What do the letters on bills mean?

The letter (A-L) indicates which Federal Reserve Bank issued the note: A=Boston, B=New York, C=Philadelphia, D=Cleveland, E=Richmond, F=Atlanta, G=Chicago, H=St. Louis, I=Minneapolis, J=Kansas City, K=Dallas, L=San Francisco.

Are any Federal Reserve Notes valuable?

1914 large-size FRNs ($50-$1,000+), 1928 first series ($15-$100+ over face), high denominations ($500+ bills), Hawaii overprints, low print run star notes, and fancy serial numbers can all be valuable. Most modern FRNs are face value only.

Why are some districts' notes rarer?

Smaller districts like Minneapolis (I) and Kansas City (J) print fewer notes, making their star notes scarcer. This affects collector value, especially for low print run series.

Published: March 23, 2026

Value Guide

Understanding Federal Reserve Notes

Scan green seal bills to learn about Federal Reserve Notes and their features.

What Are Federal Reserve Notes?

Federal Reserve Notes (FRNs) are the standard U.S. currency used today. First issued in 1914, they're identifiable by their green Treasury seal. Unlike earlier currency types backed by gold or silver, FRNs are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

US Currency Education Program Currency security features Silver certificate comparison

Green Seal

All Federal Reserve Notes have a green Treasury seal.

Since 1914

FRNs have been issued continuously for over 110 years.

12 Districts

Issued by 12 Federal Reserve Banks across the country.

Dominant Currency

Virtually all circulating U.S. paper money today is FRNs.

The 12 Federal Reserve Districts

Each Federal Reserve Note is issued by one of 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks, identified by a letter and number on the bill:

Star note lookup by district Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Letter	Number	City	Notes
A	1	Boston	Covers New England
B	2	New York	Largest district by volume
C	3	Philadelphia	Mid-Atlantic region
D	4	Cleveland	Ohio and parts of KY, PA, WV
E	5	Richmond	Southeast coast
F	6	Atlanta	Deep South and Florida
G	7	Chicago	Upper Midwest
H	8	St. Louis	Central states
I	9	Minneapolis	Northern Plains
J	10	Kansas City	Great Plains
K	11	Dallas	Texas and Southwest
L	12	San Francisco	West Coast, Hawaii, Alaska

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Federal Reserve Note Types

FRNs have evolved significantly since 1914:

Large size currency guide Old money value guide

Large-Size (1914-1928)

'Horse blankets' about 40% larger than today. Worth $50-$500+.

Small-Size (1928-Present)

Modern dimensions. Early series have collector premiums.

High Denominations

$500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000 FRNs exist but are rare.

Modern Design

Large portraits, color, and security features since 1996.

Valuable Federal Reserve Notes

While most FRNs are worth face value, certain types command collector premiums:

Star notes explained Fancy serial numbers guide Rare dollar bills worth money

1914 Large-Size

First FRNs issued. Worth $50-$1,000+ depending on denomination.

1928 First Small-Size

First small FRNs. Worth $15-$100+ above face for most denominations.

Hawaii Overprints

WWII emergency issue. Worth $15-$300 depending on denomination.

High Denominations

$500-$10,000 bills are rare and valuable ($600-$200,000+).

Star Notes

Low print run star notes can add $5-$500 to value.

Fancy Serials

Solid numbers, ladders, radars add significant value.

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How to Read Your FRN

Every Federal Reserve Note contains information about when and where it was printed:

Serial number patterns guide Bureau of Engraving and Printing What is a star note?

District Letter/Number

On front face, indicates issuing Federal Reserve Bank.

Series Year

Near portrait, shows when design was authorized (not print date).

Serial Number

Unique 8-digit number. Letter prefix indicates district.

Treasurer/Secretary

Signatures on front right. Changed with new appointees.

Fort Worth Mark

'FW' near serial = printed at Fort Worth facility.

Features

How CashScan Helps With Reserve Notes

District Identification

Identify which of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks issued your note.

Series Recognition

Identify series years from 1914 to present.

Signature Combinations

Learn about Treasury signatures on your bills.

Star Note Detection

Find Federal Reserve star notes worth premiums.

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FAQ

Identify Federal Reserve Notes FAQ

Federal Reserve Notes (green seal) are the standard U.S. currency since 1914. They're issued by the 12 Federal Reserve Banks and backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. All modern U.S. paper money is FRNs.