Why star notes are ending
- New technology: The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) has acquired new equipment that can print Federal Reserve notes with non-sequential serial numbers.
- No need for replacements: This new equipment eliminates the need for star notes as replacements for flawed notes, because it can avoid creating errors in the first place.
- Phasing out: The existing star notes will remain in circulation, but as they wear out, they will be replaced by standard notes that don't have a star at the end of their serial number.
- Timeline: The transition will be a gradual one, and it may take a decade or two for all star notes to be completely removed from circulation, notes Coin World.
What this means for collectors
- Future rarity: As the supply of star notes dwindles, they may become more valuable to collectors, says APMEX.
- Continued searching: It will still be possible to find star notes for years to come, but they will be increasingly rare.