2013 Dollar Bill Collector Guide: Rare Duplicate Errors, Values, And Identification In 2026

The Series 2013 one-dollar bill holds a unique position in contemporary American numismatics. While hundreds of millions of standard Series 2013 $1 bills circulate freely at face value, specific print runs from this series harbor one of the most remarkable production blunders in modern Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) history: the duplicate serial number error. Due to an operational breakdown spanning two printing facilities, millions of replacement "star notes" were printed twice with identical serial numbers, creating a collector hunt that remains active and lucrative across the secondary paper money market.

Beyond this historic printing anomaly, values for the 2013 dollar bill are driven by plate design variations, signature combinations, condition grades, and traditional fancy serial numbers. Understanding the exact mechanical markers that separate an everyday pocket-change single from a multi-thousand-dollar rarity is essential for collectors, estate liquidators, and casual currency handlers.

The Series 2013 $1 Duplicate Serial Number Anomaly Explained

In late 2014 and 2016, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing inadvertently authorized and executed two identical print orders of Series 2013 $1 star notes for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (identifiable by the letter "B" in the Federal Reserve indicator).

Star notes are standard replacement sheets inserted into production batches whenever an imperfect sheet is destroyed during quality control. Traditionally, every Federal Reserve note carries a unique serial number that distinguishes it from any other bill worldwide. However, due to a severe record-keeping and data interchange failure between the BEP's main production facility in Washington, D.C., and its Western Currency Facility (WCF) in Fort Worth, Texas, both facilities printed overlapping runs of the exact same serial number range.

Key Metrics of the Duplicate Print Run

Issuing Federal Reserve District: New York (B)
Serial Number Range: B 049 600 001 * through B 051 200 000 * (Printed at Fort Worth in November 2014; reprinted at Washington, D.C. in July 2016)
Secondary Overlapping Range: B 058 880 001 * through B 060 480 000 * (Printed at Fort Worth in October 2014; reprinted at Washington, D.C. in November 2017)
Estimated Total Pairs Generated: Approximately 6.4 million potential duplicate pairs
Signatures Displayed: Rosa Gumataotao Rios (Treasurer of the United States) and Jacob "Jack" Lew (Secretary of the Treasury)

The numismatic community organized collaborative databases to reunite matched pairs. Finding a single note from this run yields a strong premium over face value; successfully pairing two matching notes that share the identical serial number—one from Fort Worth and one from Washington, D.C.—commands significant four-figure valuations at major auction houses and private sales.

How to Identify a 2013 Duplicate Star Note

Distinguishing between the two production facilities is straightforward once you know where to check the face plate markers. Every genuine U.S. banknote contains micro-printing markers indicating the facility, plate position, and plate serial number.

Verify the Series and Denomination: Look at the face of the bill to confirm it is a $1 denomination marked "Series 2013" directly to the right of George Washington's portrait.
Inspect the Serial Number: The serial number must begin with the capital letter B, followed by an eight-digit sequence falling within the verified error ranges, and conclude with a solid green five-pointed star (*).
Examine the Front Face Plate Number: Locate the tiny letter-number combination in the upper-left quadrant on the front of the bill, as well as the number in the lower-right area near the Treasury Department seal.
Identify the Fort Worth Indicator: If the bill was printed at the Western Currency Facility in Fort Worth, Texas, the tiny letters "FW" will appear directly before the face plate number in the lower right (e.g., FW F 42).
Identify the Washington, D.C. Indicator: If the bill was printed at the main facility in Washington, D.C., there will be no "FW" indicator present; only the bare plate letter and number appear (e.g., F 42).

Numismatic Identification Rule: A complete matched error pair requires two bills sharing the exact identical eight-digit serial number within the verified range: one bill bearing the "FW" mint facility hallmark and one bill without it.

At Auction: Collectible US STAR 2013 $1 One dollar bill note

Series 2013 $1 Bill Valuation and Market Pricing

The value of any 2013 one-dollar bill is dictated by its rarity classification, its paper conservation state based on the standard 70-point Sheldon scale, and third-party certification from established services such as Paper Money Guaranty (PMG) or PCGS Banknote.

The following valuation table outlines market realizations across various collector grades:

Note Category	Serial Description / Identifying Feature	Circulated (Very Fine 20 to Extra Fine 40)	Uncirculated (Choice CU 63 to Gem CU 65)	Superb Gem (Uncirculated 67+)
Standard Circulation	Standard random serial number (non-star)	$1.00 (Face Value)	$1.25 – $2.00	$5.00 – $10.00
Standard Star Note	Non-error districts (A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L)	$2.50 – $5.00	$10.00 – $25.00	$40.00 – $75.00
Unpaired 2013B Star Error Note	Single note from verified overlapping run	$20.00 – $45.00	$75.00 – $150.00	$250.00 – $400.00
Matched True Duplicate Pair	Both FW and DC notes sharing identical serial number	$2,500 – $4,500 (Pair)	$6,000 – $9,500 (Pair)	$12,000+ (Pair)
Solid Fancy Serial	All eight digits identical (e.g., B 77777777 *)	$800 – $1,500	$2,000 – $3,500	$5,000+
Ladder Serial Number	Sequential digits (e.g., 12345678 or 87654321)	$200 – $500	$800 – $1,400	$2,000 – $3,000
Low Serial Number	Single, double, or triple digit (e.g., 00000007)	$150 – $350	$600 – $1,200	$2,500+
Rotated Reverse Overprint	Back impression inverted relative to front face	$100 – $250	$450 – $800	$1,200+

Evaluating Condition: The Role of Third-Party Grading

A major factor separating an ordinary curiosity from an institutional-grade investment note is physical preservation. Paper currency grades are heavily penalized for physical flaws that may not be immediately obvious to an untrained eye.

Common Condition Pitfalls

Folds and Creases: A single hard horizontal or vertical fold across George Washington's portrait immediately drops an uncirculated note into the "About Uncirculated" (AU 50–58) bracket, slashing its retail market value by up to 50 percent.
Pinholes and Teller Handling Marks: Bank counting machines and teller staples frequently impart micro-punctures or edge tears. Any structural breach must be documented and will permanently cap the maximum net grade assigned by grading houses.
PVC Exposure: Storing bills in cheap, flexible vinyl sleeves containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) causes chemical breakdown over time, leaving an oily residue that permanently degrades paper fibers and alters ink hues. True collectors use only acid-free, inert Mylar or polypropylene archival holders.

Step-by-Step Guide: What to Do If You Find a 2013 Star Note

Encountering a Series 2013 one-dollar bill bearing a star symbol requires a calculated series of verification steps before attempting to sell, trade, or grade the note.

Protect the Physical Integrity: Handle the note solely by its edges using clean, dry hands or powder-free cotton gloves. Immediately insert the bill into a rigid, non-PVC semi-rigid holder. Never attempt to iron, clean, or chemically treat a note to remove folds; artificial alteration permanently destroys numismatic value.
Catalog the Details: Record the exact serial number, the Federal Reserve Bank seal letter, the plate position letter, and verify whether the tiny "FW" stamp appears in the lower-right front plate area.
Cross-Check the Registry Lists: Compare your serial number against the known 2013 duplicate star note range (B 04960001 * through B 05120000 *, and B 05888001 * through B 06048000 *).
Search Online Tracking Repositories: Specialized numismatic groups and dedicated project registries allow collectors to input their single serial numbers. These platforms cross-match entries with other collectors searching for the matching facility counterpart.
Evaluate Professional Certification: If you identify a matched pair, third-party authentication from PMG or PCGS Banknote is universally recommended. Submitting the pair together allows the grading agency to certify and encapsulate the notes as a sequentially verified, matched duplicate pair, maximizing security and auction realization.

Collecting 2013 Dollar Bills: Strategic Advantages and Risks

Collecting modern banknotes offers unique opportunities compared to vintage early-twentieth-century paper money, but it also carries distinct market dynamics that must be navigated strategically.

Strategic Advantages

High Accessibility and Low Entry Cost: Unlike rare nineteenth-century large-size type notes, standard Series 2013 circulation finds can still be acquired at absolute face value through local bank strap searching (banknote hunting).
Expanding Market Liquidity: The widespread awareness of the Series 2013 duplicate star error keeps buying interest high across established online platforms, dealer floor networks, and numismatic clubs.
Clear Error Verification: Unlike microscopic die varieties on coins that require high-powered stereomicroscopes, paper money error runs rely on distinct, unambiguous serial sequences and structural plate hallmarks.

Strategic Risks

Supply Dilution over Time: Because millions of these error notes were released into the economy, newly surfaced individual error notes continue to be found in circulation, which can stabilize or moderate individual unpaired premiums.
High Attrition Rates: The average lifespan of a standard one-dollar bill in commercial circulation is under seven years. Consequently, millions of the duplicate 2013 notes have likely already been pulled by Federal Reserve counting systems and fed into high-speed shredders, making uncirculated pairs increasingly elusive.

Frequently Asked Questions About 2013 Dollar Bills

Are all Series 2013 dollar bills valuable?

No, the vast majority of Series 2013 one-dollar bills are common circulation currency worth exactly face value ($1.00). Only notes with star symbols in the serial number, specific production error ranges, fancy serial sequences, or exceptional uncirculated grades command premiums.

The average circulated Series 2013 bill lacking distinctive mechanical or serial variations does not interest collectors, as several billion were printed across all Federal Reserve districts.

What is the most famous error on a 2013 one-dollar bill?

The most famous error is the Series 2013 New York Star Note Duplicate Printing Error, where the Washington, D.C. and Fort Worth facilities printed identical serial numbers on star notes.

This error occurred across two authorized production intervals, resulting in millions of shared serial sequences between the two production plants, which is completely contrary to standard Federal Reserve issuance rules.

How do I know if my 2013 star note is from Fort Worth or Washington, D.C.?

Check the front lower-right quadrant of the bill next to the engraved scrollwork: bills printed in Fort Worth feature a tiny "FW" preceding the face plate number, while Washington, D.C. bills lack this prefix.

Additionally, Fort Worth printings display a slightly different alignment for the small face plate lettering in the upper left corner compared to the prints coming out of the historical Washington facility.

How much is a matched pair of 2013 duplicate dollar bills worth?

A fully matched duplicate pair sharing the identical serial number currently commands between $2,500 and $12,000+ depending on physical preservation and independent third-party grading scores.

Uncirculated pairs graded Choice Gem Uncirculated 65 or higher routinely hit top-tier estimates when consigned to major numismatic auction houses, representing the highest-performing modern small-size currency error class.

What qualifies as a "fancy serial number" on a 2013 dollar bill?

A fancy serial number includes structural sequencing patterns such as solids (all same numbers), ladders (12345678), radars (palindromic sequences reading the same forward and backward), or low numbers under 100.

These serial combinations are tracked and prized independently of whether the bill has a star symbol, with collectors paying substantial premiums based on the difficulty of finding that specific arrangement in circulation.

Maximizing Value from Your Currency Holdings

The 2013 dollar bill proves that historic, high-value numismatic discoveries are not limited to centuries-old collections. An attentive eye inspecting the serial numbers, star markers, and plate letters on everyday pocket change can uncover significant value.

If you suspect you have identified a 2013 New York star note within the verified error ranges, prioritize protective handling immediately. Secure the note in an archival Mylar sleeve, document its serial number against open collector matching directories, and consult an accredited numismatic professional or submission center to determine whether grading and pairing are viable paths to maximizing your return.