$1 Bill : In a world where millions of $1 bills are printed each day, it might seem impossible for a single one to stand out. But one homeowner’s accidental discovery of a misprinted dollar bill turned into an extraordinary payday — thanks to a tiny error that the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing overlooked. That rare note, once tucked away in a drawer, ended up being worth a staggering $200,000.
The Birth of a Rare Misprint
The bill in question belongs to an elusive group known as “duplicated serial number” bills. In 2014 and again in 2016, the U.S. government mistakenly printed two separate batches of $1 bills — 6.4 million notes each — with the exact same serial numbers and series year, violating a fundamental rule in currency printing: each bill must have a unique serial number.
These misprints, officially categorized under Series 2013, were printed at two different facilities — one in Washington, D.C., and the other in Fort Worth, Texas. Due to an internal miscommunication, both locations printed notes with overlapping serial ranges, effectively creating identical twins in the currency system. At first, no one noticed.
The $200,000 Windfall
Fast-forward a few years, when a sharp-eyed collector stumbled upon a $1 bill with a serial number that matched another he’d seen online. After intense scrutiny and authentication, it was confirmed: he held one of the infamous “duplicate pair” bills.
Once word spread in the numismatic community, collectors around the world began hunting for matching bills. One homeowner, who had casually kept a strange-looking $1 bill in a shoebox, matched it with its long-lost twin. The rarity of finding both halves of a duplicated pair — especially since they were dispersed randomly into circulation — meant the pair’s value skyrocketed.
A private collector ultimately paid $200,000 for the matched pair, setting a record and shining a light on one of the most intriguing printing errors in U.S. currency history.
Still Out There — And Possibly in Your Wallet
What’s even more remarkable? Most of these bills are still out there. As of 2025, collectors estimate that fewer than 50 duplicate pairs have been matched. That means millions of these flawed $1 bills could still be sitting unnoticed in wallets, cash registers, or old drawers.
To identify one, check the lower left and upper right serial numbers for:
- Series year: 2013
- Federal Reserve Bank identifier “B” (New York)
- Serial number range: B00000001★ to B00250000★ or B03200001★ to B09600000★
- A small star at the end of the serial number
Even a single note from these batches can be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars. But if you find a matching pair? You might be holding a six-figure ticket to fortune.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs..)
Q1: What is the $1 bill printing error that made headlines?
A: It’s a rare case of duplicated serial numbers. Two separate batches of $1 bills were printed with identical serial numbers, series year (2013), and Federal Reserve identifiers — something that should never happen in U.S. currency printing.
Q2: How did this error occur?
A: Due to a communication lapse between the Bureau of Engraving and Printing facilities in Washington, D.C., and Fort Worth, Texas, both locations printed millions of $1 bills with overlapping serial numbers without realizing it.
Q3: How many misprinted $1 bills were released into circulation?
A: A total of 12.8 million misprinted $1 bills were released — 6.4 million from each facility.
Final Thoughts
In a time where digital currency reigns supreme, it’s astonishing to think a simple $1 bill — mass-produced and nearly forgotten — could hold such immense value. This story serves as a reminder: keep your eyes open, even for the smallest details. One tiny printing error might just make you a small fortune.
So next time you receive change, take a second look. The next rare treasure could be right in the palm of your hand.