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I Have A Question About Paper Bills

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United States
67 Posts
 Posted 12/07/2024  5:07 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add CerealxKiller to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
I know next to nothing about paper money and the errors they may have so I just check serial numbers for unique combinations. After thinking about it, ive never even come close to getting a solid block. So my question is, does the mint release bills with solid block serial numbers to the public or do employees nab them before the bills go out? Has anyone here ever had one or came close to finding one?
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Coinfrog's Avatar
United States
94367 Posts
 Posted 12/07/2024  5:32 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Coinfrog to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
By "solid block", do you mean a serial number with all numbers the same? If so, then yes, they are issued without favor or theft, but they are understandably uncommon to find.
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SteveInTampa's Avatar
United States
4637 Posts
 Posted 12/07/2024  6:02 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add SteveInTampa to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I totally agree with Mr.Frog.
BTW, the Mint produces coins and medals and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is tasked with producing our paper money.
Edited by SteveInTampa
12/07/2024 6:02 pm
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Sap's Avatar
Australia
16810 Posts
 Posted 12/08/2024  08:14 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Sap to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
"Solids", i.e. a serial number where all the digits are the same, are rather rare. It's pure statistics.

There are eight digits in a serial number on a modern US note. These digits can, essentially be treated as random numbers. With only ten possible solid notes in a series from 00000000 to 99999999, this in turn means that there is a one in 1000000 chance that a banknote selected at random will have a solid serial number - a far lower probability than other "cool patterns" like semi-solids, repeaters, or radars.

BEP employees essentially cannot just "nab" notes. It's not like they give away free samples to their workers or something like that. This is, after all, the actual place where all the government's physical money is printed. The level of scrutiny applied to BEP workers who handle banknote printing would boggle your mind. What is happening, however, is a far higher probability of some random member of the population noticing a solid note and saying "wow that's cool I'll keep it", so they're much more likely to get filtered out before you see them.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Coinfrog's Avatar
United States
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 Posted 12/08/2024  09:18 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Coinfrog to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
That's well said.
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HondoB's Avatar
United States
25030 Posts
 Posted 12/09/2024  09:13 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add HondoB to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
there is a one in 1000000 chance that a banknote selected at random will have a solid serial number

The odds of finding a solid serial number are lower - ~ 1 in 10,000,000. They are not likely to be encountered.
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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