Finding Paper Money

[Codes]

How do people find the special bills (star notes, silver certificats, etc..)? Do you have to find them randomly in change or is there away of increasing my chances? I'm into coin roll hunting and I'd like to diversify my collection a little. Any tips would help.

 

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[GMan00001]

I just ask the tellers if they have any old currency, a few have my number to call in case they do come across something (though I have yet to receive a call).

Sometimes, I ask if they have any of the old "small-headed" $5's $10's or $20's. Most times these are the relatively common late 80's to 95's, but I have gotten a couple from the 50's and 60's doing this. I also try to ask specifically about $2 bills as they don't circulate as much so there is a higher probability of older bills still floating around in circulation.

Occasionally when I am cashing in my reject coins, I will get $100 to $200 in ones and just look through them for older bills, star notes, or other interesting serial numbers. I have found 6 - $1 star notes out of $2000 searched in 2007. The oldest $1 bill found this way was a 1963 FRN. I also have found a few $2 and $10 star notes this year.

I was reading a currency price guide in the bookstore recently and noticed the 1976-I $2 Star note is worth about $75 in XF and $200 or something like that in UNC. So after reading the price guide, I went to the bank and got 100 $2 bills about a week ago. All of the bills were 1976, 2 were star notes, one 1976-I* and one 1976-B*. I don't think the 1976-I* would grade XF. Then again, I haven't tried to learn how to grade currency yet. Either way it was kinda cool to find a note that is worth "apparently" more than face value.

Biggest problem with collecting currency for me is although I can usually find old bills, putting a $100 bill into my collection takes $100 out of my wallet for other stuff. It's just more difficult to justify the cost. Even the largest denomination coin in circulation today still only costs $1.

Well that's enough rambling for this post.

Good luck and hope that helps.