What Are Star Notes?
Learn what makes a note a "star note" and why they were created.
A star note (symbolized by ★) is a replacement banknote printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) to replace a note that was discovered to be defective before it was cut, shipped, or entered circulation.
The Star Symbol Location
On a star note, the star symbol (★) replaces the trailing letter of the serial number. For example:
- Regular note serial:
A12345678B - Star note serial:
A12345678★
(A through Z)
= replacement note
The only visible difference is the final character — a letter on regular notes, a star on replacements.
Why Star Notes Are Printed
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing's quality control process is rigorous. During printing and before cutting and bundling, notes are inspected for defects such as:
- Misalignment of the design
- Ink smears or uneven ink coverage
- Printing errors or missing elements
- Paper folds or creases
- Color inconsistencies
When a defective note is identified, it must be removed from the production run before it's cut into individual notes.
Maintaining Sequential Accountability
The numbering system is critical to U.S. currency. Every note printed receives a unique serial number to track production, prevent counterfeits, and maintain accountability. When a defective note is removed from a run, that serial number is lost—it was already printed but now the note can't be circulated.
To maintain accurate sequential numbering, the BEP doesn't skip ahead. Instead, it prints a replacement note with a star symbol in place of the suffix letter. This keeps the sequential count intact while clearly marking the note as a replacement.
Star Notes Are Legitimate Currency
Star notes are fully legal tender and are official U.S. currency. There's nothing wrong with spending them or including them in a collection. They're simply notes that replaced defective specimens during the manufacturing process.
Collector Interest
Star notes have become highly collectible because:
- They're more scarce than regular notes (fewer are printed)
- Each star note represents a moment when the BEP's quality control worked
- The star symbol is visually distinctive
- Collectors enjoy researching print run data to assess rarity
Not All Star Notes Are Equal
The value of a star note varies dramatically depending on how many star notes were actually printed for that particular series, denomination, and Federal Reserve district. Some star note runs numbered only tens of thousands; others reached millions. Understanding print run quantities is essential for fairly valuing star notes.
Ready to put this to use?
Bill Bounty hunts involve real circulating U.S. currency. Apply what you've learned to spot target bills in the wild.