How do I check if my $100 bill is worth money?

Is Your $100 Bill Worth More Than Face Value?

Think your $100 bill is just another piece of paper? Think again. While most bills are worth exactly what’s printed on them, some can fetch hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars to the right collector.

Flip through your wallet and pull out any $100 bill. Look at the top corners: you’ll see dark green numbers on both sides. That’s the serial number—a unique combination of eight digits assigned to each note. Most are ordinary, but certain patterns turn an everyday bill into a hidden treasure.

For example, a "ladder" serial number—like 12345678 or 87654321—is extremely rare and highly sought after. Even a "solid" number, such as 99999999, or a low number like 00000001, can make your bill a collector’s item. Then there are "radar" notes, where the number reads the same backward and forward—like 33566533. These quirks aren’t just trivia; they’re currency with character.

While the average rare serial might only add a few extra bucks, truly exceptional ones can sell for hundreds. A 1914 $100 bill with a unique pedigree once sold for over $10,000—not because of age, but because of rarity and demand.

So before you spend that next Benjamin, take a second look. That unassuming greenback might be quietly sitting on a small fortune. You don’t need to be a numismatist to appreciate it—just curious, and maybe a little lucky.