6 Rare Bills Expected To Soar in Value Over the Next 5 Years

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People don’t use cash as much as they once did, but that doesn’t mean it’s obsolete. You might still need it for places like state fairs, local vendors and farmer’s markets. And if you do have cash on hand, or if you receive smaller bills after breaking one of yours, you might want to double-check it. It could be quite valuable.

Over time, certain banknotes become more valuable than their denomination denotes. This is especially true of bills with larger denominations, misprints, large serial numbers or size discrepancies.

In some cases, it’s easy to tell that a bill is rare. For example, $500, $1,000 and $10,000 bills — which did exist until the 1940s — are all exceedingly difficult to find in circulation. Not only are they limited, but what few still exist are either too damaged to be worth much or are already tucked away in some private collection.

So, what are some rare bills that are already valuable today and could — if only by virtue of being so rare and having a good grade from Professional Coin Grading Services (PCGS) — become more valuable over the next five years?

$500 Series 1918 Blue Seal

• Estimated value: $1,500 to $5,000
• PCGS grade: 30 (very fine)

This $500 banknote has John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on the front. On the back is Hernando De Soto, a Spanish conquistador who discovered the Mississippi in the 1540s. While its exact value is unknown, $500 bills can easily go for $1,500 or more on sites like eBay, according to Bold Precious Metals.

$500 Series 1928 and 1934 Green Seal

• Estimated value: $1,500 to $5,000
• PCGS grade: 63 (choice uncirculated)

Otherwise known as Federal Reserve notes, green seal banknotes like these are also valuable to the right person — and could continue to rise in value over time. On the front is the 25th U.S. President, William McKinley, who was assassinated during his second term.

$5,000 Series 1918 Blue Seal

• Estimated value: $125,000
• PCGS grade: Ungraded

Bills of this denomination haven’t been seen in circulation in ages, but they were — and still are — a very real currency. This particular bill, dating back to 1918, features James Madison, a Founding Father and the fourth U.S. president. On the back is George Washington resigning his commission.

While the exact value is unknown, those prints in certain years that are still in good condition are likely to have the highest value. According to U.S. Currency Auctions, some $5,000 bills can go for $125,000 or more.

$10,000 Series 1928, 1934, 1934A and 1934B Green Seal

• Estimated value: $50,000 to $200,000
• PCGS grade: Ungraded

Just as with $500 and $5,000 bills, you’re not likely to find these lying around at home — and you’re certainly not going to get them back as change. But they still bear mentioning simply because of how rare and valuable they are.

These $10,000 bills have the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase on the front. Bold Precious Metals places their value between $50,000 and $200,000, with those in good condition going for at least $125,000.

In a statement, Dustin Johnston, vice president of currency at Heritage Auctions said, “Large-denomination notes always have drawn the interest of collectors of all levels. The $10,000 trails only the $100,000 gold certificate issued in 1934, and of the 18 examples graded by PMG, this example is tied for the highest-graded.”

$10 1907 Gold Certificate

• Estimated value: $1,250 or more
• PCGS grade: 50 (about uncirculated)

While not nearly as rare as the $500 plus denominations, smaller bills like this $10 note can still be valuable — today and possibly in the future. One of these bills is currently up for auction with a current bid of $675.

$10 Triple Signature Silver Certificate

• Estimated value: $40,000 or more
• Grading: 30 (very fine)

Boasting J.C. Hopper’s countersignature, this rare bill sold for around $40,000 back in 2013. It sold for $16,000 back in 1992 — roughly the equivalent of $36,000 today. While its current value is unknown, chances are it’s gone up since then and will continue to rise.

Determining Value

According to Heritage Auctions, here are a few ways to determine a bill’s value:

• Check an online auction house’s list of paper currency to see if your note makes the list.
• Determine the note’s condition. One way to do this is to check its PCGS grading.
• Get a free appraisal to find the estimated value of your bill.
• Look for distinct marks or discrepancies. Examples include high serial numbers, larger than usual denominations, misprints or different denominations on either side.

Bills that are no longer in circulation, such as bills $500 and above, are also often considered valuable. If you happen upon such a bill, all you need to do is find the right collector willing to pay a premium to add it to their collection. Of course, if you simply want a story to tell, you can always keep it for yourself.

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