Are specific serial numbers collectible - newbie learning!

Discussion in 'Paper Money' started by veryberry917, Nov 15, 2022.

  1. veryberry917

    veryberry917 Active Member

    Hey paper currency peeps, I am new to this world as I inherited mostly coins but some paper money too. It seems that there are bills that have been saved in this collection, purely for the serial number. As you know you can't believe everything you read on the internet. I'm familiar with errors and doing research, but these bills range from $1 to $20 and it seems nothing special about them except the serial.
    Is there any serial number type, bill year or something special I can be on the lookout for as I sift through the paper currency?
    Is there a paper currency reference book, like the Red Book for coins?

    Here is an example of a $20 note that I came across = JD 67676789 B .... from my research this is a repeater and not quite a super repeater. Collecting isn't really something I'm into, but I don't want to spend any of these bills, until I get 2nd, 3rd, 4th opinions.... lol.

    Thanks for any assistance!
     
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  3. Notaphylic_C

    Notaphylic_C Well-Known Member

    Special serial numbers have really become very popular in the past 10 years. When I started collecting it took me about 10 or 15 years before I went to my first show & rarely saw a special number (other than a low #) but about 22 years ago, that changed. Then I started seeing Solid radars, 2 or 3 digit radars, Million # notes & Ladders. Later, about 10 years ago we saw "Repeater" serial numbers.

    I created a link here on my Notaphilyc Culture site to show some examples.

    Here's a list of Sites & Forum links I developed here for further reading. US Currency is one of my favourite general guides to helping understand the block# & other codes on your notes. Have fun!
     
  4. GH#75

    GH#75 Trying to get 8 hours of sleep in 4. . .

    Paper money with specific serial numbers are very sought after depending on how rare the note's serial number is. The example you have may yield a premium, but larger bills are harder to sell. And as you said, it isn't a super repeater. It's an interesting note for sure; but its value of it depends on the condition, and the buyer.
     
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  5. paddyman98

    paddyman98 I'm a professional expert in specializing! Supporter

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  6. SteveInTampa

    SteveInTampa Always Learning

    Serial number JD 67676789 B is an “Almost” note. It’s almost a repeater.
    Check out the websites on the links provided by other members to get a better idea of what qualifies as Fancy.
     
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  7. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    The serial number you listed is nice but to a collector of paper money, it’s a spender. If the number were 67676767 then it’s a 2 digit repeater or 67896789, which is a 4 digit repeater.

    Notes like 12344321 are called Radar Notes. They read the same forward and backward. There are other types of notes as well. Like ladder notes or birthday notes. Have fun doing a little research. :)
     
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  8. veryberry917

    veryberry917 Active Member

    @Notaphylic_C thanks for all the good information!
     
  9. veryberry917

    veryberry917 Active Member

    @GH#75 thank you for the info!
     
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  10. veryberry917

    veryberry917 Active Member

  11. veryberry917

    veryberry917 Active Member

    @SteveInTampa I will do just that - thank you!
     
  12. veryberry917

    veryberry917 Active Member

    @Collecting Nut darn that 80 on the end... lol Thank you for the response!
     
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  13. veryberry917

    veryberry917 Active Member

    Next question from your newbie ...... what about the seal being misaligned? Is there a rule or percentage for this potential error?
    AND
    What if the seal is the wrong color, should be green and instead is black or close to black?
    Do either of those make a note more worthy?

    PS - I will spend what I don't need to keep :)
     
  14. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    Seal alignment-we would need photos to give you the proper information.
    Seal wrong color- I can’t recall ever seeing that. It may be a different shade but that from the mix and basically normal. Again, photos are needed.
     
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  15. Hommer

    Hommer Curator of Semi Precious Coinage

    Yes there are "Contaminated Ink" errors where the wrong color ink was used or mixed into the "Fountain", I've heard it called "ink fountain contamination". Here is a bill where the black ink of the third printing is contaminated with the green ink.
    [​IMG]
    Not my bill.
     
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  16. veryberry917

    veryberry917 Active Member

    @Collecting Nut I will take photos and post in this thread later tonight.
     
  17. veryberry917

    veryberry917 Active Member

    @Hommer I will post photos in this thread later.
     
  18. veryberry917

    veryberry917 Active Member

    These 3 bills are the furthest potential print errors, but what are the boundaries? I have several more that are not that off, but off enough to notice.
     

    Attached Files:

  19. masterswimmer

    masterswimmer A Caretaker, can't take it with me

    Typically collectors will look for off center print errors that show a piece of the neighboring note on your note. Your notes don't appear to have any of the adjoining notes print on them.

    IMO, those are spenders. The thing is, if you like them, keep them. They're only $1 each. By the tone of your posts it doesn't seem like a buck here or there would affect your lifestyle. ;)
     
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  20. masterswimmer

    masterswimmer A Caretaker, can't take it with me

    Here's one I found with a simple search (not mine):

    It obviously has other errors on this printing as well.

    [​IMG]
     
  21. paddyman98

    paddyman98 I'm a professional expert in specializing! Supporter

    It has nothing to do with how they are printed but how they are cut. The notes you have were not printed individually. Paper currency is printed on a sheet then cut down. The borders may look different due to a slight miscut. Yours are within tolerance.
    Capture+_2022-11-16-03-46-51.png
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2022
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