I believe the star indicates a bill printed to replace another bill that was damaged or destroyed in the printing process. It recieves the same serial number as the damaged bill, but with a star in place of the last digit.
God is dead. -Nietzsche
Nietzsche is dead. -God
Neitzsche is God. -Dead
According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta website (www.frbatlanta.org):
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Notes are numbered in lots of 100 million. Each lot has a different suffix letter, beginning with A and following in alphabetical order through Z, omitting O because of its similarity to the numeral zero.
Because serial numbers are limited to eight numerals, a “star” note is substituted for the 100 millionth note. Star notes also replace notes damaged in the printing process. Made up with independent runs of serial numbers, star notes are exactly like the notes they replace except that a star is substituted for one of the serial letters.
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Where can I find:
The old $2 bills (with the non-rectangular display on the back)?
Where can I find the (novelty) “TWE DOLLAR” bill?
From Mad, in the 60s, the 3-dollar bill:
“This is not legal tender…nor will tenderizer help it.”
“If you drive an automobile, please drive carefully–because I walk in my sleep.”–Victor Borge
Your comment about the tootsie pop was already done, SDStaff Wildbabe made it immediately she heard the question.
The real answer is that it means that the bill was a replacement bill for one that was misprinted, and the gummint doesn’t want to have to issue a new serial number.
I had to edit this post to overcome a typo so the link would work. --CKDH
[Note: This message has been edited by CKDextHavn]