1950 $5 and a 1950 E $5, Anything special here? Thanks!

[Eagle7]

Hello to all.  Went to a coin show last week and purchased several coins.  Every purchase there are obviously cash transactions and somehow I got back several $5 bills in change that look to me like they just rolled off the line.... Not a blemish on them and they are as crisp as I have ever seen a bill, as much, or even more so, than more modern and newer paper I come across frequently at my bank (I know they are made from a special type cloth I believe... lol).  I tried to research these as I am big into research before posting anything but didn't come up with much except eBay.  Knowledge is key.  However, I am still new to bill collecting, I am much more into coin collecting, but these beautiful bills really caught my attention and until I can learn more about bills I thought I would go ahead and post them up. The 1950 E I noticed does have a slightly misplaced 1 in the right side serial number but I am more interested about the year and excellent condition of these. I also received a 1950 D $5 but it was well circulated. Your opinions and insight are greatly appreciated (I sound like a new coin collector.... Hahaha).   Thanks for looking and for any replies.  

 

[Fenntucky Mike]

Looks like the top note is a Fr#1961-E and the bottom a Fr#1966-B, I'm not very familiar with these but it looks like they could be worth a little bit of money if they are in as good of condition as you say they are. The top one has some margin issues, particularly on the front, and the bottom one looks to me like it may have been folded down the center. When ever I see a line where the ink is faded, on the front and back, I get suspicious. I have a feeling that they are both worth more than face value but not much and that a dealer was handing them out as a nice gesture/conversation piece. If you go to Heritage Auctions and search their archives using those Fr#'s, with $5 at the end, you'll get to see a bunch of examples of those notes for comparison. 

In general when dealing with banknotes you're looking for no folds, minimal creasing/handling, no soiling, sharp corners, even margins, good ink, good embossing on the overprint, no signs of pressing and just a good clean note. Do some more research and see if they are from an unusual FRB or have hard to find block numbers or signatures, in my quick searching it doesn't look like it but it might be worth a deep dive to check it out further. Regardless, I think that they are worth keeping but probably not worth grading. Good luck. 

[Eagle7]

On 8/22/2021 at 7:27 PM, Fenntucky Mike said:

Looks like the top note is a Fr#1961-E and the bottom a Fr#1966-B, I'm not very familiar with these but it looks like they could be worth a little bit of money if they are in as good of condition as you say they are. The top one has some margin issues, particularly on the front, and the bottom one looks to me like it may have been folded down the center. When ever I see a line where the ink is faded, on the front and back, I get suspicious. I have a feeling that they are both worth more than face value but not much and that a dealer was handing them out as a nice gesture/conversation piece. If you go to Heritage Auctions and search their archives using those Fr#'s, with $5 at the end, you'll get to see a bunch of examples of those notes for comparison. 

In general when dealing with banknotes you're looking for no folds, minimal creasing/handling, no soiling, sharp corners, even margins, good ink, good embossing on the overprint, no signs of pressing and just a good clean note. Do some more research and see if they are from an unusual FRB or have hard to find block numbers or signatures, in my quick searching it doesn't look like it but it might be worth a deep dive to check it out further. Regardless, I think that they are worth keeping but probably not worth grading. Good luck. 

More info than I could have ever asked for. Thank you very much Mike!  You have pointed me in the right direction by supplying this information. I am greatly appreciative of the time you took to explain this to me. If I have a bill that’s worth at least $1 over face value….. I would be excited, ha! Sometimes I feel just like this with coins just the same. I will look further into the info you just offered. Thanks again!

[Eagle7]

And you are exactly correct about the bottom pictured bill. I examined it more closely and it sure enough has a very minor fold/crease in the middle of the bill I can now see from the reverse. Never noticed that and GREAT eye for seeing and catching that in my pics. The top bill fortunately is solid as a rock (other than the margin) and has never been creased. Thanks again!