Types of Notes
The Star Note Lookup are indispensable tools for collectors, featuring a crucial “type” column denoting either “REGULAR” or “SHEETS.” It’s a curious fact that sheet-type and regular-type star notes outwardly appear identical.
This underscores the vital role of these tables and lookup resources in distinguishing between them. The key disparity lies in when they’re incorporated into the printing process to replace damaged items, a detail critical for accurately gauging a star note’s rarity.
But before we dive into the intricacies of star note types, let’s take a step back and understand the Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s fascinating process for producing paper money. Their informative page details this process, revealing that paper money isn’t crafted one bill at a time.
Instead, it’s printed in sheets of 32 or 50, which are then assembled into stacks of 100. These stacks, each containing bills with consecutive serial numbers, are later cut into individual 100-packs, marking the culmination of the printing journey.
Sheet Print Type
Born Before the Cut: Imagine a bustling printing press, where sheets of currency dance through the air like confetti. Sheet-type star notes emerge at this stage, born from the ashes of misprints and mishaps. When a sheet encounters a flaw—be it a fold, an ink spill, or a serial number mismatch—a single sheet of star notes swoops in to save the day.
These stars, often printed in limited quantities of 640,000 notes or less per run, are the unicorns of currency collecting, elusive and rare. Their random entry into circulation makes them a true treasure hunt, with collectors eagerly scouring the globe for even a glimpse of their celestial glow.
Regular Print Type
Rising from the Ashes: Now, picture a scene where freshly cut packs of currency await their destiny. Regular-type star notes enter the fray at this stage, replacing damaged bills with their shining counterparts. Unlike their sheet-type siblings, these stars are printed in larger quantities, typically ranging from 1.28 million to 3.2 million notes per run.
While they may lack the rarity of their sheet-type counterparts, they still hold a special place in the hearts of collectors, their journey from obscurity to prominence a testament to the resilience of currency.
