My first star note found in the wild!

[coincrazy]

I've been on the lookout for stars since hearing of them a few years ago. Found my first wild one today.

$20 Series 2006 circulated with 1 fold down the middle.

IG03423281*

FW C 36

Seems there are about 3.2 Million out there from what I found online.

Any other details?

[BOHICA]

Cool! I got my first $2 Star Note last week in a bunch that I picked up from the local coin shop. I now have $1, $2, $5, $10 & $20 Star Notes. Now I just need the $50 & $100.

[AGgressive Metal]

I find about one a month - you'll see lots of them if you pay attention to every note! If you really want to find some, go to your bank and get a couple $100 stacks of one dollar bills!

[Chaboo]

Ok, newbie on this topic, so please help me out - I take it there's a star at the end of the serial number?? ..and they're worth more??

Thanks!

[Copper Catcher]

Star notes are used by the BEP (Bureau of Engraving and Printing) to replace misprinted/damaged currency before it goes into circulation. These replacement notes are printed just like normal notes, except there is a star printed in the serial number. On Federal Reserve Notes, the star is where the block letter normally is (the last letter of the serial number). On Legal Tender notes and Silver Certificates, the star is where the prefix normally is (the first letter of the serial number).

Print Runs
Star notes are printed in what are called "runs." For the current printing systems used by the BEP, the maximum run size for star notes is 3.2 million notes (100,000 32-note sheets). Sometimes, this many notes are not needed, in which case less are printed. If a partial run is printed, the next run will start at the next closest multiple of 3.2 million. Star notes get their rarity from the quantity printed and released into circulation. Generally, collectors consider runs of 640,000 notes or less to be rare. Many times, collectors refer to star notes by their run number. This is determined by the number range that the star note's serial number fits into. Here are the ranges for the run numbers:

Print Run Ranges
1 - 0000 0001 - 0320 0000
2 - 0320 0001 - 0640 0000
3 - 0640 0001 - 0960 0000
4 - 0960 0001 - 1280 0000
5 - 1280 0001 - 1600 0000
6 - 1600 0001 - 1920 0000
7 - 1920 0001 - 2240 0000
8 - 2240 0001 - 2560 0000
9 - 2560 0001 - 2880 0000
10 - 2880 0001 - 3200 0000
and so on... (modern star notes are rarely printed past the sixth run)

Two types of star notes

Regular Notes
These star notes are more common than sheet notes - the are printed in greater quantity. They are printed, cut, and put into straps, just like regular currency. If a strap of cut notes are found to have a damaged/misprinted note, the strap is destroyed and replaced with a strap of these star notes. This makes it possible to find multiple of these star notes at a time.

Sheet Notes
These are the rarer of the two types of star notes. They tend to be printed in quantities of 640,000 notes or less. If a sheet of damaged/misprinted notes are discovered before the cutting process, it is replaced with a sheet of stars. This means it is extremely unlikely to find more than two of these notes at a time.

Determining rarity
If you want to find the rarity of a star note, you need to find the production values for that run and FRB. I have two references on my site for series 1976 to the present - the Star Note Lookup and production tables. For information on older star notes, check out USPaperMoney.info or Standard Guide to Small-Size U.S. Paper Money by Schwartz/Lindquist

Source: http://mycurrencycollection.com/reference/stars/

Go to the above link to see the production tables... very interersting.

[uthminsta]

If you really want to find some, go to your bank and get a couple $100 stacks of one dollar bills!

This is exactly what I did on my internship. I got $100 a week spending allowance, and I went to the bank each week and got $100 in one dollar bills. Sorted through them, and usually got something worth keeping. There was also a local coin shop that gave a discount if you paid in "four-of-a-kind" serial numbered bills. They had a huge stack of them.

[Chaboo]

Very informative response, thank you!

[twentybux]

Thanks Copper. You just me more knowledge to chew on!

[ed_vantage17]

Everything you wanted to know about US fiat currency but were afraid to ask can be found at www.uspapermoney.info

Even charts going back to 1976 that tell you the month and year any note was printed.

[Mossy]

Okay, I have a $20 star, 2009, jb00911653* but cannot see how to read the tables. Is it worth anything?

[ed_vantage17]

The charts on uspapermoney,info don't give value, just a lot of information about production and such. Since it is folded and from a fairly large run (3.2 million) made in Jan 2010 it's worth $20. If it was from a short run (like 320,000) it could be worth maybe 1.5 FV if it was in crisp, uncirculated condition. Other factors are cool or really low (like 00000XXX) serial numbers.

[Mossy]

Thanks, Ed. I'm going to have to start looking as they are counted out, then.

[jasmatk]

got a 1 dollar star note the other day but it was so ratty I spent it.

[jasmatk]

got another $1 star note today not as bad as the last one but not worth keeping