Expert: Bruce Goldstein - 1/11/2008

Question
I found a 1963 twenty dollar bill in an bank book from my grandfather's dresser. The number is B09531004B and it is signed by Henry H Fowler. Is it worth anything besides the twenty printed on it? I also found a 1977 and 1981 twenty dollar bill along with a 1976 two dollar bill. Do these have any extra value or should I just cash them at the bank? Thanks!

Answer
The 1963 $20 bill, depending on condition can be worth between $40-$100.  If the bill is in pretty good shape (complete crisp, no folds), it might be worth more.  If it's tattered up it might be worth just $20.  The other bills could be worth a bit over face depending on condition and what 2 signatures are on the bill.  1976 $2 notes don't trade for a lot more than face, especially if already circulated.  If crisp, it could be worth $3-$4+.  I would keep all of the bills as they are all probably worth a bit more (or maybe a lot more) than face.  Ultimately, you'll either have to get good scans/pictures of the bills and place them up on an internet forum like CoinCommunity.com or bring them into a dealer for more accurate estimates.