Star Note Lookup

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About Star Notes

What is a Star Note?

Star notes are replacement notes printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing when the original notes are damaged during the printing process. These notes feature a star symbol (*) at the end of the serial number instead of a suffix letter.

Why are they valuable?

Star notes are typically printed in smaller quantities than regular notes, making them more collectible. The value depends on factors like rarity, condition, and the specific production run size. Some star notes are worth only face value while others can be worth significantly more to collectors.

How to identify?

Look for a star symbol (*) at the end of the serial number. This symbol replaces the letter suffix that would normally appear. For example, A12345678* instead of A12345678B.

Rarity Categories

Common

Over 640,000 notes printed

Scarce

Between 320,000 and 640,000 notes

Rare

Between 32,000 and 320,000 notes

Very Rare

Fewer than 32,000 notes

Spluxly’s free online Star Note Lookup Tool is a comprehensive currency collector’s resource designed for banknote enthusiasts, currency collectors, and anyone who has discovered a star symbol at the end of a US dollar bill’s serial number and wants to know if it has collector value. Star notes are replacement banknotes printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing when original notes are damaged or spoiled during the printing process. Instead of the standard letter suffix that ends a normal serial number, star notes carry a star symbol in its place — for example A12345678* instead of A12345678B — making them instantly identifiable and inherently more limited in production than regular notes. Enter the serial number from your banknote, select the denomination from $1 through $100, and the tool instantly returns a full profile of the note including its series year, the Federal Reserve Bank of origin, the estimated production run size, the rarity classification — Common, Scarce, Rare, or Very Rare — and an estimated collector value range. A search history panel stores up to 20 past lookups for easy reference, and a comprehensive educational section explains what star notes are, why they carry collector value, how to identify them, and how rarity classifications are determined. Whether you are a dedicated currency collector or simply curious about an unusual bill in your wallet, this tool delivers an instant and informative result. Completely free, no registration required.

How to Use the Star Note Lookup Tool Online

Checking your star note takes just seconds. Follow these simple steps:

  • Enter the Serial Number – Type the full serial number from your banknote into the search field (e.g., A12345678*); include the star symbol at the end if present; the tool will also confirm whether a note without a star is a regular note
  • Select the Denomination – Choose the face value of your banknote from the denomination selector: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, or $100
  • Click Search (or press Enter) – The tool instantly queries the star note database and returns the full note profile
  • Review the Note Information – See the series year (e.g., 2017A), denomination, Federal Reserve Bank of origin (e.g., Boston), estimated run size (e.g., 3.2 million), rarity classification, and estimated collector value range (e.g., $1.50 to $5.00)
  • Read the Collector Insight – A brief description explains what makes the specific star note special or common based on its production run size and series
  • Check Your Search History – View up to 20 past lookups in the Search History tab, each labelled as Star Note or Regular Note, with a Search Again button for quick re-lookup
  • Explore the Learn Section – Read the educational content covering what star notes are, why they are valuable, how to identify them, and the four rarity tiers from Common to Very Rare

How Star Note Rarity Is Determined

Star note rarity is determined primarily by the estimated size of the production run for that specific series, denomination, and Federal Reserve Bank combination. Smaller runs are rarer and therefore more collectible.

Rarity Classification by Run Size:

Rarity TierEstimated Run Size
CommonOver 640,000 notes printed
ScarceBetween 320,000 and 640,000 notes
RareBetween 32,000 and 320,000 notes
Very RareFewer than 32,000 notes

How to Identify a Star Note: A star note has a star symbol (*) at the end of its serial number in place of the letter suffix that appears on regular notes.

  • Regular Note Example: A12345678B
  • Star Note Example: A12345678*****

The 12 Federal Reserve Banks (by letter code):

LetterFederal Reserve Bank
ABoston
BNew York
CPhiladelphia
DCleveland
ERichmond
FAtlanta
GChicago
HSt. Louis
IMinneapolis
JKansas City
KDallas
LSan Francisco

Factors That Affect Collector Value: Beyond rarity classification, the condition of the note (uncirculated being most valuable), the specific series year, and demand among collectors all influence the real-world market value of a star note beyond the estimated range provided.

Why Use Spluxly’s Star Note Lookup Tool?

  • Full Note Profile – Returns the series year, denomination, Federal Reserve Bank of origin, estimated run size, rarity classification, and estimated collector value range for any star note serial number entered, delivering a complete identification in a single lookup
  • Seven Denominations Covered – Supports all standard US Federal Reserve Note denominations from $1 through $100, covering the full range of star notes that collectors are likely to encounter in circulation or in collections
  • Four-Tier Rarity Classification – Assigns every star note to one of four clearly defined rarity tiers — Common, Scarce, Rare, and Very Rare — based on estimated production run size, giving collectors an immediate sense of how limited their note is
  • Estimated Value Range – Provides a realistic collector value range for each note based on its rarity and series, giving a useful starting reference point for buying, selling, or insuring a star note collection
  • Search History Panel – Stores up to 20 past serial number lookups in a persistent history tab, each labelled as Star Note or Regular Note, with a Search Again option for quick re-lookup without retyping
  • Educational Learn Section – A dedicated educational tab explains what star notes are, why they carry collector value, how to identify them from a serial number, and how the four rarity tiers are defined — making the tool genuinely informative for new collectors
  • 100% Free & Instant – No registration, no fees — your star note series, denomination, Federal Reserve Bank, rarity classification, and estimated value delivered in seconds

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