Reading Serial Numbers and District Identification
Learn how to determine which Federal Reserve Bank issued a note from its serial number.
Every U.S. Federal Reserve Note contains two pieces of information that identify its issuing Federal Reserve Bank: the district seal and the serial number prefix. These must always match.
The Federal Reserve District Seal
Look at the front of a Federal Reserve Note. On the left side, next to the portrait, you'll find a black circular seal containing:
- A letter (A through L) identifying the issuing Federal Reserve Bank
- The name of the city where that Federal Reserve Bank is located printed around the border
On the face of the note, you will also see a number (1 through 12) printed in the corners identifying the Federal Reserve district. These are standard Arabic numerals — not Roman numerals. This is a common misconception. Older pre-1960s series used Roman numerals in the seal, but all modern circulating notes use Arabic numbers.
Source: Federal Reserve: Federal Reserve Note FAQs · Bureau of Engraving and Printing: Federal Reserve Bank Notes
Federal Reserve District Reference
Here is the complete reference for all 12 districts. The district number, letter, and seal must always match on a legitimate note.
| # | Letter | Federal Reserve Bank | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Boston | Massachusetts |
| 2 | B | New York | New York |
| 3 | C | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania |
| 4 | D | Cleveland | Ohio |
| 5 | E | Richmond | Virginia |
| 6 | F | Atlanta | Georgia |
| 7 | G | Chicago | Illinois |
| 8 | H | St. Louis | Missouri |
| 9 | I | Minneapolis | Minnesota |
| 10 | J | Kansas City | Missouri |
| 11 | K | Dallas | Texas |
| 12 | L | San Francisco | California |
Matching the Serial Prefix to the Seal
The first letter of the serial number (the prefix letter) must always correspond to the letter in the Federal Reserve district seal. For example:
- If the seal shows the letter "B" and "New York," the serial number must begin with the letter B (district 2)
- If you see a serial number starting with F, the district seal must show "F" and "Atlanta" (district 6)
If these do not match, the note is counterfeit or has been artificially altered.
The Serial Number Location
Modern Federal Reserve Notes actually bear the serial number twice:
- Once in the top-right corner of the front
- Once in the bottom-left corner of the front
Both serial numbers must be identical on a legitimate note.
Series Year and Signature Pairs
The district letter in the seal is the definitive way to identify the issuing bank. However, notes from the same district, series year, and denomination can vary based on signature pairs (when the Treasurer or Secretary of Treasury changed). These variations are also tracked by serial ranges, which the BEP has published.
Practical Application for Collectors
When examining a note, always cross-check:
- The district seal letter matches the serial number prefix
- Both serial numbers on the front are identical
- The serial number format is correct (letter-8 digits-letter)
This simple verification eliminates most counterfeits immediately.
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