1950 20 Dollar Bill: What It’s Worth, How to Sell, and More

1950 $20 Bill Value Explained

A 1950 $20 bill that includes no remarkable misprints or serial numbers is most likely worth its face value of $20. Uncirculated or mint condition bills sell for around $35.^[1]

However, if a bill includes any of these unique characteristics and is uncirculated or in excellent condition, it may be worth up to $500 or more.^[2]

To determine the value of a bill, you shouldn’t consider its age alone, but its condition and whether it includes any features that make it attractive to currency collectors. We explain these value factors below.

Condition

The value of a bill is, in part, determined by its condition. Things like wear, folds, creases, wrinkles, and rounded corners will usually reduce the bill to its face value unless it has another remarkable feature.

A bill is considered in “mint condition” when it shows no signs of wear, folds, or fading and has sharp corners.

However, even a mint condition 1950 $20 bill won’t be worth more than about $35 unless it has a special serial number or another unique trait.^[1]

Valuable Features

Unique or unusual serial numbers and misprinted designs can make a 1950 $20 bill more valuable.

Star notes (which note that a bill was reprinted due to an error) can also add value to a bill; however, note that because star notes are quite common for 1950 $20 bills, you usually won’t get much more than face value for a star note on this particular type of bill.^[3][4]

Serial Numbers

A unique serial number can increase the value of a bill. Popular “fancy” serial numbers include those that are all the same number (e.g., 44444444), trailing zeros (e.g., 40000000), repeaters (e.g., 43674367), or binary (e.g., 10101001).^[5][6]

The value of a 1950 $20 bill with a desirable serial number can range from around $35, to nearly $1,000, though the exact value will depend on the specific serial number a bill carries, as well as the other factors discussed here.^[1][7]

You can find out more about valuable serial numbers in our related research on the worth of 1950 $10 bills.

Misprints

While errors aren’t common in the currency printing process, mistakes do happen. Because errors are pretty rare, misprinted bills are often higher in value than other bills from the same year and series.

Common printing errors include shifted text, stuck digits, and symbols like seals appearing in the wrong places.^[8]

Note that an upside-down flag isn’t considered a misprint and adds no value to the bill,^[9] and “In God We Trust” didn’t appear on $20 bills until 1964.^[10]

Individual dealers will determine the value of misprints based on their rarity and current market conditions/buyer interest, so the value your misprint adds will vary on a case-by-case basis.

If you suspect your bill may be special, you should consult a few different dealers and buyers to see how much they’re willing to pay.

Where to Buy/Sell

You can buy or sell any collectible currency through an antiques and collectibles dealer with expertise in currency, such as Manifest Auctions or American Rarities.

Companies like these know how to fairly evaluate currency and determine its authenticity; however, note that you’ll receive less than the retail value when selling currency this way since the dealer/broker wants to make a profit.

If you’d prefer to buy or sell bill(s) directly, the eBay Coins & Paper Money marketplace can also be a good place to make transactions, offering access to a worldwide community of collectors and merchants.