Sell Old Paper Money in Dallas
Old U.S. currency is collected for its type, seal, condition and serial number, not its face value. Chris looks at each note with you, from silver certificates to large-size notes, and tells you which ones collectors want.
By appointment with Chris, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
How old notes are priced
A note is worth what collectors pay for its type and condition. Crisp notes with original paper sell for more than folded and stained ones. Star notes and unusual serial numbers can add interest, and Chris checks every note for each of these before he makes an offer.
What makes a note worth more
- Size and age: large-size notes issued before 1929 draw more interest than the smaller notes that followed.
- Seal color: red seals mark United States Notes, gold seals mark gold certificates and blue seals mark small-size silver certificates.
- Condition, since folds, tears, stains, pinholes and tape all lower the price.
- Star notes, which replaced misprinted notes, and fancy serial numbers can add a premium.
- National Bank Notes printed with a local bank's name draw strong collector demand.
What happens at your appointment
- 1
Keep notes flat
Bring them in an envelope, a book or a currency sleeve, unfolded and untouched.
- 2
Group by type
Chris sorts silver certificates, red seals, gold certificates and large-size notes into piles.
- 3
Study each note
He checks series, seal, serial number and condition under good light, one note at a time.
- 4
Make your call
You get a written offer per note or for the lot, and you are free to say no.
Old currency in Dallas estates
Old bills turn up in odd places around Dallas. Families find them tucked inside a family Bible, folded into the back of a wallet from the 1950s, or rolled into a coffee can in the attic of a Kessler Park bungalow. A parent who lived through the Depression often kept cash out of the bank, and some of it never got spent.
Silver certificates are the most common old notes. They were issued until the 1960s, and people could once trade them in for silver. Today they are redeemable only at face value, but collectors often pay more for clean notes, star notes and older series. Large-size notes, the bigger bills issued before 1929, draw even more attention.
Red seal notes are United States Notes. Gold certificates carry a gold seal. National Bank Notes are among the most collected types of all, because each one carries the name of the local bank that issued it. Dallas had its own national banks, and a note bearing a Texas bank name can draw interest from Texas collectors.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas sits on Pearl Street downtown, and modern notes printed for its district carry the letter K. Those everyday K notes spend like any other bill unless the serial number is unusual. Low numbers, repeating digits and numbers that read the same both ways can all catch a collector's eye.
Condition matters more on paper than almost anywhere else. Do not fold, tape, iron or wash a note. Do not try to press out a crease or erase a pencil mark. Keep notes flat in a sleeve or between the pages of a heavy book, away from heat and damp. A torn note is still worth bringing, just as it is.
Chris sees sellers by appointment, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and many paper money lots arrive alongside coins from the same estate. If you are handling a parent's estate in Oak Cliff, Lakewood or University Park, he can write an item-by-item appraisal for Dallas County probate. Bring a driver's license or state ID.
Sellers come from
Common questions
Are silver certificates still worth anything?
They are redeemable only at face value, but collectors often pay more for clean notes, older series and star notes. Chris will tell you which of yours are worth more than face.
What is a star note?
A star note is a replacement note printed to stand in for a misprinted one. The star sits next to the serial number. Some are common and some draw strong interest.
What makes a large-size note different?
Large-size notes were issued before 1929 and are noticeably bigger than today's bills. They tend to draw more collector interest than the small-size notes that replaced them.
Should I flatten or clean old bills?
No. Pressing, washing, taping or erasing a note lowers its grade. Bring it exactly as you found it.
Do you buy fancy serial numbers?
Yes. Low serial numbers, solid digits, ladders and numbers that read the same backward can all be worth more than face. Chris checks every serial during the appointment.
Can I bring coins and notes together?
Yes. Many estates have both, and Chris can review the whole lot in one visit and put it on one written offer.
Get a free coin appraisal
Leave your name and number and tell us what you’re selling. Chris calls you back the same business day.
(469) 599-3283By appointment, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Serving Dallas, the Park Cities and nearby suburbs