Stupid Question From A Non-Collector Of Currency ...

Good question AuldFartte!
I'm sure you see that a star note is represented by an actual star by the serial number. When paper money is printed some times they print faulty notes. Too much ink, not enough ink, paper gets bent or folded wrong during the printing process. When they print these bills and see that they are error prints, they destroy them so they don't give these faulty notes to banks and then to the general public. When they destroy, lets say 10,000 notes (yeah, a big "oops"), they need some notes for the ones they destroyed so the serial numbers aren't missing big gaps between them. They want a continual run of serial numbers. They will reprint these destroyed notes and put a star on the serial number labeling them "replacement notes". Replacement note = star note. Star notes are rare, especially with the older bills, simply because they don't print as many replacement notes as they do non replacement notes. Printing paper money costs a lot of money. They aren't stupid and they make their printing methods as flawless as possible to reduce waist. So if they printed (for example) 10,000,000 $2 1976 notes, and only 500,000 replacement notes, the replacement (star) notes are much rarer.

You will find many $1 1999, 2001 and 2003 notes in circulation even to this day. If you happen to get a bundle of 100 consecutive modern star notes then you can get maybe $150 to $200 for them. You will find many $10 star notes from the 1999, 2001 and 2003 prints and they aren't worth much. But if you find the new 2004 $10 star notes, they are worth like over $20 because they didn't print quite as many. The more you look around the more you will know what star notes are very valuable and what ones that are not worth that much.

But ANY old style notes (the small faced notes) that are 1995 and earlier that have a star are definetly keepers. Most star notes printed before 1950 will have a significant difference in price to own compaired to more moddern ones.
Hope this helped, and if you have any questions feel free to just ask.
Good things,
Ty

I would! :P I find some valuable notes. Like a 1969 C $100 star note. Worth probably $140. And thats just in circulation. You will definetly find some good stuff.
Good things,
Ty

ok I didnt complete the first post in reading sorry...ooops

I don't think they do start over at zero. I have heard, though I haven't seen for myself, that when you go through a bundle of crsip brand new bills, the star notes are in sequence with the regular bills. That what I have heard, anyways...
Ty