One of the key notes for a complete Federal Reserve Set of True Radars (AA thru LL). Across all 28 series in which $1 FRNs were printed 1963 thru 2021, Minneapolis I-I block notes were only printed and released twice: in Series 1988A and 1995. 

This I-I block True Radar is in PMG-certified Gem Uncirculated condition. 

The story of True Radars

Years ago I began to collect radar serial numbers. After building a collection of these fancy serials, I realized that most radar notes were rather common. How common? One in 10,000. 

How does that work? Easy: pick any beginning four digits. An example might be 5844. There are 10,000 notes printed in this block that start with 5844: 58440000 thru 58449999. But only one of these 10,000, in this case 5844-4485 is the radar.

I wanted to aim higher. So I decided to restrict my pursuit to TRUE RADARS, those radars with matching block letters (AA, BB, CC, thru LL). No longer would I look spend money on common radars with blocks like AB, BJ, DF, or LC. I wanted a set of radars reading the same forward and backwards INCLUDING the block letters. 

So I studied the Bureau of Engraving and Printing census reports. I also utilized reference materials like the Schwartz-Linquist Standard Guide to Small-Size U.S. Paper Money and Robert Azpiazu's Collector's Guide to Modern Federal Reserve Notes. Compiling a list of available matching block letter blocks printed for each Federal Reserve District for each Series, I calculated that fewer than 7 percent of all blocks released since the first 1963 $1 FRNs have matching block letters (AA, BB, CC, etc.).

This matching-block radar pursuit proved much more challenging: only one in every 160,000 notes is a TRUE radar. 


I have been buying and selling on eBay for 25 years and maintain a perfect feedback record. All notes are sent in protective mylar sleeves and well packaged. Shipping is within the US only by first class certified mail.