The Fancy Serial Number Files: Million Serial Numbers

Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) is the world’s leading authority on fancy serial numbers, a popular segment of numismatics. In this series, we take an in-depth look at different fancy serial numbers. This month’s topic is Million Serial Numbers.

In the previous columns in this series, we looked at notes with Serial Number 1 and other Low Serial Numbers. In modern times, these Low Serial Numbers are typically preceded by several zeros.

Million Serial Numbers are the opposite, where the serial number ends in six zeroes. One example is this Malaysia, Bank Negara ND (1981-83) 1 Ringgit with a 1 Million Serial Number graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ. (It is part of a Trigometric auction this month, with an estimate of RM3,000 to RM5,000, or about $650 to $1,050).

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The collecting community values not only serial numbers of 1 million but of any million number. This US 1922 $20 Gold Certificate graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ has a 60 Million Serial Number. It is more difficult to find Million Serial Numbers on vintage notes, especially Large Size Notes like these that were used a century ago in the United States. This note realized $15,600 in a May 2024 Heritage Auctions sale.

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Prices realized in other Heritage Auctions sales of Million Serial Number notes include:

• a Canada, Bank of Canada 1937 20 Dollars with a 10 Million Serial Number graded PMG 20 Very Fine NET that realized $10,800 in September 2017
• a US 1899 $2 Silver Certificate with a 2 Million Serial Number graded PMG 55 About Uncirculated that realized $9,600 in July 2022
• a lot of two Hong Kong, Standard Chartered Bank 100 Dollar notes (1986-89 and 1994-97), each with a 1 Million Serial Number and each graded PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ, which realized $9,000 in December 2021
• a US $1 1935C Silver Certificate with a 50 Million Serial Number graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated that realized $7,200 in May 2023
• a Hong Kong, Standard Chartered Bank 1993 100 Dollars with a 1 Million Serial Number graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ that realized $5,640 in June 2023
• a Hong Kong, Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation 1972 100 Dollars with a 1 Million Serial Number graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated that realized $4,560 in December 2023
• a Hong Kong, HSBC Ltd. 1998-99 1,000 Dollars with a 1 Million Serial Number graded PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ that realized $3,000 in December 2021
• a US 1963A $1 Federal Reserve Note (Philadelphia) with a 50 Million Serial Number graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated EPQ that realized $2,400 in May 2023
• a US 1957A $1 Silver Certificate with a 10 Million Serial Number graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated EPQ that realized $2,160 in January 2019
• a lot of two Malaysia, Bank Negara ND (1995) 50 Ringgit notes, one with a Solid-9 Serial Number and the other with a 1 Million Serial Number, graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated EPQ and PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ, which realized $1,560 in December 2018

Collectors and dealers with fancy serial numbers can submit them to PMG for certification and attribution under an applicable grading tier. All fancy serial number banknotes must be submitted on a separate submission form. There is no additional fee for this service.

Other PMG columns:

• Collection Inspiration
• Counterfeit Detection
• Error Note Chronicles
• PMG's Featured Note of the Month
• PMG Registry Featured Set