Most people barely notice the $1 bills they carry around each day. With prices rising, a single dollar doesn’t buy much anymore, so it’s easy to overlook.
However, collectors say it’s worth taking a closer look at the serial numbers printed on those bills. Some specific patterns are considered rare, and certain collectors are willing to pay far more than one dollar to get them.
These valuable patterns are known as “fancy serial numbers.” They stand out because the digits follow unusual or hard-to-find sequences. A well-known collector website regularly buys $1 bills with these patterns and pays substantial amounts for them, depending on how rare the serial numbers are. Even bills that look old or wrinkled can be valuable if the serial number is unusual enough.