbers not being really low and the bills having seen some light circulation.

i guess my question is, at what point do these bills become collectible? would it be worth it to take them down to the coin dealers, or are they only worth face value at this point? and, more generally speaking, is there a good rule of thumb in determining the approximate value of such a note?

 

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Too bad your Atlanta $20 isn't from the 320k run... It is from a much higher run.. Your $5 is fairly common, but I keep all star notes I get anyways. I have found 3 or 4 examples of the $5 you have through my strap searching. I have 2 examples of Atlanta $20 *'s 2006, but they are all from a MUCH lower print run than yours. If you can afford to keep these, I would. If you are however looking for rarer ones with lower printing figures and maybe even in better shape, I'd keep those and upgrade them everytime you see something better. Ya know, switch them out for better rarer nicer ones. Check out this website to know if your notes are from rare print runs or not. I would say star notes begin to become on the "rare" side or the low print run side 640k run or lower. Both of your notes are from print runs of 3,200,000, which as you know is high compared to 640,000. Oh and your bills are not worth anything over face. I missed your last part about taking them down to a dealer. They will not offer you a penny over face, sorry. Like you said, they have to be UNC and usually low serial numbers or low print runs to be over face yet, or just be old. Spend them if you are not going to keep them for years..

http://mycurrencycollection.com/reference/stars/lookup.php

 

Personally, I collect every star note I can afford to keep. Since they don't have any precious metals involved, a dealer is rarely going to give you the best price on your drawer finds. They have to make a profit to stay in business. I'd wait to sell them until I had at least ten or so - unless you're pulling uncirculated notes from your drawer. Of course, that's just my opinion...I'm sure others who have a much larger collection of notes would pipe in with some more detailed advice...

Why don't you give listing them on here a shot? Just a thought - free, no fees...free...etc.

 

i had assumed they weren't going to have any premium, but i've never really known much about these bills until the conversation came up yesterday with another teller up here. i never looked for them until this morning, and already managed to find two, so i think i'll keep looking until something better comes along.

the reason the conversation came up yesterday is because i asked if anyone had ever seen one of these star notes, and the one teller told me she once sold a full $100 worth of singles straight from the mint, all sequential star notes. i kinda drooled, then decided it was worth it to check my drawer from now on.

 

Yeah, an entire pack of sequential $100 *'s would be something . Still, thats too much to set aside (because I personally collect as a hobby, not sell as a dealer). I would grab 2 or 3 sequentials and sell the rest. $100's are amoungst the least appreciated denomination in the US paper currency collecting world, but I still do collect them. There are many more people who don't collect $100's than do, trust me.

There is one more thing you could look out for. Old bills. Specifically, if your looking to make a profit, look for any bills the '60s and earlier. If you are trying to collect them, I'd grab all bills 1995 and earlier though. So it does depend on what your intentions are with them but that is just an idea for something else you can look for.

 

i've only started collecting bills this morning with the discovery of the star notes, so i haven't given too much thought to what direction i'll take this.

however, i did just take in another star note from a customer:

2009 $20 JD 00136389*

this one looks nice too. it looks like it was folded in half maybe once, and is in otherwise great shape.

 

This link will show date printed and quantity http://www.uspapermoney.info/serials/f2009_v.html
Most modern-era star notes are considerably more valuable in uncirculated condition, although some buyers on eBay will pay more than face value for just about anything you put in front of them. Packs (100) of $1 star notes are a mainstay in auctions selling from $130.00 and up, and individually for $3.00 and up. Low numbers, radars, ladders, repeaters, and solids add to their value. It's anyone's guess which series and denomination will command the highest premium 20 years from now.

 

I would deffinately keep that. 640k run! The first 'J' of the serial number stands for Series 2009 while the second letter 'D' stands for Cleveland, Ohio Federal Reserve Bank District. Good for you!

 

My guess would be the big heads; specifically $10's, $20's, & $50's because so little of them were produced. What do you think?

 

i think i'll hang on to the last one too.

i also found a 2006 $1 F 05417628* that's pretty beat up. it's not a keeper, but that makes four on the day. i didn't realize these were actually that available in circulation!

 

Very cool! I work with alot of $ a week aswell and I pull all the uncirc for sure, then the others from the lower runs or fancy serial numbers. Have fun!

 

Sounds like you're on the right track for the stars. Myself, I keep all stars I find unless they're missing pieces or look like they've been through the press one too many times.

Have to admit that it gets addicting though....

 

from what i have learned about star notes, i would think this thread has some really nice examples shown by many members here.
i learned a great deal from this posting and realize just how hard some of these are to locate. i admire what you collectors have done and this is a qualified learning tool along with some sites you all have been providing links to.
http://www.cointalk.com/t176954/

JAF

 

found a few more star notes today, including a $50 that i couldn't afford, and a few $1's that i did take home, including a 2009 A00410176 that's almost perfect. i also snatched up a 1963A $20 note that's in amazingly good condition, especially for coming out of circulation.

i can see how this could become an expensive habit real quick.

 

Im five years in with this till im workin with! It adds up.

 

I'd love to find an '09 Boston $1 star. I've been looking for one of those.

Anyway, with star notes, I usually only keep ones found in circ that are either from a low run (640K, or less) or are not heavily circulated, if they happen to be from the larger 3.2 mil note runs.

Sounds like you've found some great stuff! Good luck with your searching.

 

I have yet to see a Boston either, but I really do want one. I've only come accross one 2009 $1 star here on the West Coast, it was a NY. It actually had an interesting serial number too. Anyways, have good luck finding your Boston. I'll let you know if I ever see one.

 

A sample from run #1 (640,000)



A sample from run #2 (3,200,000)

 

I'm assuming you just purchased those GEM condition. I sure wish my budget called for stuff like that, but instead I'm stuck withdrawling all my cash out $1's in between paying bills and stuff and seeing what I can get out of that. Plus, its just straight fun looking for special bills, along with the possibility of find that very rare error bill. Also, when doing so I now have an entire bank of tellers who search for me, so it enabled me to become good friends with them. I go down there at minimum once every 2 weeks, and I have yet to get skunked.

 

Very cool. I go to the bank twice a week to get straps haha. I've recently found an error star note, you can search thru my posts to find it. Very very cool to find that in circ. Was even a cool serial to me. Happy hunting!