How to tell what year a dollar bill was made? Being able to identify the year a dollar bill was made can be useful for collectors or just satisfy curiosity. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about determining the age of paper money.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: you can identify the year a dollar bill was printed by checking the note’s serial number and series year. All dollar bills have a serial number and series year on the front side of the note.
Understanding Series Years on Dollar Bills
What Series Years Signify
The series year printed on a dollar bill indicates the fiscal year when the bill entered circulation. For example, a series of 2017 bill entered circulation in 2017. The series year does not necessarily match the year when the bill was printed.
Series years change when there is a new U.S. Treasurer or Secretary of the Treasury appointed. The series year helps the U.S. Treasury Department keep track of shipments of new currency.
Where to Find the Series Year
The series year is printed in plain text in the top left corner on the front of a dollar bill. On newer dollar bills with larger off-center portraits, the series year appears just to the right of the portrait. Older small-sized bills have the year printed vertically on the left side.
On large-sized pre-1929 bills, the series year and seal combination appear multiple times on both sides.
Series Year Formats
Series years on dollar bills follow one of these formats:
- 1999 – A single year indicates that specific year.
- 1999A – The A indicates an additional printing in the same fiscal year.
- 2009A-2013 – A range of years separated by a hyphen indicates transition series bills printed at the change between Treasurers or Treasury Secretaries.
The most recently printed dollar bill series is 2017. Any bill with a later date is very likely to be fake or a novelty bill rather than a legal U.S. tender. Special exception commemorative $2 bills may have later series years.
Understanding when a dollar bill entered circulation based on its series year provides some insight into its age and history. Series years can also aid collectors in identifying rare and valuable dollar bills.
For example, some exceptional condition 1928 series $1 silver certificates have sold at auction for over $10,000.
Using Serial Numbers to Pinpoint the Year
The serial number on a dollar bill can be used to determine when it was printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Here’s a breakdown of how to read serial numbers to pinpoint the year:
Layout of Serial Numbers
Dollar bills have 11-digit serial numbers consisting of a series year, Federal Reserve Bank letter, plate number, and check digit. For example:
- Series year: First digit or first two digits
- Federal Reserve Bank: Letter between series year and plate number
- Plate number: Digits between series year/letter and check digit
- Check digit: The last digit used to validate the serial number
Identifying Series Year
The first digit or digits indicate the series year. Series years are on a 12-year rotation. For example:
| Series Year | Years Printed |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2009 and 2021 |
| 2 | 2010 and 2022 |
| 3 | 2011 and 2023 |
So a series year of 3 means the bill was printed in either 2011 or 2023. The only exception is series year 2009A, which was only printed in 2009.
Using Other Digits and Letters
While the series year digit(s) give you a 12-year range, the other digits and letters can help narrow down the specific year. For example, records are available of when specific Federal Reserve Bank letters and plate numbers were used.
So if a reference shows plate number 12345 was only used to print $1 bills in 2011, then a bill with that full serial number must be from 2011.
Resources like USPaperMoney.Info provide databases to look up serial number references. So combined with the series year digits, the full serial sequence can confirm whether a bill is from the earlier or later year within the 12-year range.
Identifying the specific year is rewarding for collectors. And even if you just want to know the approximate age, the series year provides a reliable 12-year window. So analyzing serial numbers can place any dollar into a decade or even a specific year it was printed.
Determining Ages for Older Dollar Bills
Pre-1950 Bills
Bills printed before 1950 can be tricky to accurately date. The best clues are often the seal color and serial number style:
- Pre-1928 bills – Green seal and serial numbers with 12 letters/digits
- 1928-1950 bills – Red seal and serial numbers with 10 letters/digits
More specific dating often requires examining details like signature combinations and seal types under magnification. This is where experienced collectors have the advantage over casual hobbyists in deciphering the history.
Gold Certificates and Silver Certificates
From the 1860s to the 1900s, Gold Certificates and Silver Certificates circulated alongside the standard Federal Reserve notes we use today. These were backed by actual deposits of gold or silver held by the government. Antiquarians get excited about finding these!
- Gold Certificates – Issued 1863-1933
- Silver Certificates – Issued 1878-1964
Some key dates, like the 1928 $2 bill Silver Certificate, sell for over $100,000 in great condition due to rarity and popularity with collectors. So checking Grandpa’s wallet for old bills could pay off big!
To learn more about valuing and selling vintage paper currency, the PCGS Banknote Grading Standards site offers an extensive reference database for collectors.
Tips for Accurately Dating Dollar Bills
Watch for Replacement Bills
The year listed on a dollar bill indicates when that design was first issued, not when the bill itself was printed. For example, the series 2017 bills feature George Washington on the front and have a back design that was first released in 2017.
However, 2017 bills could have been printed at any point since 2017. Always check the bill’s serial number and series year to determine if it’s from the original release or a replacement.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, over 90% of circulated bills are replacement notes. So if you find a 2017 series dollar bill today, odds are it was printed sometime after 2017 to replace worn-out notes.
That makes newly printed replacement bills much more common than original release prints.
Consider the Bill’s Condition
The condition of a dollar bill can provide good clues about its actual age. For example, a worn and dirty 2017 series note was likely printed closer to 2017 versus one in pristine, uncirculated condition printed more recently. Here are some things to inspect:
- Check the paper quality – thicker paper tends to indicate an older bill while thinner paper is often seen in newer prints
- Examine both sides for damage, stains, and wear – a bill that saw decades of circulation will show significantly more wear
- Feel the texture – newer bills often have crisper textures while older ones feel soft and frayed
The condition combined with the series date can give a good approximation of the bill’s age. Additionally, collectors sometimes formally grade bills on a 1-70 scale using standards from services like PCGS Currency or PMG. The higher the grade, the better a bill’s state of preservation.
The Significance of a Dollar Bill’s Age
The age of a dollar bill can reveal important historical context and provide collectors with valuable currency. Older dollar bills have more patina and tell a unique story based on the era they are from. Here are some key reasons why a dollar bill’s age matters:
Historical Significance
Older dollar bills often reflect major historical events or pivotal moments in American history. For example, Series 1928 bills feature a small “HAWAII” overprint, marking the year Hawaii’s sugar plantations began issuing their banknotes. Series 1935 bills were issued during the Great Depression.
Tracking when each dollar bill series entered circulation provides a snapshot of economic conditions and policies at that time.
Collector’s Value
The older and more pristine condition a dollar bill is in, the more valuable it tends to be for currency collectors. For example, a 1934 series $1 silver certificate in mint condition can sell for anywhere from $500 to $800.
And a rare 1928 series $1 gold certificate, with a portrait position that differs from standard 1928 bills, recently sold at auction for over $2 million!
Here’s a comparison of what different series $1 bills in perfect shape could sell for:
| Series Year | Possible Collector’s Value |
| 1928 | $800+ |
| 1934 | $500+ |
| 1963 | $3+ |
| 2013 | Face value $1 |
Quality and Condition
An older dollar won’t be worth much to collectors if it’s heavily worn and damaged. Bills that have been handled the least tend to be the most valuable. However, some light folding or short-edge tears are acceptable.
Professional grading services like PMG analyze the paper quality, centering, margins, and other variables of a bill to determine its overall condition.
So while an old dollar bill can theoretically sell for thousands based solely on its series date, its actual resale value depends enormously on its state of preservation too.
How To Tell What Year A Dollar Bill Was Made – Conclusion
As you can see, there are a few techniques for deciphering the age of dollar bills. While series years and serial numbers can pinpoint the printing year for modern money, older banknotes require some additional insight into past designs and certificates.
With this guide’s help though, you should now be able to satisfy your curiosity about any dollar bill that passes through your hands.
