8 Valuable American Bills That You Could Find in Your Wallet

valuable American bills, USA News: When trying to get ahead financially, every dollar counts, and for thrifty savers, certain rare currency notes can be worth significantly more than their face value if sold rather than spent.

While the $10,000 bill holds the record as the absolute largest sum the U.S. government ever put into public circulation, the 1861 $1,000 bill is among the most valuable pieces of currency in existence. Versions from the early 1900s currently go for $4,000 to $4,800, though poor condition can lower the sum.

Printed under the Legal Tender Act of 1862, another notable note features Ulysses S. Grant’s portrait. At the time of printing, Grant was the commanding general of the U.S. Army, seven years before becoming the 18th president. In good condition, this bill can go for more than twice its value at $150.

As the first bill directly intended to raise money to support the U.S. government against the Confederacy, an 1863 note featuring a large bald eagle across the front and a legal tender seal on the back is extremely rare. One went for over $305,000 at auction in 2013.

Extremely rare notes like the watermelon rind design on the back command massive sums. Only three still exist in private collections, with one selling for nearly $3.3 million at auction in 2014.

The Federal Reserve stopped printing $500 bills in 1945. Introduced to circulation in 1928 and portraying 25th President William McKinley, they can go for upwards of $2,000.

Certain $10 bills with a large blue numeral 10, blue seal, blue serial number, and “Silver Certificate” printed across the top can sell for nearly $50 in the right condition, while a light green seal variation is slightly more valuable.

A 1950s bill is the most widely circulated rare note on the list, fetching a couple of hundred dollars depending on condition. Additionally, in 2014 and 2016, the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing accidentally printed two batches of $1 bills with duplicate serial numbers. Series 2013 bills featuring a B Federal Reserve Seal and specific star serial number ranges can sell for $150,000.