Banknote Identifiers and Symbols (2024)

Each Federal Reserve note includes identifiers that provide information about the note, such as designating the year in which the note’s design was approved.

Banknote Identifiers and Symbols (1)


Serial Number

A unique combination of eleven numbers and letters appears twice on the front of the note. Each note has a unique serial number. The first letter of the serial number corresponds to the series year.

Banknote Identifiers and Symbols (2)

Year Series Letter Year Series Letter Year Series Letter
1996A 2004AG 2013M
1999B 2006H 2017N
2001C 2006I 2017AP
2003D 2009J 2021Q
2004E 2006AK
2003AF 2009AL
Year Series Letter
1996A
1999B
2001C
2003D
2003AF
2004E
2004AG
2006H
2006I
2006AK
2009J
2009AL
2013M
2017N
2017AP
2021Q

Banknote Identifiers and Symbols (3)

A “star” suffix is used to identify notes that serve as replacements during the production process. If you'd like to learn more about the U.S. currency production process, please visit https://www.bep.gov/currency/how-money-is-made.

Banknote Identifiers and Symbols (4)

Federal Reserve Indicators

For denominations $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100, the note has a letter and number designation that corresponds to one of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks. The letter of each indicator matches the second letter of the serial number on the note.

Banknote Identifiers and Symbols (5)

Banknote Identifiers and Symbols (6)

Indicator Bank Indicator Bank Indicator Bank
A1Boston E5Richmond I9Minneapolis
B2New York City F6Atlanta J10Kansas City, MO
C3Philadelphia G7Chicago K11Dallas
D4Cleveland H8St. Louis L12San Francisco
Indicator Bank
A1Boston
E5Richmond
I9Minneapolis
B2New York City
F6Atlanta
J10Kansas City, MO
C3Philadelphia
G7Chicago
K11Dallas
D4Cleveland
H8St. Louis
L12San Francisco

For denominations $1 and $2, the note includes a seal that identifies one of the 12 Federal Reserve banks.

Banknote Identifiers and Symbols (7)

Note Position Letter and Number

For denominations $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100, the note position letter and number indicates in which position on a plate a note was printed. It is a combination of one letter and one number and can be found on the front of the note.

Banknote Identifiers and Symbols (8)

In 2014, the BEP began printing $1 notes on 50-subject sheets. For these larger sheets, the note position is identified by columns and rows rather than by quadrants. Note position identifiers on the 50-subject sheet ranges from A1 – J5.

Banknote Identifiers and Symbols (9)

Please view this video to learn more about the 50-subject production change.

Face and Back Plate Numbers

The face plate and back plate numbers identify the printing plates used to print each side of the note. The face plate number is found on the face of the note and the back plate number is found on the back.

Banknote Identifiers and Symbols (10)

Federal Reserve notes printed at the Fort Worth, Texas, facility of the Bureau of Engraving & Printing include a small “FW” in front of the face-plate number.

Banknote Identifiers and Symbols (11)

Treasury Seal

A green seal to the right of the portrait represents the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The design of the seal was changed to incorporate an English inscription and appears on all Federal Reserve notes of the 1969 series year or later.

Banknote Identifiers and Symbols (12)

Series Year

The series year indicates the year in which a new design was approved by the Secretary of the Treasury, or the year in which the signature of a new secretary or treasurer was incorporated into the design. Capital letters following the series year appear when there is a significant change in the note's appearance.

Banknote Identifiers and Symbols (13)

Denomination Secretary Treasurer Series Year Serial NUmber Prefix
$20 Rubin Withrow 1996 A
$50 Rubin Withrow 1996 A
$100 Rubin Withrow 1996 A
$1 Summers Withrow 1999 *
$5 Summers Withrow 1996 B
$10 Summer Withrow 1996 B
$20 Summers Withrow 1996 B
$100 Summers Withrow 1996 B
$1 O'Neil Marin 2001 *
$5 O'Neil Marin 2001 C
$10 O'Neil Marin 2001 C
$20 O'Neil Marin 2001 C
$50 O'Neil Marin 2001 C
$100 O'Neil Marin 2001 C
$1 Snow Marin 2003 *
$2 Snow Marin 2003 *
$10 Snow Marin 2003 D
$100 Snow Marin 2003 D
$1 Snow Cabral 2003A *
$2 Snow Cabral 2003A *
$5 Snow Cabral 2003A F
$100 Snow Cabral 2003A F
$20 Snow Marin 2004 E
$50 Snow Marin 2004 E
$10 Snow Cabral 2004A G
$20 Snow Cabral 2004A G
$50 Snow Cabral 2004A G
$5 Paulson Cabral 2006 H
$100 Paulson Cabral 2006 H
$100 Paulson Cabral 2006A K
$20 Paulson Cabral 2006 I
$1 Paulson Cabral 2006 *
$5 Paulson Cabral 2006 I
$10 Paulson Cabral 2006 I
$50 Paulson Cabral 2006 I
$1 Geithner Rios 2009 *
$2 Geithner Rios 2009 *
$10 Geithner Rios 2009 J
$20 Geithner Rios 2009 J
$50 Geithner Rios 2009 J
$100 Geithner Rios 2009 J
$100 Geithner Rios 2009A L
$1 Lew Rios 2013 *
$5 Lew Rios 2013 M
$10 Lew Rios 2013 M
$20 Lew Rios 2013 M
$50 Lew Rios 2013 M
$100 Lew Rios 2013 M
$1 Mnuchin Carranza 2017 *
$10 Mnuchin Carranza 2017 N
$20 Mnuchin Carranza 2017 N
$1 Mnuchin Carranza 2017A *
$2 Mnuchin Carranza 2017A *
$5 Mnuchin Carranza 2017A P
$10 Mnuchin Carranza 2017A P
$20 Mnuchin Carranza 2017A P
$50 Mnuchin Carranza 2017A P
$100 Mnuchin Carranza 2017A P
$1 Yellen Malerba 2021 Q
$5 Yellen Malerba 2021 Q
Banknote Identifiers and Symbols (2024)

FAQs

What is the unique identifier on a banknote? ›

Serial Number

A unique combination of eleven numbers and letters appears twice on the front of the note. Each note has a unique serial number. The first letter of the serial number corresponds to the series year. A “star” suffix is used to identify notes that serve as replacements during the production process.

How do I know if my $100 dollar bill is worth money? ›

Knowing what your paper money might be worth is all in the serial number. Serial numbers are eight digits long and are unique to each bill. They are paired with other identifying letters and numbers that identify the series year the bill is from and where it was printed.

How to identify a dollar note? ›

Security Thread All genuine FRNs, except the $1 and $2, have a clear thread embedded vertically in the paper. The thread is inscribed with the denomination of the note and is visible only when held to light. Each denomination has a unique thread position and glows a different color when held to ultraviolet (UV) light.

How to tell if a $100 bill from 1977 is real? ›

For $100 bills, you may be used to checking with a marking pen. In addition, a way to verify a legitimate bill is to double check the 100 in the corner of the bill. The color change of copper/green to black on the 100 in the lower right corner will help you verify an authentic $100 bill.

How to identify a banknote? ›

If you look at a currency note, you will see a line of squares running across the middle. This line is known as a security thread. On a real note, the security thread is incorporated through the currency. Thus, to check for a fake note, you can look at this feature.

What are unique identifier codes? ›

unique identifier (UID) A unique identifier (UID) is a numeric or alphanumeric string that is associated with a single entity within a given system. UIDs make it possible to address that entity, so that it can be accessed and interacted with.

What $2 bill is worth $20,000? ›

A serial number '1' for a 1976 $2 bill would be worth $20,000 or more. But [for] a majority of those people holding 1976 $2 bills, they are only worth face value. There are very few that actually exceed face value.” Other high-value serial numbers include what collectors call “solid” or “ladders.”

How much is a 1977 $100 bill worth today? ›

How much is a 1977 $100 bill worth today? - Quora. As legal tender, it's still worth $100. Just keep in mind that it only buys about 1/5 as much as it did in 1977. If you bought an item for $100 in 1977, it would cost you $506 today.

What is the rarest $100 dollar bill? ›

1890 $100 'Watermelon' Treasury Note

Favorites among collectors, there are only 35 known examples. The government holds eight in secure locations and many others have not been on public display for many years, making those in collectors' hands among the rarest and most valuable currency notes in existence.

How do I know if my $1 dollar bill is worth anything? ›

Here are three things to look for on your bills if they are worth more than a dollar:
  1. The Series date located near the photograph of George Washington must read “Series 2013”
  2. The bill must have a “B” Federal Reserve Seal above the serial number.
Apr 28, 2024

What does the k mean on a dollar bill? ›

If you are referring to the letter K surrounded by a decorative circular pattern on the left side of the obverse (portrait) face of a bill, in the position where the B is located (red square) here: The letter K in that position indicates that the bill originated at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, TX. (

Why are 2013 dollar bills worth anything? ›

Check your $1 bills…. collectors in the United States are willing to pay up to $150,000 for rare $1 bills that feature a particular printing error * The series date located near the photograph of George Washington must read “Series 2013″ * The bill must have a “B” Federal Reserve Seal above the serial number * The ...

What does a fake 100 look like? ›

In genuine currency, both the watermark image and the portrait are the same person AND are facing in the same direction. The counterfeit $100s are facing opposite directions and are different images. The counterfeit $100 bills have the watermark of Hamilton when it should be Franklin.

Can I check the serial number on a $100 bill? ›

The serial number appears in the upper left and lower right corners. If the serial number doesn't correspond to the series, then you are dealing with a counterfeit.

What is a unique identifier in banking? ›

A bank identifier code (BIC) is a unique identifier for a specific financial institution. A BIC is composed of a 4-character bank code, 2-character country code, 2-character location code and optional 3-character branch code.

What is the watermark on a banknote used for? ›

Watermarks have been used to ensure effective document and banknote protection for centuries, and are the most well-known security feature. Major world currencies are therefore well-equipped against counterfeits – not least as the result of a recommendation from Interpol.

What is a unique identifier for a record? ›

Views: A record in an NCBI database is designated with a number, called a unique record identifier (UID), that unambiguously differentiates the record from all other records in the database.

Is a serial number a unique identifier? ›

A serial number is a unique identifier assigned to a specific product by the manufacturer. It helps to distinguish one product from another and can be used for warranty purposes or to track inventory.

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