This is my attempt to collect all of the wonderful terms that are used to describe cool and fancy serial numbers. Some terms are commonly used. Some are recognized by grading services. All of them are descriptive of a particular flavor of serial number.
I’ll cite sources when available. This is meant to be a living document. Enjoy!
Jump to: Num A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Num
A
B
Binary serial number
A binary serial number in the strict sense is a serial number made up of only zeroes and ones (like 10100110). In the looser sense, the term can be applied to any serial number that is made of only two digits (like 73373377). Because of this, sometimes the term true binary is used to distinguish the strict definition from the loose one.
True binary serial numbers qualify for notation on graded holders from the Paper Money Guaranty company.
Birthday note
A birthday note has a serial number that represents a calendar date. These are often given as gifts to people to whom that date means something (typically a birthday or anniversary). Examples are 07041776 (July 4th, 1776) or 08131984 (August 13th, 1984).
The clearest examples of birthday notes use all eight digits (on US currency) as above, though people may still accept and enjoy bills that don’t use all of the digits, (e.g., 00813840).
C
D
E
F
Four pair
A four pair serial number has four sets of pairs, usually together, as in 11449988. Also called quad doubles or quad pair.
G
H
High serial number
A high serial number is one that is close to the maximum possible. For US currency, the maximum possible serial number is 99999999.
I
J
K
L
Ladder
A ladder serial number consists of consecutive digits either going up (an ascending ladder, e.g. 23456789) or going down (a descending ladder, e.g. 76543210).
Ascending and descending ladders (with 0 either being high or low) qualify for notation on graded holders from the Paper Money Guaranty company.
Many eBay sellers will offer (more common) bills that have some elements of a ladder serial number:
- Mixed ladder (or scrambled ladder) which contains eight consecutive digits, but not in order (e.g. 24536187).
- Partial ladder which contains some consecutive digits (e.g. 12345968).
Low serial number
A low serial number is one that is close to the minimum possible. For US currency, the lowest serial number is 00000001.
All other things being equal, lower serial numbers are more valuable. Serial numbers under 10,000 can see some value on eBay, and serial numbers under 1,000 almost certainly do.
Single-digit serial numbers (00000001 through 00000009) qualify for notation on graded holders from the Paper Money Guaranty company.
M
Million serial number
A million serial number has a serial number that ends in six zeroes. An example: 76000000.
Million serial numbers qualify for notation on graded holders from the Paper Money Guaranty company.
Mixed ladder
See ladder.
N
Near-solid serial number
See solid serial number.
O
P
Partial Ladder
See ladder.
Q
R
Radar
A radar serial number is a palindromic serial number. This kind of fancy serial number reads the same frontward and backward. Examples of radar serial number are 56399365, 12344321, and 25555552.
Radar serial numbers qualify for notation on graded holders from the Paper Money Guaranty company.
Radar Repeater
A radar repeater serial number is both a radar and a repeater, such as 46644664.
Repeater
A repeater serial number has the same first four digits and last four digits. It repeats. Examples of a repeater serial number are 56395639, 12341234, and 25552555.
Repeater serial numbers qualify for notation on graded holders from the Paper Money Guaranty company.
S
Solid serial number
A solid serial number has only one digit repeated. For example: 77777777.
Sometimes on eBay, bills with several of the same digit will be listed as near-solid or partial-solid. Sometimes the number of repeated digits is mentioned (e.g., 6/8 solid).
Solid serial numbers qualify for notation on graded holders from the Paper Money Guaranty company.
Super radar
A super radar serial number is a radar serial number that has the same digit for all of the interior digits. An example is 47777774.
Super repeater
A super repeater serial number is a repeater serial number that has two digits four times, as in 24242424.
T
Trinary
A trinary serial number is a serial number with three different digits, as in 25662565.
True binary
See binary serial number.
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
ZIP code bill
A ZIP code bill has a ZIP code, usually as the full serial number. Example: 00090210.