The Fancy Serial Number Files: Solid 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 Solid Serial Numbers.

Solid Serial Numbers are serial numbers that have the same number repeated throughout, with the exception of the prefix. (If the prefix has a numerical component that matches the numbers in the rest of the serial number, then it is called a Super Solid Serial Number.) This 2001 $10 Federal Reserve Note (Atlanta) has a Solid-5 Serial Number. It is offered in a Heritage Auctions sale in August 2024.

Click images to enlarge.

PMG attributes Solid Serial Numbers regardless of the script they are expressed in. This Jordan, Central Bank 2006 / AH1427 50 Dinars has a Solid-8 Serial Number. It realized $336 at a Stack's Bowers auction in July 2024.

Click images to enlarge.

Solid-8 Serial Numbers are especially valued by the paper money collecting community in Asia. Eight is considered a lucky number because the Mandarin Chinese word for eight sounds similar to the word for wealth. Meanwhile, the number four is considered unlucky because the Chinese word for four sounds similar to the word for death, so fancy serial numbers involving the number 4 sometimes underperform at auction, depending on the market.

Prices realized by Solid Serial Number notes through Heritage Auctions include:

• an 1899 $1 Silver Certificate with a Solid-9 Serial Number graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated EPQ that realized $90,000 in May 2022
• an 1899 $5 Silver Certificate with a Solid-1 Serial Number graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated that realized $48,000 in May 2022
• a Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation 1968 500 Dollars with a Solid-8 Serial Number graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated EPQ that realized $23,900 in December 2016
• a 1914 $5 Federal Reserve Note (San Francisco) with a Solid-7 Serial Number graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated EPQ that realized $18,000 in January 2022
• a 1963A $1 Federal Reserve Note (Cleveland) with a Solid-9 Serial Number graded PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ that realized $16,800 in January 2021
• a 2009 $1 Federal Reserve Note (Boston) with a Solid-7 Serial Number graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ that realized $16,800 in January 2023
• a Hong Kong, Bank of China 2017 100 Dollars with a Solid-6 Serial Number graded PMG 67 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ that realized $15,600 in December 2018
• a Canada, Bank of Canada 1937 1 Dollar with a Solid-9 Serial Number graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated EPQ that realized $14,400 in January 2021
• a China / People's Republic 1953 5 Jiao with a Solid-1 Serial Number graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ that realized $12,600 in December 2018
• a 1928 $5 Legal Tender Note with a Solid-6 Serial Number graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated EPQ that realized $8,400 in April 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