Currency Appraisal
Find out what your old paper money is really worth. Our experts value US banknotes on series, grade, rarity, and serial number, then hand you an honest figure with no obligation to sell.
A currency appraisal is an expert evaluation of what a piece of paper money is worth. There are two kinds. An informal appraisal is a fast, free estimate of market value, ideal when you want to know what a note would sell for today. A formal written appraisal is a signed document used for insurance, estate settlement, or IRS and tax purposes.
Most people start with a free informal valuation, and that is what we provide online. You send photos of the front and back, and a professional returns a clear estimate, usually within 48 hours. If you later need a formal written appraisal, we can prepare one and will quote the cost upfront.
Paper money is graded by dedicated bodies. The two major services are PMG (Paper Money Guaranty) and PCGS Banknote, which authenticate, grade, and seal notes in protective holders. Note that the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) does not appraise currency, and the American Numismatic Association (ANA) is a good place to verify a dealer. A good appraisal tells you whether your note is worth close to face value or carries a real collector premium.
Six factors decide what a banknote is worth. We weigh all of them, then show you the reasoning.
Condition drives paper money value more than almost anything. Notes run from Poor up through Fine, Very Fine, Extremely Fine, About Uncirculated, and Uncirculated, and the top grades can be worth many times a well-worn example.
How many of a given note were printed, and how many survive, sets the ceiling. Low-population series, early large-size notes, and short print runs command the highest premiums.
Star notes (replacement notes), low serials, solid and repeater serials, ladders, and other fancy serial numbers can turn an ordinary bill into a collector target.
The series year and denomination pin down exactly which note you have. Pre-1929 large-size notes and pre-1935 small-size issues tend to carry the strongest collector interest.
Blue seals on silver certificates, red seals on United States notes, and the specific Treasurer and Secretary signature combinations all affect which variety and value your note falls into.
Realized results from Heritage Auctions and Stack's Bowers currency sales show what collectors actually pay for comparable notes right now, not what a price guide suggests in a vacuum.
You do not need to hand your notes to anyone to get started. An online currency appraisal takes three steps:
One rule worth repeating: never clean, tape, trim, or press a note. Repairs and cleaning strip a note\'s originality and can cut its value sharply. If your holdings also include coins, our coin collection appraisal covers whole coin lots as well.
From large-size notes and silver certificates to national bank notes and errors, if it is collectible US paper money we can value it.
Pre-1929 "horse blanket" notes, the most collectible slice of US paper money.
The modern size introduced in 1928, including sought-after early series and varieties.
Blue-seal notes once redeemable for silver, a collector staple across many series.
Notes issued by chartered local banks, prized by both type and hometown collectors.
Replacement star notes and fancy serial numbers that carry a premium over face.
Misprints, misalignments, and cutting errors that make a note one of a kind.
The paper money market rewards buyers who count on sellers not knowing what they hold. Protect yourself with three habits:
Once you know what your notes are worth, our guide on where to sell coins and currency walks through your options. A free appraisal costs you nothing and gives you an honest, independent number to measure every offer against.
Request Your Appraisal
Fill in a few details and add photos if you have them. An expert reviews your submission and sends back an honest valuation, usually within 48 hours.
Look at the series year, denomination, seal color, and serial number, then check the condition. A well-preserved older note, a star note, or a fancy serial can be worth well above face value. The fastest way to know for sure is to send clear photos of the front and back for a free expert appraisal.
You do not need to mail your notes to get started. Photograph the front and back of each note in good light, share any details you know, and a professional returns an honest valuation, usually within 48 hours. If you later need a formal written appraisal, we quote the cost upfront.
Our online currency appraisal is free with no obligation. You only pay if you need a formal written appraisal for insurance, estate, or tax purposes, and that price is quoted before any work begins.
Paper money is graded on a numeric 1 to 70 scale with adjectival grades from Poor through Gem Uncirculated. The major third-party graders are PMG (Paper Money Guaranty) and PCGS Banknote, which authenticate a note, assign a grade, and seal it in a holder, sometimes with an EPQ (Exceptional Paper Quality) designation.
Know your note's grade and rarity before you talk to a buyer, get more than one offer, and use an independent appraiser who is not trying to buy it. A free expert appraisal gives you the neutral figure you need to compare offers with confidence.
Never. Do not tape, trim, iron, or clean a note. Any repair or cleaning can sharply reduce its value. Store notes flat in a currency sleeve and let clear photos do the work.
No pressure, ever
Get a free, expert currency appraisal today and walk into any sale knowing exactly what your notes are worth.