Five Dollar Bill Silver Certificate STAR NOTE Series 1934 US Currency Good or Better

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We are pleased to offer for sale this Five Dollar Bill Silver Certificate Series 1934 US Currency Good or Better.  These $5 Silver Certificates are nice original bills which grade good or better. These $5 Silver Certificates were redeemable for silver dollars or silver bullion up until 1964.  These notes are Series 1934 (random pick our choice 1934, 1934 A through D).  Each bill comes in a currency sleeve for protection.  These $5 Silver Certificates will make a nice addition to any currency collection!

Information on these Silver Certificate Series 1934 Five Dollar Bills:

In 1929 all US Currency was changed to its current modern size.  Series 1934 $5 Silver Certificates were the first small size $5 Silver Certificates issued.   The obverse features a cropped version of Abraham Lincoln's portrait that was previously featured on the large size United States Notes.  The reverse of the bill features the Lincoln Memorial and is in the style we know today.   The series 1934 bill can be differentiated from future series by the blue numeral "5" on the left side of the obverse.   Future series changed the numeral "5" to a gray color.

What is a Star Note?

A Star Note is a bank note with an asterisk (*) or star placed before or after the serial number.   The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) uses replacement Star Notes when a bill is found defective during printing.  These error notes are replaced with Star Notes . A Star Note is used because no two bills can be printed with the same serial number in a series.  The bureau can keep an accurate count of bills printed in each serial number run by using Star Notes.  On Federal Reserve Notes, the star is where the block letter or last letter of the serial number is.   On Legal Tender Notes and Silver Certificates, the star is where the pre-fix or first letter of the serial number is.

Star Notes were also used for the 100,000,000th note in a series.  This was the last note in the block of serial numbers. The numbering machines could not print over 8 digits.  Star Notes are no longer used for this.  Now the highest range of serial numbers are reserved for uncut sheets sold to collector's.  Regular notes printed for circulation do not reach this number in the block.

The rarity of Star Notes depends on the "run" size.  This determines the number of notes that are printed and released into circulation. The BEP currently prints Star Notes in maximum runs of 3.2 million.  This is 100,000 32 note sheets.  The runs are smaller depending on how many Star Notes are needed.  The smaller the run the more rare the Star Note is.  Collectors consider a run of 640,000 notes or less rare.

What is a Silver Certificate?

Silver Certificates were United States Currency authorized in the Act of Congress of February 28, 1878 and issued through 1964.  Large size Silver Certificates were issued through 1923 and then the currency changed to the small or modern size we use today.  Silver Certificates all have distinguishing blue seals.  Silver Certificates could be exchanged for silver dollars or silver bullion.   The Silver Law of 1963 changed this, discontinuing redemption for silver dollars in 1964; then silver bullion in 1968 (based on silver price of $1.29 per ounce).  Small size Silver Certificates have been issued in $1, $5, and $10 denominations.

Small size $1 Silver Certificates were printed in multiple series: 1928, 1928 A through E, 1934, 1935, 1935 A through H, 1957, 1957 A and B.  $5 Silver Certificates were also printed in multiple series: 1934, 1934 A through D, 1953, 1953 A through C.  $10 Silver Certificates were printed in multiple series as well: 1933, 1933 A, 1934, 1934 A through D, 1953, 1953 A and B.