Banknote Identifiers and Symbols (2024)

FAQs

How much is a $100 bill from 1985 worth today? ›

Most 1985 series $100 star notes are worth around $200 in extremely fine condition. In uncirculated condition the value is around $425 for notes with an MS 63 grade. Star notes issued from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York are more valuable. Each note is worth around $300 in extremely fine condition.

Serial numbers

“A serial number '1' for a 1976 $2 bill would be worth $20,000 or more. But [for] a majority of those people holding 1976 $2 bills, they are only worth face value. There are very few that actually exceed face value.”

$100 Series of 1981 notes are not particularly valuable unless you have a Richmond (E) star (*) serial number, the rest of them have to be Gem ChCU to approach the twice face value (approximately).

Knowing what your paper money might be worth is all in the serial number. Serial numbers are eight digits long and are unique to each bill. They are paired with other identifying letters and numbers that identify the series year the bill is from and where it was printed.

As of 2021 , a 1977 $ 100 bill is still worth its face value of $ 100 . However , due to inflation , its purchasing power has significantly decreased over the years . In fact , according to the US Inflation Calculator , $ 100 in 1977 is equivalent to approximately $ 433.50 in 2021 .

Issued 1990 - 1996

All U.S. currency remains legal tender, regardless of when it was issued.

If your $2 bill dates back to 1886 and has a red seal with a silver certificate, you're in luck. That bill is worth $4,500. A number of other iterations of the $2 bills with a red seal can also fetch well over a $1,000. Bills with brown seals are also very valuable.

A well-worn 1957 $1 Silver Certificate that isn't graded by PCGS Banknote but has no rips, tears, or stains is usually worth around $1.50 to $2. Heavily worn 1957 $1 bills, such as those that are rag-like in appearance, are discolored, and/or have handwriting are generally worth only face value.

If the $2 bill was minted and printed before 1976, it would likely be worth more than its face value on the collectibles market. In some cases, it might be worth only $2.25. The highest value is $4,500 or more for uncirculated notes from 1890, although most of those bills range in value from $550 to $2,500.

That kind of prize is reserved only for the fanciest of serial numbers, like 00000001. But solids, like 88888888, are also highly prized, as are sequentially numbered “ladders,” like 87654321. Other coveted fancy serial numbers include: Repeaters (36643664)

Do banks accept old 100 bills? ›

It is U.S. government policy that all designs of Federal Reserve notes remain legal tender, or legally valid for payments, regardless of when they were issued. This policy includes all denominations of Federal Reserve notes, from 1914 to present as per 31 U.S.C.

Commonly known as "Watermelon Notes," the 1890 $100 Treasury Notes are always a favorite of collectors. Their nickname comes from the large distinctive zeros found on the back of the note that bear an unmistakable resemblance to the fruit.

Security Thread

Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the left of the portrait. The thread is imprinted with the letters USA and the numeral 100 in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note. The thread glows pink when illuminated by ultraviolet light.

Most of the $100 bills that sell for five figures, six figures or more are vintage currency from the pre-1914 era when bills became Benjamins. But plenty of C-notes from the modern era can also be worth big money — and they usually derive their value from their serial numbers.

Value of $1 from 1985 to 2018

$1 in 1985 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $2.12 in 2018, an increase of $1.12 over 33 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 2.30% per year between 1985 and 2018, producing a cumulative price increase of 111.80%.

It is U.S. government policy that all designs of Federal Reserve notes remain legal tender, or legally valid for payments, regardless of when they were issued. This policy includes all denominations of Federal Reserve notes, from 1914 to present as per 31 U.S.C.

Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the left of the portrait. The thread is imprinted with the letters USA and the numeral 100 in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note. The thread glows pink when illuminated by ultraviolet light.