When is a dollar worth much more than a dollar? When can a mistake make something worth much more? What gets more valuable with age? Numismatic experts love to discuss these questions!
When most people consider the value of paper money, they take a quick look at the face value. (The face value is the value printed on the money itself.) A numismatic expert takes a much closer look!
Becoming a numismatic expert requires attention to details. There are many words, pictures and numbers on each dollar bill. One thing a numismatic expert will consider when looking at paper money is the type of currency (货币). At the top of most U.S. dollars, you will see the words Federal Reserve Note. On a very small number of bills, you may see the words Silver Certificate. Before 1968, a Silver Certificate could be changed for silver. So don't spend that bill because it is probably worth more than a dollar.
Next, a numismatic expert is likely to take a look at the serial numbers on the bill. The serial number is printed both on the bottom left and on the upper right of most U.S. dollars. If the serial numbers do not match, the dollar bill is worth much more than a dollar. Bills with certain serial numbers are also likely to be worth more than their face value. For example, a bill with a repeating serial number, such as 5555555 is in high demand. This makes it worth much more than a dollar. A bill with an asterisk (*) before the serial number notes that there was an error before production of the bill. This asterisk often makes the bill more valuable.
If any of the numbers or pictures on a dollar bill are shifted, not printed exactly where they should be, the value of the bill increases greatly, which makes it have a very high collection value. There is much more to learn about numismatics. If you would like to become a numismatic expert, the first step is to take a closer look at the money that passes through your hands. Good luck!
