Question 1

What is a star note?

Accepted Answer

A star note is a replacement bill printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) when a defective note is found during production. Star notes have a small star symbol (*) at the end of their serial number instead of a suffix letter. They are printed in smaller quantities than regular notes, which can make them collectible.

Question 2

How do I find the serial number on my star note?

Accepted Answer

The serial number is printed twice on the front of every US bill: once in the upper-right area and once in the lower-left area. It starts with a single letter (A through L) indicating the Federal Reserve Bank, followed by 8 digits, and ends with a star (*) symbol instead of a letter. For this lookup tool, enter the prefix letter and the 8 digits.

Question 3

What makes a star note rare or valuable?

Accepted Answer

Rarity is primarily determined by the production run size. Runs under 640,000 notes are considered very rare, while runs over 3.2 million are common. Other factors include the denomination, series year, condition, and whether the serial number is also a "fancy" number (like a low number, repeater, or radar).

Question 4

Where does the star note data come from?

Accepted Answer

Our database is compiled from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) official monthly production reports, which are public domain data published by the US Treasury. We update the data as new production reports are released.

Question 5

What do the rarity ratings mean?

Accepted Answer

Very Rare means the run size was under 640,000 notes. Rare means 640,000 to 1.28 million. Uncommon means 1.28 million to 3.2 million. Common means over 3.2 million (a standard pack run). Smaller runs are harder to find in circulation and generally more desirable to collectors.

Question 6

What is the difference between SHEET and PACK replacement notes?

Accepted Answer

SHEET star notes replace individual defective notes found during the sheet inspection process, resulting in smaller production runs. PACK star notes replace entire packs of 100 notes and are produced in larger quantities. Sheet star notes are typically rarer and more collectible since fewer are printed per run.

Question 7

My serial number wasn't found. What does that mean?

Accepted Answer

If your serial number wasn't found, it could mean the data for that specific production run hasn't been recorded yet, the serial falls in a gap between runs, or the note may not be a star note from the series you selected. Double-check the denomination, series year (printed on the front of the bill), and serial number. Our database is regularly updated with new BEP production data.

Question 8

Does a rare star note mean my bill is worth a lot of money?

Accepted Answer

Rarity is just one factor in determining value. A star note's worth also depends on its condition (uncirculated notes command premiums), the denomination, collector demand, and whether it has any additional interesting features like fancy serial numbers. A very rare star note in uncirculated condition could be worth significantly more than face value, while a common star note in circulated condition is typically worth face value.

Letter	Federal Reserve Bank	Letter	Federal Reserve Bank
A	Boston	G	Chicago
B	New York	H	St. Louis
C	Philadelphia	I	Minneapolis
D	Cleveland	J	Kansas City
E	Richmond	K	Dallas
F	Atlanta	L	San Francisco

Star Note Lookup by Serial Number

Understanding Star Note Rarity

What Are Star Notes?

How to Read Your Star Note Serial Number

SHEET vs. PACK Star Notes

Tips for Star Note Collectors

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Star Note Lookup FAQ

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