Where Is the Serial Number on a Dollar Bill?
Look on the front of a U.S. bill for the green serial printed twice. On $1 and $2 notes, it sits at the upper right and lower left. On newer $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 notes, look at the upper left and lower right. Both copies show the same number.
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Where is the serial number on a dollar bill?
Hold the bill with the portrait facing you. On a $1 or $2 note, find the green serial near the upper-right corner and again near the lower-left. On redesigned $5 through $100 notes, the matching serials are near the upper-left and lower-right. The number is on the front, not the back.
The diagram below each denomination marks both positions. It is a simplified illustration, so use your bill's own printed characters when entering a number into a lookup tool.
Where to look on each denomination
The location changes with the design: $1 and $2 use upper right and lower left; newer $5 through $100 notes use upper left and lower right. The illustrations use example serials, not numbers from actual bills.
$1 bill serial number
Where is the serial number on a $2 bill?
$5 bill serial number
$10 bill serial number
Where is the serial number on a $20 bill?
$50 bill serial number
Where is the serial number on a $100 bill?
What does a dollar bill serial number look like?
A modern Federal Reserve note's serial has a letter prefix, eight digits, and a final letter or star. On $1 and $2 bills, the prefix is one letter identifying the Federal Reserve Bank. On newer $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 notes, the first prefix letter identifies the series and the second identifies the Federal Reserve Bank.
- $1 or $2 example: A12345678B (one prefix letter).
- $5-$100 example: AB12345678C (two prefix letters on newer series).
- Star note example: A12345678* (the star takes the suffix letter's place).
For a fancy digit pattern, enter the eight digits, including any zeros at the start, into the fancy serial number checker. Keep the letters and star in mind when identifying the note: a star also matters for replacement-note research.
Is the series year or another printed number the serial number?
No. The series year is a small label such as Series 2017A; it identifies a design or signature change, not your bill's unique serial. The large corner numerals show the denomination. A separate Federal Reserve indicator and tiny plate numbers are also different from the green serial printed twice on the front.
Read the digits, then check them
Once you have located the serial from either corner, copy its eight digits in order. Keep leading zeros: 00000045 is a different eight-digit pattern from 00004500. Also note any star at the end if you want to research the replacement note.
Then put those digits to work: run them through the serial number checker to see instantly whether your note is an ordinary bill or something a collector would want.
Sources for serial-number identification
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing's serial-number guide explains prefix letters, eight digits and star replacements. The U.S. Currency Education Program's banknote identifiers distinguish the serial from the series year, Federal Reserve indicator and plate numbers. Its Dollars in Detail guide labels the serial positions on redesigned $5-$100 notes.