Expert: Ronald Fern - 1/9/2011

Question
I have three $1.00 bills that are printed correctly with all information on the front of bills with sequential numbers and the back of each bill is completely blank. Can I get a rough estimate of the value if any for each bill?

Answer
Hi Regina:

Thanks for your question.

You likely have a valuable major error! A lot depends on the condition of your note as well as the date and series. The retail value of this error would likely be about $300 to $500 each to an interested collector. Most error currency collectors concentrate on the lower denomination bills, so your $1 bill errors should find homes in many paper collections. Sequential serial numbers may add an extra $100 to $300 to the series as a set of three.

Bills are printed in sheets of 36 notes and in three phases. Obverse print, reverse print, and serial numbers with seal print. It is likely one or more sheets were improperly fed during the back phase of printing. At least one or more sheets stuck together when going through the back printing operation, so the stuck together sheets did not get that side printed. The sheet(s) went through the final printing operation into the serial numbers and seal print. The sheet(s), with the error, went unnoticed during the cutting and final inspection phase. There may have been several others with a similar error like yours to "escape" into circulation.

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

You'd likely get a higher value for your note in a major coin/currency auction. I'll provide you with several sources, should you decide to take this route.

Heritage: http://currency.ha.com/common/contactus.php?ic=Tab-ContactUs-041408
Fred Weinberg: http://www.fredweinberg.com/ (personal friend)

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

Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.