Looking Up Your Star Notes: A Guide to Valuable Obsolete Currency

Are you holding onto a collection of obsolete currency, including star notes? If so, you might be wondering if they're worth anything more than their face value. The answer is yes – with some exceptions.

Not everyone buys what they comment about, and the market for star notes is vast and varied. While some people may not pay more than face value for stars, others are willing to pay a premium. I've proven this through my own experiences in buying and selling star notes.

For instance, I once sold a $5 star note from 1899 for $2,000 – a nice Silver Certificate, but even modern stars can be worth a premium. You might be surprised to learn that many old circulated small-size stars from the 1930s to the 1950s can be had at small premiums over face value.

However, some people argue that there's no shortage of UNC (Uncirculated) notes, so who would buy circulated ones? But I've seen examples of circulated star notes selling for a premium. For instance, Heritage Auctions recently sold a beat-up dog of a note for $156 – not exactly a rare find, but still worth more than its face value.

It's also important to note that the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) sells thousands of UNC star notes directly to collectors. But when it comes to circulated modern star notes, there's no premium attached – they're right in the middle, neither rare nor common.

So, what does this mean for you? If you have a collection of star notes, it's worth looking into their value. You might be surprised at what you can find – and whether or not your notes are worth more than just face value.

Lookup your star notes