Sarasota, Florida – Collectors and consumers alike have been on the lookout for rare $1 bills with a printing error that can make them worth thousands of dollars. According to Chad Hawk, vice president of PMG, a professional paper money grading company, these bills were mistakenly issued by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing in both 2014 and 2016.

The error occurred when dollars were printed with duplicate serial numbers, which was a unique mistake given that every bill in circulation is supposed to have a distinct serial number for identification purposes. Although the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing did not catch the mistake, keen-eyed currency collectors did and began searching for bills within the unique serial number range to find matching pairs with the same serial numbers.

In total, there are 6.4 million pairs of $1 bills with matching serial numbers in circulation. While individual $1 bills with this error may only be worth a couple of dollars, the value significantly increases when they are paired with another bill featuring the same serial number.

Despite billions of dollars in circulation, only nine pairs have been matched so far. The value of a pair also depends on the condition of the bills. Local dealers have been having the currency graded through companies like PMG or PCGS to determine the value of these rare bills.

For those interested in potentially finding a valuable dollar bill in their possession, experts suggest searching online, on social media, or on dedicated websites where collectors gather and share information about these rare bills. With a specific serial number range to look out for, individuals may have a chance to discover a hidden treasure in their wallet.