Expert: Ronald Fern - 12/18/2010

Question
I have 5 dollar bills-series 1985 that are all in sequence 71,72,73,74,75. Number 72 has no green ink on the portrait side, so there is no serial number on it. I found this when running these through a money counter years ago. What would be a value?

Answer
Hi Susan:

Thanks for the question.

Bills are printed in sheets of 36 notes and in three phases. Reverse print, obverse print, and serial numbers with seal print. From the description, it sounds like one of the more "scarcer" error notes. It seems two printing operations may have been missed and went through unnoticed to the inspection process. It could be two sheets also stuck together after the back printing operation. This double sheet then only got the face printing and serial numbers and seal print, while the stuck together sheet went through with nothing. They were likely still together during the cutting operation, and may have even been stacked in their bundle of 100 still stuck together. There may have been several others with a similar error like yours to "escape" into circulation.

The condition is very important in establishing the value of a note. A bill in crisp Uncirculated condition like yours would have a retail value of approximately $400 to $800 to an interested error collector. Consecutive serial numbers may add as much as 33% to 50% to the over all value of the error note. The group would likely bring a retail value of $500 to $1200 to an interested collector. Circulated notes would be worth less.

Here's a link for currency grading: http://www.cganotes.com/

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 error notes on eBay from time to time to see if your error is listed what this type of error note brings.

Always try and get at least two opinions and try and deal with PNG dealers if possible. If you should decide to sell your bills to a dealer, remember they will offer about 50% to 60% of the retail value. Here's a link to find one in your area: http://www.pngdealers.com/dealersearch.php

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Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.