If you have this bill in a drawer, you may have $5,000 – It’s from 1918, with John Marshall and a Spanish conquistador on the back

Rare U.S. bills featuring chief justice John Marshall and Spanish Conquistador Hernando de Soto: Valuations on the Rise

Modified on:
May 26, 2025 1:23 am

It may be difficult to gauge the future appreciation of particular collectible bills, but there are certain categories of U.S. money that have been resold for a substantial sum in the recent past. These types of banknotes are still hunted by collectors and fans of such materials, and in fact, some of these banknotes today have values that go far beyond their face value.

Buyers of goods, such as at markets or state fairs, may still use cash. However, in other contexts, cash use is increasingly rare. People who work with cash regularly may find it helpful to examine the notes that they are given, bearing in mind that certain types of old or scarce notes may be worth a lot of money. This becomes especially true where these bills are intricate or contain unusual features, such as being out of a series, carrying high dollar face amounts, having a printing mistake, or having a strange pattern of numbers. Such features are likely to catch the attention of collectors, leading to the possible appreciation of these bills in due course.

Read now: Nurse anesthetist’s side hustle that brings in over a million for one’s day work a week.

Below are some interesting bills from the United States that are already valued greatly and have the potential to appreciate in the coming years:

1. 1960 Series $500 Bill (Blue Seal) This bill depicts John Marshall, not a widely known historical figure, whose impact was instrumental in the political system rise and development and which taxpayers today do not care for, the 4th Chief Justice of America.  Such bills sell for between $1500 to $5000, depending on the state they are found in. PCGS values it at 30, which indicates that it is in very fine condition. It carries a portrait of Hernando De Soto, the Spanish conqueror who in the 1540s was the first to explore the Mississippi River. Such 500-dollar prescription drugs have already entered the market, where eBay offers such 500-dollar prescription drugs for more money than their face value.

2. 500-dollar bills dated 1928 and 1934 (Green Seal). Known as Federal Reserve Notes, these bills are looking at the same range of about $1,500 to $5,000. These images are on the bills of President William McKinley, the 25th president of the United States. Collectors are especially fond of these 500-dollar notes, especially those that have been encased and graded by companies such as PCGS, whereby challenging the 63 rating, there are uncirculated examples. Based on the current trend for these notes, their price appreciation trend will most likely continue.

3. 5000 DOLLAR BILL 1918 Series ULTRA RARE BILL A bill of this magnitude has not been in any circulation for several years, and good-condition specimens are estimated to be worth around the figure of $125,000. This note has a face value of $5,000 and contains the image of US president number four James Madison. The findings of this note are one of the major achievements when it comes to the collection of any currency of the United States. ‘Although very few exist, to the $5000 note, we believe they may attain this valuation based on a fully restored note,” said US Currency Auctions.

4. $10,000 Bill from the 1928, 1934A, and 1934B Series (Green Seal)

Another high-value banknote, the $10,000 bill, has an estimated worth of $50,000 to $200,000. Featuring Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase, these bills are among the rarest U.S. denominations. Bold Precious Metals notes that well-preserved $10,000 bills can bring in $125,000 or more, depending on condition. As one of the highest-denomination bills ever issued, it holds a prestigious place in currency collections.

Read now: Neither California nor Texas – U.S. state to receive SNAP Payment of 800 euros before May 25

5. Gold Certificate, 10 Dollars, 1907

Although it is not as scarce as some of the higher denominations, it still has a big worth, somewhere between 1250 dollars upwards, since this is a 1907 ten-dollar gold certificate. This bill is rated as nearly uncirculated with a PCGS rating of 50, and it has an interesting design including historical attractions. This bill is usually put on auction with a starting price of about 675 dollars, though in the end, the sales prices tend to go above this amount, more so selling due as the growing interest of collectors.

6. $10 Silver Certificate with Three Signatures

This uncommon currency also offers a bill signed by J.C. Hopper, which drew attention after it fetched around 40,000 dollars in a sale in 2013. The selling value has increased, which was at 16,000 dollars in 1992, an amount that translates to almost 36,000 dollars today. While the present valuation is not clear-cut, it is likely that this bill has maintained or even increased its value over the years due to its rarity and historical value.

In summary, rare U.S. bills, particularly those with high denominations or unique features, continue to capture the interest of collectors. With values often far exceeding their face amounts, these pieces of history can be incredibly lucrative for those fortunate enough to own them. Collectors should keep a close eye on market trends, as these valuable notes could experience further appreciation in the coming years.

Emem Ukpong
Emem Ukponghttps://polifinus.com/author/emem-uk/
My journey to becoming a writer has been shaped by both science and finance. I began with a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry, but I found myself drawn to the economic and financial sphere. I have collaborated with various organizations, creating articles and blogs about these essential topics. Currently, I cover financial trends, economic updates, and social welfare topics for Polifinus, ensuring that our content reaches those who need it most.

Must read

Related News