There are several important bits of information a collector should know before setting out to find the one note that will add value to his collection or money in his pocket. However, the most important thing a collectors should know is what kind of currency to collect. Two good kinds to look for are those with interesting serial numbers and those called star notes.
First, currency with an attention-grabbing serial number is fun to cherry pick and can be very rewarding . Look for bills with low serial numbers, such as those below 1,000 or 100. The lower the serial number, the more valuable the currency is. A bill with the serial number 00000001 or with a series of zeros before a number could be worth thousands. On the other hand, look for currency with high numbers. Some of these can be even more valuable than lower number bill because there are few in circulation. Some other serial numbers to consider are repeating numbers, such as 88888888, binary numbers with only two number, such as 23232323, and palindrome, those that read the same front and back, such as 23977932.
Another kind of currency to cherry pick is a star note. It is easy to identify. For, as the name implies, it can be identified by a star at the end of each of the note’s serial numbers. The star indicates that bill is a replacement note. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing uses it to replace damaged currency before it gets release into circulation. So always check all currency. The star may appear on all any of it and is a sign that the note maybe worth much more than face value.
To summarize, checking serial numbers and star notes are just two ways to cherry pick currency. There are more. As a serious coin collector, you will be wise to always keep a reference on hand to help you choose currency with the most value that is worthy of your collection.