There is a curious thing happening in the U.S that may lead to some people unexpectedly gaining a fair amount of money. The release of a special series of $50 bills came out with a unique feature that makes it valuable among collectors, far exceeding the value of the bill. So, if you are in a pinch and have cash on hand, maybe get it and start looking for a $50 bill featuring Ulysses S. Grant in your possession, because you may just get lucky.
Bill collectors don’t just want any random bill out of a series. Of course, the older the series, the more valuable it becomes as fewer notes are in existence (money is regularly destroyed and reprinted with better security features to avoid counterfeiters), but there is usually a marker or specific issue with the bill that makes it rare and thus fetch a good price for collectors as long as it was legal tender.
How to identify the valuable $50 Ulysses S. Grant bill?
The $50 bill of former President Ulysses S. Grant that collectors are interested in and will purchase for up to $8,000 has a particular feature: it has a double printing error on the front, which significantly deviates from its original version. The mistake was corrected swiftly and only a comparatively small number of bills were released into the world with these markings. That only made them rarer. And given that this series of bills was issued in 1977 by the Federal Reserve (Fed) of New York, they are even more scarce nowadays. Very few have survived the wear and tear of time and use or the periodical destruction of currency that the federal government encourages.
What to do if my $50 bill is worth $8,000?
Well, that is always the million-dollar question (or in this case, the $8,000 question) as most people would not know where to start if they were faced with this prospect. If you have one of the few remaining $50 bills in your possession (brownie points if it is in good shape) and you want to sell it instead of holding on to it as an investment for the future, you have the option to go to a numismatic fair or shop. Some of them may not be reputable, so always take care of research first, never let the items leave your possession and be vigilant in case of fraud.
Another somewhat safer option is to have it appraised and authenticated and then submitted to a specialized auction house. Most normal people do not have the necessary contacts to make a transaction of this nature without help, so just contact any reputable auction house and they will be able to set you on the right path. Still remain vigilant and be mindful of your choices.
$50 Bills: What were the security features back then?
According to the U.S. Currency Education Program, the $50 bill features subtle background colors in blue and red and includes an embedded security thread that glows yellow when illuminated with ultraviolet light.
Additionally, a watermark of President Grant’s portrait is visible from both sides of the bill when held up to the light. It also includes a number 50 in the lower right corner that changes color.
Security measures are different for every note amount and for every printing edition of the currency, and the series is always written on the currency, so, in case of any doubt, you should always start with the year of print and then look up the security measures that would have been embedded into that specific lot.
