Dollar Bill Frequently Asked Questions
Get straightforward answers to common US currency questions. Learn about portraits, security features, collector values, and authentication methods for every denomination.
Last reviewed on July 25, 2026.
Who is on the 50 dollar bill?
Ulysses S. Grant, 18th US President and Civil War general, appears on the $50 bill. The reverse features the US Capitol building. Current series include enhanced security features like color-shifting ink and a security thread visible under UV light.
Who is on the 10 dollar bill?
Alexander Hamilton, first Secretary of the Treasury and founding father, remains on the $10 bill in 2026. The US Treasury Building adorns the reverse. Hamilton is one of only two non-presidents on current US currency (along with Benjamin Franklin).
Who is on the $1,000 dollar bill?
Grover Cleveland, the only president to serve non-consecutive terms (22nd and 24th), appears on the $1,000 bill. Last printed in 1945, these notes now trade for $3,000-$30,000+ in 2026, depending on condition and series.
Is there a 500 dollar bill?
Yes, the $500 bill exists and features William McKinley, 25th US President. Though withdrawn from circulation in 1969, it remains legal tender. Collectors value these notes far above face: circulated examples reach four figures and better ones go well beyond, depending on series and grade.
How long is a dollar bill?
All modern US dollar bills measure exactly 6.14 inches long by 2.61 inches wide (156 mm × 66.3 mm). This standardization since 1929 allows for efficient processing in ATMs, vending machines, and counting equipment.
What is a 3 dollar bill?
The US has never issued a federal $3 bill, making "as fake as a three-dollar bill" a popular idiom for something fraudulent. While some states issued $3 notes before the Civil War, no federal version exists. Novelty $3 bills sold today are souvenirs, not legal tender.
What is a star note?
A star note is a Federal Reserve replacement note printed when a regular note is rejected during quality control. The serial number ends with a star symbol instead of a letter. Star notes are common, but specific short print runs can be scarce and command premiums. See our star note guide for how to read run lengths.
How do I read a dollar bill serial number?
Modern US serials follow the pattern: prefix letter (Federal Reserve district), series letter, eight digits, and a suffix character. The prefix letter ranges from A (Boston) to L (San Francisco). Our serial number guide includes the full district table and the "fancy" patterns collectors look for.
What do I do with a damaged dollar bill?
If the bill is worn but still clearly identifiable, your bank can swap it for a fresh note. If it's seriously mutilated — burned, crumbling, or fragmented — file a claim with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's Mutilated Currency Division. Our mutilated currency guide walks through both routes and how to package a claim.
How do I start collecting US paper money?
Pick a focus first — one denomination, one series, one Federal Reserve district, or one type of fancy serial. Then buy archival storage, learn condition language, and start with inexpensive examples while you build experience. Our beginner's guide to collecting covers the first six months in more detail.
How can I tell if a bill is fake?
Use feel, tilt, check. Feel for the raised intaglio printing on the portrait, tilt the note to see the colour-shifting numeral (on $10 and higher), and hold it to the light for the watermark and embedded security thread (on $5 and higher). Note that the $1 and $2 have no watermark, thread or colour-shifting ink at all — for those, judge the paper, the raised print and the embedded red and blue fibres. Our counterfeit detection guide has the full feature table by denomination.
I found an old $1 bill with a blue seal. What is it?
That is a silver certificate. It was once redeemable for silver, but that right ended in 1968 — it is now ordinary legal tender at face value plus whatever collectors will pay. The common 1935 and 1957 series are worth a small premium in circulated condition, though star notes, uncirculated examples and the 1935A experimental R and S overprints are worth considerably more. See the silver certificate guide.
How much is my old bill worth?
Condition usually matters more than age. Identify the note precisely first — denomination, series year and letter, seal colour, star or no star — then grade the condition honestly using our grading guide, and finally search completed auction sales for that exact combination. Ignore asking prices; only completed sales show what buyers actually pay. Do not clean, press or flatten the note, as all three reduce its value.