Sarasota, Florida – If you have a few dollar bills in your possession, it may be worth checking them carefully before spending them. Some U.S. coin and currency collectors are reportedly offering thousands of dollars for rare $1 bills with a specific printing error from the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

According to Chad Hawk, vice president of PMG, only a few $1 bills with this unique error have made it into circulation, making them highly sought after among collectors. The error occurred in two sets of $1 bills printed in 2014 and 2016, resulting in over 6 million misprinted bills entering circulation before the mistake was discovered.

Hawk explained that the error occurred when dollars were printed with duplicate serial numbers, a deviation from the standard practice of assigning unique serial numbers to every bill in circulation. While the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing failed to catch the mistake, eagle-eyed currency collectors quickly identified the rare bills and began searching for more.

Collectors are now on the hunt for bills within a specific serial number range, hoping to find matching pairs of dollar bills with the same serial numbers. The value of the bills lies in completing a pair, with Hawk mentioning that a single bill may only be worth a couple of dollars, but a matching pair could fetch thousands.

With billions of dollars in circulation, the chance of coming across one of these valuable $1 bills is not outside the realm of possibility. As such, individuals who suspect they may have a bill within the sought-after serial number range are encouraged to conduct an online search or reach out to dedicated websites and social media platforms where collectors gather information and connect to trade notes.

Ultimately, the value of the dollar bills hinges on their condition and serial numbers. Local dealers can help grade the bills through professional companies like PMG or PCGS, providing an accurate assessment of their worth based on a grading scale that ranges from 15 to 70. The higher the grade, the greater the value of the note, making it essential for collectors to preserve the bills in pristine condition to maximize their potential earnings.