The Fancy Serial Number Files: Repeater 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 Repeater Serial Numbers.

Repeater Serial Numbers occur when the serial number consists only of repeating sequences of numbers. For example, this 2017A $10 Federal Reserve Note (San Francisco) has a Repeater Serial Number in which the number 14 is repeated four times: 14141414. (This PMG-certified note is part of a Heritage Auctions sale ending in early October 2024.)

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Another example of a Repeater Serial Number is found on this Netherlands Indies, Javasche Bank 1946 25 Gulden: 045045. The repeating sequence of numbers can be two, three or four numbers, but the serial number cannot contain any extra digits besides the groups of repeating serial numbers. This PMG-certified note realized $5,040 at a Heritage Auctions sale in April 2022. Two other notes with this same catalog number and grade but without a fancy serial number each realized $4,560 (or $480 less) a few months earlier.

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Prices realized by other Repeater Serial Number notes through Heritage Auctions include:

• a Palestine, Currency Board 1944 5 Pounds graded PMG 45 Choice Extremely Fine that realized $11,400 in November 2023
• a 1918 Federal Reserve Bank Note (Dallas) graded PMG 53 About Uncirculated that realized $3,525 in January 2016
• a 1934A $1,000 Federal Reserve Note (Philadelphia) graded PMG 25 Very Fine that realized $3,480 in January 2023
• an 1899 $1 Silver Certificate graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ that realized $3,120 in January 2022
• an India/British Administration ND (1928-35) 5 Rupees graded PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated EPQ that realized $2,640 in April 2020
• a Netherlands Indies, De Javasche Bank 1919-21 40 Gulden Specimen graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated EPQ that realized $2,151 in December 2016
• a Hong Kong, Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation 1985 1,000 Dollars graded PMG 67 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ that realized $1,440 in December 2021
• a Bhutan, Royal Government ND (1974) 10 Ngultrum graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ that realized $1,292 in April 2014

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