Special Serial NumberED NOTES
SPECIAL SERIAL NUMBERED NOTES:
If you have collected paper money or have been around a large number of bundled/bricked banknotes then you will likely appreciate how seldom a special serial number pops up. Once you've actually SEARCHED & then acknowledge how seldom these special numbers appear, you'll probably want to acquire a few types for yourself. If you're thinking about buying a special serial number (for whatever reason) than you'll likely want to get an example in UNCIRCULATED condition sooner (rather than later). It is an area of the hobby that has grown faster than most other areas (% of collectors increasing with little pause) but beware that most collectors seek AU to GEM UNC. Selom do collectors wish to have a circulated example (& when they do, the note should be a solid radar, ladder or Million # note).
I have provided a few examples of these special serial numbers below and put a little blurb beside each. Do not confuse Special Serial Numbers with a 'fancy number.' Typically, everyone will agree that the numbers below are Special Serial Numbers whereas a "fancy number" may be prized for arbitrary reasons unique to an individual (or that individual's culture). Fancy serials like 0090500 for area code 905, or 0880888, are cool but not the equivalent of a Special Serial Number. I believe the term "fancy" came from the US where they have labelled Special Serial Numbered notes as "fancy." However, I have also seen the term used extensively on eBay for "Birthday" notes, 2 digit notes,"broken ladders" & other debatable serial numbers.
NOTE: this section is not comprehensive:
To see the full complement of special serial numbered notes refer to the back of any paper money catalogue.
solid radars:
Everyone (collector, dabbler or non-collector) seems to like these solid radar numbers. The solid 8 also holds a premium because it is a rotator (looks the same when rotated upside down) and 8's are held in high esteem by some cultures. See other examples of radars below.
LADDERS:
A true ladder note is one tough serial number to find. That would be 123456 or 654321 & digits must increase (or decrease) by one (L or R). If you hear about a "broken" ladder pass!
Million # NOTES:
Million numbered notes are also a tough number to find. Like the solid- there are only 9 to be found out of a 10,000,000 run (One 10,000,000 note was made for each prefix of the 1954 series). A lot of collectors view these as the opposite of the #1 note (& heavily discounted in price).
Low numbered notes:
Numbers lower than 1000 (for a 7 digit SN) are considered low & command a small premium. Numbers lower than 100 demand a slightly better premium while numbers lower than 10 are highly prized. The #1 note will fetch the highest bid. It is like the bookend of a 1,000,000 note (above). Beware of notes with low # issued (small island nations, US National banks) as these will cost less than larger runs of notes.
THOUSAND NUMBEREDRadar:
These are like Million numbered notes (& are 2 digit radars for 7 digit SN). They are seldom seen or sold so often no book value placed, making prices "to be negotiated." The example on the left also happens to be a birth year - Millennial # note too!
2 digit radars:
Radar or palindrome serial numbers read the same from right to left & left to right. I really like 2 digit radars and feel they're highly undervalued.
3-4 DIGIT RADARS
Three and Four digit radars/palindromes are still a tough note to find (only 1 in 1000) and especially in high grade.
REPEATERS:
Repeaters are like the "new kid on the block" but becoming more and more appreciated. A repeater serial number should have a repeating pattern (AXAXAXA or AXAYAXA, etc) as seen in the example to the left.