The Fancy Serial Number Files: Radar 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 Radar Serial Numbers.

Radar Serial Numbers are palindromes, meaning they read the same forward as they do backward. For instance, the 1918 $1 Federal Reserve Bank Note (Boston) below has a Radar Serial Number of 90009. (This PMG-certified note is part of a Heritage Auctions sale in December 2024.)

Click images to enlarge.

This Netherlands Indies, Javasche Bank 1938-39 50 Gulden has a Radar Serial Number of 04840, which is printed across each '50' at the bottom of the front of the note. (This note is part of a Heritage Auctions sale in December 2024, with an estimate of at least $800.)

Click images to enlarge.

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

• an India - British, Bank of Bombay 1853-60 10 Rupees graded PMG 10 Very Good NET that realized $16,800 in January 2022
• a New York, National Bank of Commerce in New York 1882 $10 Brown Back graded PMG 68 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ that realized $9,600 in May 2024
• a US 1899 $1 Silver Certificate graded PMG 67 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ that realized $6,600 in January 2022
• a Great Britain, Bank of England 1934-38 100 Pounds - Liverpool graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated that realized $3,240 in October 2021
• a US 1934 $1,000 Federal Reserve Note (Boston) graded PMG 30 Very Fine that realized $3,120 in April 2021
• a US 1934A $500 Federal Reserve Note (Kansas City) graded PMG 50 About Uncirculated that realized $2,880 in May 2024
• a Straits Settlements / British Administration 1935 10 Dollars graded PMG 35 Choice Very Fine that realized $2,520 in October 2024
• a US 1918 $2 Federal Reserve Bank Note (Dallas) graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated that realized $2,340 in April 2020
• a US 1914 $10 Federal Reserve Note (St. Louis) graded PMG 55 About Uncirculated that realized $2,232 in January 2017
• a Belize, Government of Belize 1976 10 Dollars graded PMG 67 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ that realized $1,380 in September 2020
• a Hong Kong, Government of Hong Kong ND (1935) 1 Dollar graded PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated that realized $1,140 in December 2017
• a Hong Kong, Chartered Bank ND (1970-75) 100 Dollars graded PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ that realized $1,080 in December 2023

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 Fancy Serial Number Files columns:

• Serial Number 1
• Low Serial Numbers
• Million Serial Numbers
• Solid Serial Numbers
• Repeater Serial Numbers