Typically a remainder is the term used for unsigned, non issued obsolete bank notes. My understanding is their value is more once signed,numbered, and issued.
From my understanding, Steve is correct. The signatures, numbers and dates can make a bill that almost worthless skyrocket in price.
Let's not be so glib about value. While a remainder of a particular note may be more common than an issued example of the same note, that does not mean that all remainders are "near worthless". Some notes only exist today as remainders and those remainders can carry pretty stiff prices if the note is uncommon.
The most common remainder note is scarcer than a 1909SVD cent, 16d dime, 32d or s quarter...interest has come into to this area and prices have risen dramatically.. see EBay..but are still nowhere near the values for coins. Interest is increasing sharply and, ironically, many of the remainders have been sent to grading services and, as a result, common note have price tags much higher than low-grade notes that are much, much rarer..
