Calvin Westfall, a 59-year-old vending machine owner from West Virginia, made a surprising discovery recently while sorting through the cash from one of his machines.
Among the familiar stack of dollar bills was a rare find—a bill with the low serial number G00000001I that could be worth up to $15,000. Westfall shared his excitement and the details of his discovery with Newsweek.
"I own a few vending machines locally, and I always search through my coins and notes," he told Newsweek. "I emptied my machine but didn't notice the bill right off.
"That evening, one of my friends wanted to use my truck, and I told him he could but that he'd have to stop and get gas since it was low on fuel."
Westfall handed his friend a few dollar bills from his pocket and happened to scroll through them, spotting the unique serial number on his most recent machine draw.
"I was so happy to see the dollar with that serial number," he said. "We all got a kick out of it, and to think I about gave it to him for gas!"
A Rare Collector's Item
Currency experts and collectors know that serial numbers like "G00000001I" are highly prized. Suriel Arellano, a speaker, author, and former IBM executive, broke down the find's significance.
"A one-dollar bill with the serial number G00000001I might be super valuable for collectors, maybe worth from $600 to, who knows, even $15,000," Arellano told Newsweek. "There's no better-collecting prize than a super low number, and the first one is really the best of the best.
"A number that starts with multiple zeros is about as rare as you can get."
Such rarity means the bill's actual value depends on demand at auctions or among private collectors.
"Collectors and their auctions respect expert opinions, especially the good ones that get you a nice early morning espresso," Arellano said.
Westfall has done some research, referencing a YouTube creator who said that similar bills have fetched up to $25,000 when graded. However, he remains unsure of the true worth of his find.
"Honestly, I really don't have a clue as to what it may be worth," he said. "I just know for that series 2013 B, I'm the only one who has it.
"Got to be pretty collectible."
Westfall was clear when asked what he planned to do with the rare bill: "Money talks! It would definitely be for sale."
Unique serial numbers on U.S. currency have long fascinated collectors. Bills with low or unique serial numbers tend to be distributed randomly, making them rare treasures when found.
The value of collectible currency often depends on its condition, serial number rarity, and demand. In Westfall's case, his bill's pristine state and "01" serial number could make it a coveted item.
Whether it ends up in the hands of a collector or sells at auction, Westfall is proud of his discovery and encourages others to look through their spare cash for hidden gold.
"I think people will get a smile from my story," he said.
Do you have a monetary dilemma? Let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
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