Post Your Low Serial Numbers !! 0

[GoldFinger1969]

I remember Union Planters...I think they got bought out in the banking consolidation of the 1990's.

[GoldFinger1969]

On 3/25/2024 at 1:37 PM, Fenntucky Mike said:

Seems way high to me, even 20k,

Still no bidders almost 3 months later.

[GoldFinger1969]

On 3/29/2024 at 12:56 PM, GoldFinger1969 said:

You wonder if the super-low SN's (<10) are often 40's or 50's condition like you see for some of the large denomination GCs where the low SN's at the time of printing were simply not saved by collectors in mint condition.

That bill on Ebay is a good example of this......#00000001....but only an AU-53 grade. 

[GoldFinger1969]

Just looking at recent HA results in 2024....

A FRBN Dallas 1929 $5 (1850-K).....64 EPQ grade.....00000011.....$1,320.  

Same note type but 00000012.....63 EPQ......$900

FRBN Richmond $20........1870-E......67 EPQ.....00000033.......$3,000

Now....aside from some esoteric block or other feature that doesn't stand out to a non-expert currency collector....you seem to need 3 factors to get into the 4 digit price-range for small-size currency:  low SN + High Grade + Unique Bill Type (i.e., SC or FRBN, etc.).  

If the UBT is nonexistent -- a recent/modern bill -- you're gonna need super-elite SN and/or Superb Gem Quality Grade to get premium (4-digit or higher) pricing.  Something like that.

I "guessed" at a dozen or so auction prices knowing the bill description and I was generally within 20% or so of the final price. 

Edited December 15, 2024 by GoldFinger1969

[Fenntucky Mike]

On 12/15/2024 at 2:46 AM, GoldFinger1969 said:

Now....aside from some esoteric block or other feature that doesn't stand out to a non-expert currency collector....you seem to need 3 factors to get into the 4 digit price-range for small-size currency:  low SN + High Grade + Unique Bill Type (i.e., SC or FRBN, etc.).  

I agree.

People don't realize how many low serial numbers were saved and how many were printed. I'm not saying they are common but they are out there and more than you would think. Especially U.S. notes, but there are a LOT of U.S. collectors too. 

[GoldFinger1969]

On 12/15/2024 at 9:10 AM, Fenntucky Mike said:

I agree.  People don't realize how many low serial numbers were saved and how many were printed. I'm not saying they are common but they are out there and more than you would think. Especially U.S. notes, but there are a LOT of U.S. collectors too. 

Huge difference when you have 7 zeroes and a SN with 1 digit (1-9).  You can see the bifurcation in the double-digit SN's if one is like 12 or 15 vs. 87 or 93.  Cross into triple digits and big drop from double-digit SN and of course if something is 102 it's much better than 924.

The SUPER low SN's for older bills (pre-1957) are definitely rarer than moderns in the last 20 years....when you had the internet and more widely available information (plus online auctions) all of a sudden you knew you could get rid of the 2-digit SN's and other "fancy" SN's, radars, repeaters, etc. in an online auction.  

Folks gobble up the low-priced stuff with modest rarity, a TPG holder, and low cost (the key).  More people can buy fancy SN or SC's that cost < $100 than can buy 4-figure stuff like big denomination notes.

 

Edited December 15, 2024 by GoldFinger1969

[Fenntucky Mike]

On 12/15/2024 at 11:33 AM, GoldFinger1969 said:

he SUPER low SN's for older bills (pre-1957) are definitely rarer than moderns in the last 20 years....

You think so? Probably true, I guess I get a little used to seeing low serial numbers for older notes due to them being lumped into specialized auctions every year or so. Makes the supply seem greater than it really is, I suppose. 

Serial #'s <100, ok I can buy into those being worth a small premium. Serial #'s <1000, nothingburgers imo and worth no premium. 

[GoldFinger1969]

On 12/15/2024 at 12:00 PM, Fenntucky Mike said:

Serial #'s <100, ok I can buy into those being worth a small premium. Serial #'s <1000, nothingburgers imo and worth no premium. 

Unless rest of bill is rare or unique....like that Hawaii PMG-67 note I have so the SN 715 with that combination is very tough. 

Who knows how many lower SN's in equal or close condition exit ?

Edited December 15, 2024 by GoldFinger1969

[GoldFinger1969]

On 12/15/2024 at 12:00 PM, Fenntucky Mike said:

You think so? Probably true, I guess I get a little used to seeing low serial numbers for older notes due to them being lumped into specialized auctions every year or so. Makes the supply seem greater than it really is, I suppose. 

Lots of notes still used 50-75 years ago so only dedicated (wealthier) collectors could afford to sit on some of these bills (valuable SCs...low SNs....GCs...etc.).  You can go weeks (months) before you see a low or super-low SN for a FRN or a SC from 1957 or earlier.

Today, I see all these moderns with low SN's and radars/repeaters/etc. every week on HA !! 

[GoldFinger1969]

I'm seeing unique bills -- i.e., a $100 denomination, a Light Green Seal, an older 1930's Silver Certificate, etc. -- but the so-called description of a "Low Serial Number" is matched to a bill with a mid-3 figure or 4 or 5 or 6 figure serial number !!

Since when is a 6-figure SN a "Low Serial Number" ? 

Saw a 2009 $100 bill.....5 zeros and then 596 SN....asking $2,500 ? 

All on Ebay....I guess they can oversell the note in the description and just keep it listed for a long time until they find a sucker, er, buyer, right ? 

[Fenntucky Mike]

On 1/26/2025 at 6:58 PM, GoldFinger1969 said:

Since when is a 6-figure SN a "Low Serial Number" ? 

Since never.

On 1/26/2025 at 6:58 PM, GoldFinger1969 said:

I'm seeing unique bills -- i.e., a $100 denomination, a Light Green Seal, an older 1930's Silver Certificate, etc. -- but the so-called description of a "Low Serial Number" is matched to a bill with a mid-3 figure or 4 or 5 or 6 figure serial number !!

Since when is a 6-figure SN a "Low Serial Number" ? 

Saw a 2009 $100 bill.....5 zeros and then 596 SN....asking $2,500 ? 

All on Ebay....I guess they can oversell the note in the description and just keep it listed for a long time until they find a sucker, er, buyer, right ? 

This is the trouble with stretching long held rules, when does it end.

Traditionally, for a low serial number to be considered "Fancy" it needed to be 10 or lower. As far as I know all TPG's still hold to this rule/description for fancy low serial numbers, I know that PMG still requires the S# to be 10 or lower for them to label it as a "Fancy" low number. Then people started saying anything under 100 is a low number, then anything three digits, etc.. Come on people! Also, from what I've seen, HA is just as guilty as any seller on ebay for making up fancy numbers. Now, will some of these newly generated "Fancy" numbers gain traction and stick around, maybe. Not sure who the keeper of the keys is when it comes to fancy #'s, the ANA maybe?

[GoldFinger1969]

On 1/27/2025 at 6:19 AM, Fenntucky Mike said:

Since never.  This is the trouble with stretching long held rules, when does it end. Traditionally, for a low serial number to be considered "Fancy" it needed to be 10 or lower. As far as I know all TPG's still hold to this rule/description for fancy low serial numbers, I know that PMG still requires the S# to be 10 or lower for them to label it as a "Fancy" low number. Then people started saying anything under 100 is a low number, then anything three digits, etc.. Come on people! Also, from what I've seen, HA is just as guilty as any seller on ebay for making up fancy numbers. Now, will some of these newly generated "Fancy" numbers gain traction and stick around, maybe. Not sure who the keeper of the keys is when it comes to fancy #'s, the ANA maybe?

I am OK with even a triple-digit being "Low" -- IF it is one of a few for that specific bill type, grade, etc.

For example....my PMG-67 Hawaii note is SN #00000715....the number itself really isn't low but how many triple-digit or lower bills in PMG-67 grade for a Hawaii Silver Certificate are there ?  Probably not many I would think (if I'm wrong, someone correct me).

5 zeros and 3 numbers -- borderline.  

6 zeros and 2 numbers -- yeah, generally low even if the note isn't special. 

7 zeros and 1 number -- definitely low. 

If a low SN (<10) is going to cost you 4-figures or more even for a MODERN bill, then folks who want a "low SN" are going to lower their standards and accept a double-digit or even triple-digit SN bill and the sellers will accomodate.

But 6 digits ?  Even if all the digits were the same and/or matched "zero" so there were only 2 numbers including zero in the SN.  It was different than a SN with 6 digits which read "00735912" where all the zeros are at the beginning.  This SN had another zero in the SN string and all the other numbers were the same.  Again, zero and a number made up the entire SN.

But it definitely was NOT a "Low SN" !!