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Coin and Paper Money Collecting/1976 2 ollar bill missing 1 serial number

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Expert: - 11/20/2009


Question
I have a 1976 2 dollar bill missing  1 serial number in the upper right hand side and the bottom left hand side is complete. have you ever heard of this and is it worth anything? thanks.

Answer

1976 $2 Bill
Hi Keoni:

The description you give suggests it to possibly be partial obstruction error. I would be able to tell more from a photo. You don't mention if anything else other than the serial number is missing on the bill. The value would depend on the condition of the bill, as well as if it had a special or unusual serial number. Bills are printed in sheets of 32 notes and in three phases. Obverse print, reverse print, and serial numbers with seals print. In this case, another sheet of paper (or scrap sheet/partial sheet), or perhaps a sheet of printed bills, without the serial numbers, was mis-fed, and partially on top of the sheet where your bill was going through the serial number and seal printing. This sheet got the other serial number that yours was to have got. There are likely others in your group that may have been printed with a similar error.

You need to look at the bill closely. Under magnification, you should be able to see if the paper has been altered or if there are suggestions of the serial number where yours was. It would be possible to modify a regular bill with an eraser and/or bleach to remove one of the serial numbers after the bill was printed and released for circulation. You did not state the bill's condition. There are some "fake" currency errors on the market, and they are even listed on eBay. You may want to have your note authenticated, or at least looked at by a professional coin dealer. Most would offer an opinion as to authenticity and value at no charge.

Generally speaking, if authentic, your bill would have a value of approximately $50 to $75 to an interested error collector.

If you have a star note (replacement for original note damaged or not up to quality standards), it could be worth more.

Here's link for you to view different types of error currency and their values.
Link: http://www.coinsite.com/html/uscurrencyerrors.asp

You may want to check US currency listings under errors on eBay from time to time to see what this type of error brings.

Please remember to go to the experts site to rate this answer. And check the nomination box on the rating page below any comments you may have.

Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.

Ronald Fern

Expertise

I can answer most all questions relating to US coins, tokens, and currency. I'm not strong on world coins or ancients. Primary field of expertise is errors and varieties. Over 55 years experience in coin collecting. Part time dealer since 1976. Employed by McDonnell Douglas/Boeing for over 34 years as an Industrial Engineer/Technical Specialist before retiring in 2002.

Experience

Worked weekends for "Lonesome" John in the late 1960's to mid 1970's processing error coins, packaging, and preparing orders. Worked with John Devine and Fred Weinberg on several California Error A Rama's in the early 1970's. Served as display judge at annual Error-A-Rama coin shows. Opened and operated mail order coin business DBA "CAL ERRORS" in 1976. Contributer to Alan Herbert's "Official Price Guide To Mint Errors" and Fivaz/Stanton "Cherrypickers' Guide". Worked Saturdays at Huntington Beach Coin Exchange 1980-1999. Had table and sold coins at a number of coin and gun shows in So CA, AZ and NV. Sell coins, tokens and currency currently at my space in the Pomona Antique Center. Past "Errorscope" Editor. Presently CONECA Examiner.

Organizations
ANA, CONECA, CWTS, NLG

Publications
Errorscope, Numismatic News, Civil War Token Journal, Error and Variety News

Education/Credentials
AA Degree LBCC pre Engineering, 1964 BS Degree CSULB Ind Technology, 1968

Awards and Honors
1st Place EAR Trophy for Civil War Token Errors, NLG Author of Year Award for best monthly coin column "Error News and Views" in small Numismatic paper, owned and published by Ray Anthony.

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