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The Global Insight

How do you read a serial number on money?

Author

Mia Phillips

Updated on April 10, 2026

Serial number A unique combination of 11 numbers and letters appears twice on the front of each redesigned note. The first letter of the serial number corresponds to the series year (see chart). The second prefix letter identifies the Federal Reserve Bank that issued the note.

What do the numbers on a 1 dollar bill mean?

Symbol: Federal reserve district number On the front of the dollar bill, a one- or two-digit number appears four times. This number refers to the Federal Reserve Bank that printed the bill. A “1,” for instance, would mean it was made in Boston, while “2” refers to New York.

What does the star mean after the serial number on a $1 bill?

replacement note
A one dollar “star note”. The asterisks, or “stars” following the serial number indicate this is a replacement note for one that was misprinted.

Can two dollars have the same serial number?

No, each bill of the same denomination has its own unique set of serial numbers assigned by the federal reserve bank issuing them. …

What is the serial number on a US dollar bill?

For denominations $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100, the note has a letter and number designation that corresponds to one of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks. The letter of each indicator matches the second letter of the serial number on the note. For denominations $1 and $2, the note includes a seal that identifies one of the 12 Federal Reserve banks.

Where is the series number on a bill?

The plate series number, which identifies the literal engraving plate from which the note was printed, can be found once on the front of the bill in the lower right quadrant above the Federal Reserve District Number, and again on the back in the lower right corner.

What does the number mean on a one dollar bill?

It indicates which position on the plate the bill was printed—the number notes the quadrant, and the letter notes the position within that quadrant. Here’s how this would look on the plate:

What do the 13 stars on the one dollar bill mean?

The scales symbolize justice, the key means an office of authority, and the 13 stars are for the original 13 colonies. Serial Numbers: Appearing twice on the face of the bill, the serial number’s first letter will match the district number.