The Bureau of Engraving and Printing sells something remarkable: uncut sheets of real U.S. currency. These aren’t reproductions or souvenirs—they’re genuine legal tender that you...

When printing errors destroy currency before completion, the Federal Reserve doesn’t skip those serial numbers—it prints replacements. These star notes, identified by a star symbol...

Serial number 00000001. Seven repeating sevens. A perfect ladder from 1 to 8. These aren’t random combinations—they’re “fancy

Look at the serial number on any bill in your wallet. If it ends with a star instead of a letter, you’re holding a replacement...

A printing press hiccup. A momentary paper jam. A die that slipped sideways. These manufacturing mistakes created some of the most valuable paper money in...

During the Civil War, coins vanished from circulation as Americans hoarded metal. The government responded with something unprecedented: paper money worth less than a dollar....

Between 1863 and 1935, over 14,000 American banks printed their own paper money. These National Bank Notes carry the names of issuing institutions—from major city...

When America’s currency was backed by gold sitting in Treasury vaults, Gold Certificates served as convenient substitutes for heavy coins. Today, these notes represent a...

For nearly a century, Americans could exchange paper money for actual silver coins at any bank. Silver Certificates represented real metal sitting in Treasury vaults—a...

The bills in your wallet are Federal Reserve Notes—the dominant form of American currency since 1914. Understanding these notes transforms them from mere spending money...