Dollar Bill With Star At The End Of Serial Number
Have you ever looked at a dollar bill and noticed a small star at the end of the serial number? If so, you may have wondered what it means. The star at the end of a serial number on a dollar bill is a special symbol that indicates the bill is a replacement note.
What is a Replacement Note?
Replacement notes are used by the United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) to replace damaged or misprinted currency before it enters circulation. These notes are marked with a star at the end of the serial number to indicate that they are a replacement for a damaged note with the same serial number.
The BEP uses replacement notes to maintain the integrity of the currency and to prevent counterfeiting. By replacing damaged or misprinted notes with new ones, the BEP ensures that there are no duplicate serial numbers in circulation.
How are Replacement Notes Made?
Replacement notes are made using the same process as regular currency. However, they are printed in smaller quantities and are held in reserve to be used as needed.
When a damaged or misprinted note is discovered during the printing process, it is removed from circulation and replaced with a new note with the same serial number. The replaced note is then destroyed to prevent it from entering circulation.
How to Identify a Replacement Note?
Identifying a replacement note is easy. Look for a star at the end of the serial number on the front of the bill. The serial number on a replacement note will have a star where the suffix letter would normally be.
For example, if the serial number on a regular note ends with the letter "B", the serial number on a replacement note with the same number would end with a star followed by the letter "B".
Are Replacement Notes Valuable?
Replacement notes are not necessarily more valuable than regular notes. However, some collectors may be interested in them because of their rarity.
Since replacement notes are printed in smaller quantities than regular notes, they are less common in circulation. This makes them more difficult to find, which can make them more valuable to collectors.
Conclusion
The star at the end of the serial number on a dollar bill is a symbol that indicates the bill is a replacement note. Replacement notes are used by the BEP to replace damaged or misprinted currency before it enters circulation. Identifying a replacement note is easy, simply look for the star at the end of the serial number. Although replacement notes are not necessarily more valuable than regular notes, they may be of interest to collectors because of their rarity.