Fancy Serial Number Checker
Paste your bill’s 8-digit serial number and see instantly whether it matches a collectible pattern, how rare it is, and roughly what it may be worth.
Enter your bill’s 8-digit serial number above to see its rarity score, any matched patterns and an estimated value range. Nothing is uploaded. The check runs entirely in your browser.
Where to find the serial number on your bill
Every US Federal Reserve Note carries the same serial number printed twice on the front in green ink. On $1 and $2 bills, look at the upper right and lower left. On newer $5 through $100 bills, look at the upper left and lower right.
A $1 or $2 bill has one prefix letter identifying its Federal Reserve Bank. Newer $5 through $100 bills have two: a series letter and a Federal Reserve Bank letter. Then come exactly eight digits. Those eight digits are the part collectors care about, because the pattern they form is what makes a note ordinary or unusual. After the digits sits a single suffix letter, or a star. A star in place of that final letter marks a replacement note, printed to swap out a bill spoiled during production. Both printed copies always show the same characters, so it does not matter which of the two you read.
When you type a serial into the tool above, only the eight digits are scored for a pattern; the prefix, suffix and star are read for context. Where Is the Serial Number on a Dollar Bill? $1-$100 Guide
Check a $1, $10, $20 or $100 bill serial number
For a one dollar bill serial number check, enter the eight digits between its letters into the checker above. The same fancy serial number check works for $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills: you can type the digits alone or the full serial with its prefix and suffix. The tool looks for rare bill serial numbers, including repeating, mirrored, sequential and unusually low digit patterns.
A $100 bill serial number lookup or $10 dollar bill serial number lookup here checks the digit pattern in the same way as a $1 bill. The result does not depend on which denomination you hold, so compare your note’s series year, condition and denomination separately before deciding what it may be worth. Older notes can also have interesting serials, but this checker does not identify their issue history or price an individual note by year.
Checking a serial number here cannot establish whether money is counterfeit. A matching or unusual serial is a pattern result, not proof that a note was issued or is genuine.
Fancy serial number patterns
A pattern is simply an arrangement of those eight digits that stands out from a random sequence. Some are famous, like a radar that reads the same in both directions; others, like a low serial number, are prized because so few notes carry them. This fancy serial number lookup checks every pattern below at once. Each card shows a worked example, a plain definition and rough odds; several patterns have their own guide, including the binary serial number guide and the super radar serial number guide, and the radar repeater serial number guide. Explore dedicated guides for solid, trinary, seven of a kind, six of a kind, five of a kind, binary radar, bookends, and quad doubles.
- Solid
77777777Every one of the eight digits is identical.
- Rarity
- 1 in 10,000,000
- Seven of a Kind
77777771Exactly seven of the eight digits are identical.
- Rarity
- 1 in 138,889
- Six of a Kind
66666678Exactly one digit appears six times; the other two positions hold two further, different digits.
- Rarity
- 1 in 4,960
- Five of a Kind
55555123Exactly one digit appears five times across the serial.
- Rarity
- 1 in 245
- True Binary Radar
11100111Every digit is 0 or 1 and the serial is a palindrome.
- Rarity
- 1 in 7,100,000
- True Binary Repeater
11101110Every digit is 0 or 1 and the first four digits repeat as the last four.
- Rarity
- 1 in 7,100,000
- Near True Binary
10001102One digit away from an all-0/1 serial (a single non-binary digit).
- Rarity
- 1 in 5,500
- True Binary
11001010Every digit is 0 or 1.
- Rarity
- 1 in 393,701
- Radar Repeater
12211221The first four digits repeat as the last four, and that block is a radar (ABBA).
- Rarity
- 1 in 1,100,000
- Double Binary Repeater
11221122The first four digits repeat as the last four, and that block is AABB.
- Rarity
- 1 in 1,100,000
- Ladder Repeater
12341234The first four digits repeat as the last four, and that block is a four-step ladder.
- Rarity
- 1 in 7,100,000
- Trinary Repeater
12312312A three-digit cycle ABCABCAB using three distinct digits.
- Rarity
- 1 in 138,889
- Bookends Repeater
12121212A two-digit block repeats four times (ABABABAB) with two distinct digits.
- Rarity
- 1 in 1,100,000
- Binary Repeater
10011001Exactly two distinct digits, with the first four digits repeating as the last four.
- Rarity
- 1 in 140,000
- Repeater
24682468The first four digits repeat as the last four (ABCDABCD).
- Rarity
- 1 in 10,000
- Super Radar
71111117A radar whose inner six digits are all identical.
- Rarity
- 1 in 1,111,111
- Binary Radar
11222211A palindrome built from exactly two distinct digits.
- Rarity
- 1 in 158,730
- Bookends Radar
11233211A palindrome that opens and closes on a repeated pair (AABBCCAA shape).
- Rarity
- 1 in 100,000
- Radar
12344321Reads the same forwards and backwards (a palindrome).
- Rarity
- 1 in 10,000
- Double Quad
11112222Four of one digit followed by four of another (AAAABBBB).
- Rarity
- 1 in 1,000,000
- Binary Four Pairs
11331111Four adjacent pairs (AABBCCDD) built from exactly two distinct digits.
- Rarity
- 1 in 140,000
- Ladder Four Pairs
11223344Four adjacent pairs that climb by one each time (AABBCCDD, B=A+1, C=B+1, D=C+1).
- Rarity
- 1 in 1,666,667
- Four Pairs (Quad Doubles)
11557744Four adjacent repeated pairs (AABBCCDD), known to collectors as Quad Doubles.
- Rarity
- 1 in 10,000
- Bookends Binary
79997779The first two digits match the last two, and the whole serial uses only two distinct digits.
- Rarity
- 1 in 5,000
- Bookends
12456712The first two digits match the last two.
- Rarity
- 1 in 100
- Near Radar Repeater
15511557One digit away from a radar repeater.
- Rarity
- 1 in 15,400
- Near Binary Radar
32122121One digit away from a binary radar.
- Rarity
- 1 in 1,900
- Ladder
12345678All eight digits ascend or descend in sequence.
- Rarity
- 1 in 16,666,667
- Broken Ladder
12345687Contains a run of six or more sequential digits without being a full ladder.
- Rarity
- 1 in 35,286
- Binary
10101100Built from exactly two different digits.
- Rarity
- 1 in 8,749
- Trinary
11223312Built from exactly three different digits.
- Rarity
- 1 in 144
- Flipper
60000009Reads the same rotated 180 degrees; only digits 0, 1, 6, 8, 9 qualify.
- Rarity
- 1 in ~15,000
- Birthday Note
01011990The digits form a valid MMDDYYYY, DDMMYYYY or YYYYMMDD calendar date.
- Rarity
- 1 in ~275
- Low Serial (under 10)
00000007Serial value below 10 (00000001-00000009).
- Rarity
- 1 in ~11,000,000
- Low Serial (under 100)
00000042Serial value below 100.
- Rarity
- 1 in ~1,100,000
- Low Serial (under 1000)
00000500Serial value below 1000.
- Rarity
- 1 in ~111,000
- Super High Serial
99100000Serial value of 99,000,000 or above. Only $50 and $100 print blocks reach this high (they run to 99,200,000); $1 to $20 blocks top out at 96,000,000, so a note this high is a $50 or $100.
- Rarity
- 1 in ~500
- High Serial
96500000Serial value of 96,000,000 or above. That is the top of a modern $1 to $20 Federal Reserve print block; $50 and $100 blocks run a little higher, to 99,200,000.
- Rarity
- 1 in 25
What is your bill actually worth
Value depends on far more than the pattern alone. Condition is decisive: a crisp, uncirculated note can be worth many times the same note after years in a wallet. Denomination, series year, the issuing district and simple collector demand all move the price too. The table below gives recorded sale ranges by pattern and condition, each with the number of sales behind it, so you can see how firm the evidence is. Treat every band as a starting point for research, not a guarantee. Combinations with no recorded sales are left blank rather than guessed, and small samples are flagged as indicative.
If you want to check bill value by serial number, start with the pattern result and the recorded sales below, then compare notes of the same denomination, series and grade. A money serial number lookup for value cannot give an exact price from eight digits alone: many ordinary serials have no collectible premium, and a scarce pattern on a worn note may sell differently from one in crisp condition. See the fancy serial number value guide for the evidence behind the ranges.
| Pattern | Circulated | Very Fine | Uncirculated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid | $364–$1,150 · 6 sales · indicative | $1,320–$4,800 · 9 sales | $9,600–$27,600 · 5 sales · indicative |
| Low serial (under 100) | $74–$390 · 7 sales · indicative | no recorded sales | $6,169–$9,400 · 3 sales · indicative |
| Ladder | no recorded sales | $219–$1,464 · 3 sales · indicative | $1,560–$4,392 · 15 sales |
| Binary | no recorded sales | $135–$336 · 4 sales · indicative | $366–$1,920 · 11 sales |
| Super radar | $38–$500 · 5 sales · indicative | $43–$119 · 5 sales · indicative | $264–$1,020 · 9 sales |
| Radar | $11–$253 · 7 sales · indicative | $40–$432 · 4 sales · indicative | $378–$1,020 · 12 sales |
| Broken ladder | no recorded sales | $129–$372 · 5 sales · indicative | $15–$617 · 24 sales |
| Repeater | $9–$59 · 6 sales · indicative | $14–$384 · 7 sales · indicative | $432–$600 · 5 sales · indicative |
| Low serial (under 1000) | $50–$156 · 5 sales · indicative | $6–$150 · 4 sales · indicative | $69–$69 · 3 sales · indicative |
| Birthday note | $3–$60 · 10 sales | $13–$29 · 3 sales · indicative | $15–$79 · 10 sales |
No recorded sales yet for: Six of a kind, Five of a kind, True binary radar, True binary repeater, Near true binary, True binary, Radar repeater, Double binary repeater, Ladder repeater, Trinary repeater, Bookends repeater, Binary repeater, Binary radar, Bookends radar, Binary four pairs, Ladder four pairs, Four Pairs (Quad Doubles), Bookends binary, Bookends, Near radar repeater, Near binary radar, Super high serial.
Ranges reflect small samples; a higher grade can show a lower range when few sales exist.
Last updated 2026-10-05.
Bands are the range of recorded sold prices. “Indicative” marks a small sample: what has been paid, not a reliable market range. Blank combinations have no recorded sales and are left empty rather than guessed.
Does your bill have a star?
If the serial number ends in a star instead of a letter, you are holding a star note. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing prints these as replacements when a sheet is damaged or misprinted during production, and it never reissues the exact serial that was spoiled. Because far fewer star notes enter circulation than standard notes, they carry a premium in their own right, and a star note that also happens to hold a fancy pattern is doubly interesting to collectors. Print runs vary enormously: some star runs number in the millions, others only a few hundred thousand, and the smallest runs command the strongest prices. Our checker flags a star automatically as soon as it reads one in your serial.
Check value by denomination
Some questions are really about the denomination rather than the pattern. The $2 bill is the classic example: most are worth face value, but specific series, seals and star notes are worth far more, and people often want to run its serial for a pattern at the same time. If that is you, start with one of these pages. The same idea applies to other denominations as we expand the site: face value sets a floor, and pattern, condition and star status decide how far above it a bill can climb.
- $2 Bill Value Guide
What a $2 bill is worth by series, seal color and condition.
- $2 Bill Serial Number Lookup
Look up the serial number on a $2 bill and check it for fancy patterns.
How we estimate value
Our ranges are built from realised prices, not asking prices. We track results from major auction houses including Heritage Auctions and Stack’s Bowers, watch completed eBay sold listings for the middle of the market, and cross-check scarcity against BEP production reports so a pattern’s odds reflect how many notes were actually printed. Condition is mapped to PMG and PCGS grading standards so a range means the same thing from one note to the next. Where the sample of recent sales is thin, we say so through the confidence label rather than inventing a precise figure. Pattern value bands come from a September 2026 sample of Heritage Auctions and eBay sold listings, with sample sizes disclosed. Star note print runs come from 287 BEP monthly production reports, and $2 series values are compiled from a published secondary price guide. Nothing here is an offer to buy or a formal appraisal; it exists to help you research a note before you approach a dealer or an auction house.
Read the full methodology · Last updated: October 6, 2026
Common questions
What is a fancy serial number?
A fancy serial number is one whose eight digits form a recognisable pattern rather than a random string. Radars, repeaters, ladders, solids, binaries and very low numbers are all examples. Collectors pay attention to them because a memorable pattern is scarce and easy to appreciate at a glance. An ordinary note has no such structure, so it is worth face value. The tool at the top of this page reads your digits and tells you which pattern, if any, they match.
Which patterns are worth the most?
As a rule, the scarcer the pattern, the higher the ceiling. Solid serials, true ladders, super radars and single-digit low numbers sit at the top, while radars and repeaters are more common and more affordable. That said, condition and demand can outweigh rarity: a clean, uncirculated common pattern can beat a heavily worn rare one. Use the value table above to compare patterns side by side across the three condition bands.
Is this fancy serial number checker free?
Yes. This fancy serial number checker is completely free, with no account, no sign-up and no limit on how many notes you check. Everything runs in your browser, so your serial numbers are never sent to a server or stored. You can bookmark or share a result, since the serial is saved in the page address, and run as many notes as you like.
What do the digits mean versus the letters?
The letters and the digits do different jobs. The one or two prefix letters identify the series and the Federal Reserve district; the suffix letter, or star, simply continues the count within a print run. The eight digits in the middle are the serial proper, and they are the only part scored for a pattern. So when people talk about a collectible pattern, they mean those eight digits, not the surrounding letters.
My note scored highly: what should I do next?
First, handle it carefully: keep it flat and clean, ideally in a currency sleeve, because condition strongly affects value. Then confirm the pattern and look at recent sold listings for the same pattern and grade to gauge the real market. If it looks genuinely scarce, consider third-party grading from PMG or PCGS, which makes a note easier to sell and often lifts the price. Only then decide whether to hold, sell privately or consign it to auction. Photograph both sides in good light first, so you have a clear record of its condition before it changes hands.
Do star notes count as fancy?
A star note is not a pattern in itself, but it is collectible for a related reason: it is a replacement note, and fewer of them exist. A star adds to a note’s interest and can raise its value, especially from a small print run, and a star note that also carries a fancy pattern is more desirable than either feature alone. Our tool flags a star as soon as it reads one at the end of your serial.
How accurate are the value estimates?
Treat them as informed guidance, not an appraisal. Paper-money prices move with condition, demand and what happens to sell that month, so any honest figure is a range rather than a single number. We show a confidence label with every row and, where recent sales are scarce, we widen the range or mark it clearly instead of guessing. For a firm valuation, a professional grader or dealer is the right next step.
Where can I sell a note with a collectible serial?
The main routes are online marketplaces like eBay, specialist currency dealers, and auction houses such as Heritage Auctions or Stack’s Bowers for higher-value notes. Marketplaces reach the most buyers but take fees; dealers are quicker but pay wholesale; auctions suit genuinely scarce material. A currency serial number lookup and a graded holder both help buyers trust what you are selling, which usually improves the price you achieve.
All tools
- Fancy Serial Numbers on US Banknotes
What makes a dollar bill serial number fancy, the pattern types collectors chase and how to check yours.
- Radar Serial Number: Meaning, Rarity and Value
Check whether a banknote serial number is a radar, a number that reads the same forwards and backwards.
- Ladder Serial Number: Meaning, Rarity and Value
Check whether a banknote serial number is a ladder of consecutive ascending or descending digits.
- Broken Ladder Serial Number: Meaning, Odds and Value
A broken ladder has six or more digits in sequence but not all eight. See examples, odds (about 1 in 35,000), value ranges and how to check yours.
- Super Radar Serial Number on a Dollar Bill: What It Is, Rarity & Value | Banknote Expert
What is a super radar serial number on a dollar bill? Learn the definition, see examples, check the rarity odds, and find what super radar notes actually sold for.
- Radar Repeater Serial Number on a Dollar Bill: What It Is, Rarity & Value | Banknote Expert
What is a radar repeater serial number on a dollar bill? Learn the definition, see examples, check the rarity odds, and find what radar repeater notes actually sold for.
- Binary Serial Number on a Dollar Bill: What It Is, Rarity & Value | Banknote Expert
What is a binary serial number on a dollar bill? Learn the definition, see examples, check the 1 in 8,749 rarity odds, and find what binary notes actually sold for.
- Solid Serial Number on a Dollar Bill: What It Is, Rarity & Value | Banknote Expert
What is a solid serial number on a dollar bill? See real examples, detector-based odds, value factors and verified sold ranges by condition.
- Trinary Serial Number on a Dollar Bill: What It Is, Rarity & Value | Banknote Expert
What is a trinary serial number on a dollar bill? Learn the detector definition, compare true trinary and binary, see examples and check verified value data.
- Seven of a Kind Serial Number on a Dollar Bill: What It Is, Rarity & Value | Banknote Expert
What is a seven of a kind serial number on a dollar bill? Compare seven in a row, see detector-based odds, examples and verified value data.
- Six of a Kind Serial Number on a Dollar Bill: What It Is, Rarity & Value | Banknote Expert
What is a six of a kind serial number? Learn how the detector defines it, compare near solid terms, see exact odds and check value data.
- Five of a Kind Serial Number on a Dollar Bill: What It Is, Rarity & Value | Banknote Expert
What is a five of a kind serial number? See examples, compare five, six and seven repeats, check exact odds and review value factors.
- Binary Radar Serial Number on a Dollar Bill: What It Is, Rarity & Value | Banknote Expert
What is a binary radar serial number? Learn the two-digit palindrome rule, examples, exact detector odds and honest value guidance.
- Bookends Serial Number on a Dollar Bill: What It Is, Rarity & Value | Banknote Expert
What is a bookends serial number? See the site's two-digit rule, compare three-digit bookends with radar and repeater patterns, and review value evidence.
- Quad Doubles (Four Pairs) Serial Number: What It Is, Rarity & Value | Banknote Expert
What is a quad doubles serial number? Learn the AABBCCDD rule, compare it with double quad, see examples and check verified value data.
- Low Serial Number Dollar Bill: Rarity and Value
Check whether a banknote has a collectible low serial number.
- Birthday Note Dollar Bill: Meaning, Rarity and Value
Check whether a banknote serial number matches a birthday in MMDDYY or similar date formats.
- Fancy Serial Number Value Guide
How collectors price fancy serial numbers and what drives the value of a note.
- $2 Bill Serial Number Lookup
Look up the serial number on a $2 bill and check it for fancy patterns.
- Where Is the Serial Number on a Dollar Bill? $1-$100 Guide
Find serial numbers on $1, $2, $20 and $100 bills. See where they appear on the front, what the letters and star mean, and how to check the eight digits.
- Star Note Lookup
Look up US star notes and learn what the star in a serial number means for collectors.
- $2 Bill Value Guide
What a $2 bill is worth by series, seal color and condition.
- 1976 $2 Bill Value
What a 1976 $2 bill is worth, including star notes, low and fancy serials and errors.
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