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Error Dollar Bill Value: 12 Misprints and What They Sell For

By the Banknova team ·

Short answer

A genuine printing error can make a dollar bill worth $20 to several hundred dollars, and rare ones far more. Small errors like gutter folds and light ink smears usually sell for $35 to $100. Big, obvious errors such as inverted overprints, missing prints or mismatched serial numbers often bring $275 to $550 or more. Damage that happened after the note left the printer adds nothing, so check carefully before you get excited.

The answer in more detail

US notes are printed in three passes: the back first, then the face, then the "overprint" with the seals and serial numbers. An error happens when one of those steps goes wrong and the note slips past inspection. Collectors value errors by how big and how easy to see the mistake is, by the note's condition, and by the denomination.

One dealer guide puts a circulated gutter fold at $35 to $50 and a circulated inverted overprint at $375 and up; uncirculated examples sell for more. Auction results reported by PMG include $1,020 for a 1988 $1 board break and $2,760 for a 1976 $2 inverted overprint. The record for any error note is $396,000, paid in 2021 for a $20 bill with a Del Monte fruit sticker printed into it.

Many "errors" are fakes or damage: ink rubbed on later, notes trimmed by hand, chemicals that remove the serial numbers. Grading services catch these and label them altered. If an error looks valuable, have it checked by PMG or PCGS before you sell.

How a dollar bill is printed, and where errors come from

Every US note goes through three printing steps on large sheets:

  1. First print: the back, in green.
  2. Second print: the face, with the portrait and the borders, in black.
  3. Third print, the overprint: the Treasury seal, the Federal Reserve seal and the serial numbers.

Then the sheets are cut into single notes. Each error type below comes from one of these steps going wrong. If you know the order, it's easier to tell a real error from damage.

12 common error types and what they're worth

The ranges below are from the US Currency Auctions dealer guide, for modern small size notes. "And up" means bigger, cleaner or higher denomination examples sell for more.

Error What it looks like Circulated Uncirculated
Gutter fold A thin blank line across the note where the paper was creased before printing $35 to $50 $100 and up
Ink smear A streak or blotch of ink from the press $45 to $75 $100 to $175 and up
Insufficient ink Part of the design faint or almost missing $50 to $90 $120 to $250 and up
Miscut Part of the next note shows at an edge $40 to $60 $125 to $175 and up
Obstruction Something lay on the paper during printing and left a blank shape $20 to $65 $125 to $400 and up
Offset A mirror image of one side printed on the other $75 to $100 $150 and up
Minor or major shift The overprint (seals and serials) sits out of place $45 to $125 and up $80 to $300 and up
Butterfly fold A corner folded before printing, leaving extra paper $150 and up $350 and up
Foldover Part of the sheet folded over between printings $225 and up $450 and up
Mismatched serial numbers The two serial numbers on the front differ $275 and up $400 and up
Missing third print No seals and no serial numbers $300 and up $450 and up
Inverted overprint Seals and serial numbers upside down $375 and up $550 and up

A few error types sit between these: a missing back (first print) lists at $225 and up circulated, a missing seal at $125 to $175, and a misaligned black overprint at $75 to $120.

What real error notes have sold for

Price guides give a starting point. Auction results show what the best examples bring. PMG reported these Heritage results:

  • 1988 $1 board break (part of the design faded or missing in a streak), graded 66: $1,020.
  • 2006 $1 offset, graded 66: $2,640.
  • 1985 $1 inverted overprint: $1,800.
  • 1976 $2 inverted overprint: $2,760.
  • 2017A $5 cutting error: $228.
  • 1969A $50 ink smear: $1,140, among the highest Heritage had seen for that type.

The top of the market is in a different league. The "Del Monte" $20, a 1996 series note with a fruit sticker printed right into the design, sold for $396,000 in January 2021, the record for any error note. Double denomination notes, printed with one value on the front and another on the back, have sold for $23,000 to about $40,000; a 1974 $20 with a $10 back brought $28,200 in 2014.

What makes one error worth more than another

  • Size and visibility. A fold that covers half the note beats a thin crease. "The more striking the error, the more collectors are willing to pay," as the dealer guide puts it.
  • Condition. Errors follow the same grading scale as any note. A crisp, uncirculated error can be worth several times a worn one.
  • Denomination. The same error on a $20, $50 or $100 usually brings more than on a $1.
  • Extras. An error on a star note, or with a special serial number, adds a second reason to collect it.

Real error or damage? Check these first

Most "misprints" people find are not errors. Before you price a note, rule these out:

  • Hand-cut edges. Someone can trim a sheet or a note to fake a miscut. Real cutting errors usually show part of the next note's design, with even, factory-straight edges.
  • Ink on top of the paper. Ink from the press is part of the print. Marker, pen or ink rubbed on later sits on the surface.
  • Faded areas with stains. Bleach and other chemicals can lift ink and make a note look like it's missing a print. They often leave a stain or a change in paper color.
  • Missing serial numbers with the seals still there. On modern notes the seals and serials are printed in the same pass. A note with seals but no serials has usually been altered. PMG caught one such 1969 $1 under special lighting.
  • Folds after printing. A note folded in a wallet has a crease through printed ink. A gutter fold has a blank line where the ink never reached the paper.

PMG labels notes it finds altered as "Altered" or "Not Genuine" and returns them without a holder. So for an error that looks valuable, a grading service is the safest second opinion.

What to do with an error note

  1. Stop spending it. Put it in a soft, non-PVC currency sleeve.
  2. Take clear photos of both sides in good light.
  3. Compare sold prices for the same error type, denomination and condition.
  4. Ask a currency dealer, and for anything that might be worth hundreds, consider grading by PMG or PCGS Banknote.

Banknova can tell you the basics of a note from a photo, like its country, denomination and year, with an estimated range from worn to uncirculated. It doesn't detect printing errors, though, so use the checklist above for that. For other things that raise a note's value, see our guides to star note value and what an old dollar bill is worth.

Frequently asked questions

Are misprinted dollar bills worth money?

Real printing errors are. Even a common gutter fold usually sells for more than face value, and big errors bring hundreds. Damage that happened after printing, like stains, tears or a note trimmed by hand, doesn't add value.

Can I spend a misprinted bill?

A genuine error note is still US currency, but spending it throws away its collector value. If you're not sure, keep it and ask a currency dealer.

What is the most valuable error note?

The record is the 'Del Monte' $20: a 1996 series note with a fruit sticker that got stuck to the sheet and was printed over. It sold for $396,000 at Heritage Auctions in January 2021. Double denomination notes, with a different value on each side, have sold for about $23,000 to $40,000.

How can I tell a real error from a fake one?

Real errors come from the printing press, so the paper, ink and the rest of the design look normal. Hand-cut edges, ink that sits on top of the paper, faded areas with stains around them, or serial numbers missing while the seals are still there are warning signs. Grading services label altered notes as altered.

Where can I get an error note checked?

PMG and PCGS Banknote grade and authenticate error notes for a fee. A local currency dealer can tell you first whether it's worth sending in.

Check a banknote with your iPhone

Banknova is an iPhone and iPad app. Take a photo of a banknote, or pick one from your photos, and it reads what is printed on the note to tell you the country, the denomination and the year. Then it shows an estimated collector value as a range: worn, fine and uncirculated.

  • If the photo isn't clear enough, it says it isn't sure and asks for a better one instead of guessing.
  • The value is an AI estimate, not an appraisal or a price offer. Banknova doesn't look at serial numbers, star notes or printing errors, and it doesn't check whether a note is genuine.
  • Scanning needs a subscription: weekly, or yearly with a 7-day free trial. No ads.

Get Banknova on the App Store

Sources

Values on this page are ranges collected from public auction records and dealer price guides on the date above. Real prices depend on condition, demand and the buyer, so treat them as a guide, not an appraisal or an offer.

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