Expert: Brad Swain - 3/28/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
We have 40 US 1963B $1.00 bill w/Barr's signature.  We also have a US 1934A $500 bill Chicago Federal reserve and a US 1917 $2.00 bill red seal.  
Are any of them worth anything?
Thank you,  Linda
PS. to Brad Swain ...GO Hokies(our son graduated from tech in May)

ANSWER: Hi Linda, Collector value of a note depends on date, denomination (face value), series letter or signature and condition, including amount of wear, any folds, tears or stains as well as collector demand.
1963B $1: Even though Barr served as Treasury Secretary for only a month or so at the end of the Johnson administration, bills with his signature continued to be printed for a long time afterward so they are not particularly rare, worth up to maybe $3 if uncirculated.
1934A $500: $600-$650 with wear, $800 if uncirculated (no wear).
1917 $2: collector value may be worth about $100 with heavy wear to around $250 with moderate wear to maybe $350 with light wear.
You might try Ebay.com for similar pieces for comparison.
U.S. small size paper money values can be found here:
http://coinsite.com/html/uspapermoneyprices(sm).asp
and
http://www.bestcoin.com/U-S-Currency-FAQ-Values.htm
Brad
p.s.: VT's football season should be interesting this Fall ;-)

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi again,
Found some more paper money with a note attached.  
$1.00 bills
        1928 silver cert. without in God we trust
        1935 silver cert. without in God we trust
        1935 silver cert. with in God we trust
        1957 A& B with in God we trust
        1923 large with blue seal
$2.00 bill
        1953  no notations about it

My son and his fiance are the football fans, they keep me informed!
Linda

Answer
Hi Linda, A law passed by the 84th Congress (P.L. 84-140) and approved by the President on July 30, 1956, the President approved a Joint Resolution of the 84th Congress, declaring IN GOD WE TRUST the national motto of the United States. IN GOD WE TRUST was first used on paper money in 1957, when it appeared on the one-dollar silver certificate.
$1.00 bills
       1928 silver cert, If nor Series letter, $10-$50 with wear, $200+ if uncirculated (no wear).
       1935 silver cert, $2-$5, $12+ in the same conditions as listed above.
       1957 A & B, $1-$2, $4.
       1923 large with blue seal, if United States Note $50-$250, $800+; if Silver Certificate $20-$100, $150+.

$2.00 bill
       1953, $2-$3, $8.
You might try Ebay.com for similar pieces for comparison.
Brad