You’re staring at a crisp 2017 20 dollar bill and wondering if you just hit the jackpot. Most people don't even look at their change. They just shove it in a wallet and move on with their day. But if you’re reading this, you probably noticed something—maybe a weird serial number, or perhaps you heard a rumor that these specific notes are becoming collector's items.
Honestly? Most of them are just worth twenty bucks. Sorry to be the bearer of boring news, but that's the reality of modern currency. However, "most" isn't "all." There are specific versions of the Series 2017 and 2017A notes that have collectors losing their minds on eBay and Heritage Auctions.
Why the Series 2017 20 dollar bill matters to collectors
The Series 2017 20 dollar bill represents a specific era of American treasury production. It features the signatures of Steven T. Mnuchin and Jovita Carranza. It’s funny how a couple of signatures can change the "vibe" of a piece of paper for a numismatist. These notes were printed at both the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) facilities in Washington, D.C., and Fort Worth, Texas.
You can tell if yours came from Texas by looking for a tiny "FW" in the corner. It's minuscule. If you don't see it, it's a D.C. print. Does it make it worth more? Usually, no. But for people trying to complete a "block set," that tiny detail is everything.
Currency isn't just money. It's art. It's a snapshot of a political moment. When these bills were hitting the streets, there was a ton of talk about changing the face of the twenty. You remember the Harriet Tubman discussions? That whole plan was pushed back during the era these bills were printed. So, for some, the 2017 series represents the "status quo" of American design before the next major overhaul.
The "Star Note" obsession
Look at the serial number. See a little star at the end? If you do, stop. Don't spend it yet.
A star note happens when the BEP messes up. Printing money is complicated, and sometimes the sheets get mangled or the ink smears. Since they can't just print a duplicate serial number to replace a ruined bill, they use a replacement sequence marked with a star.
Some 2017 20 dollar bill star notes are common. Others are rare. It all comes down to the "run size." If the BEP only printed 320,000 star notes for a specific district instead of the usual 3.2 million, you’ve found something special. Collectors use sites like MyCurrencyCollection to check these run sizes. A "rare" run star note in perfect condition can easily pull $50 to $100 from the right buyer. If it’s been folded ten times and smells like old denim? Probably just worth twenty.
Fancy Serial Numbers: The real gold mine
Forget the date for a second. Look at the numbers. Humans love patterns. We are programmed to find order in chaos. In the world of paper money, this is called "fancy serial numbers."
If you have a 2017 20 dollar bill with a serial number like 00000042, you’re looking at hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars. Low serial numbers are the holy grail. Anything under 100 is massive.
Then you have "ladders." A perfect ladder is 12345678. These are incredibly rare. I’ve seen partial ladders—like 00012345—sell for a decent premium too. What about "radars"? That’s a serial number that reads the same forward and backward, like 48844884. They're quirky. People collect them like Pokemon cards.
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- Solid Serial Numbers: All the same digit (e.g., 77777777). These are the "Powerball" of the currency world.
- Repeaters: 27272727.
- Binaries: Only two numbers used, like 01101001.
I once spoke to a guy at a coin show in Chicago who spent his entire weekend looking for "birthday notes." He wanted a 2017 20 dollar bill that had a serial number matching his daughter’s birthdate. Think 05122003. To the government, it's twenty bucks. To him, it was a sentimental treasure he was willing to pay $40 for.
Condition is everything (Seriously)
You could have the rarest star note in the world, but if it has a coffee stain and a tear in the corner, its value plummets.
Professional grading is a thing. Companies like PMG (Paper Money Guaranty) look at bills under microscopes. They check the centering of the print. They check the "crispness" of the paper. They look for "handling," which is a polite way of saying "human oils and filth."
A "Choice Uncirculated 64" 2017 20 dollar bill is a totally different beast than one you found in a laundromat change machine. If you think you have a winner, don't fold it. Put it in a plastic sleeve. Not a PVC sleeve, though—that'll ruin the ink over time. Use an acid-free holder.
Misprints and Errors
Mistakes happen. Even at the BEP.
Sometimes the "third printing"—which is the seals and the serial numbers—gets shifted. If the serial number is printed halfway across Andrew Jackson’s forehead, you have a "shifted overprint." These are highly sought after.
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Then there are "gutters." This is when the paper folds over itself before the ink hits it. When you unfold the bill, there’s a white streak where the ink missed. I've seen 2017 series bills with dramatic ink smears or "bleeding" that look like a printer malfunction. In any other industry, that's trash. In currency collecting, that's a "premium error."
Is it worth getting graded?
Let’s talk brass tacks. Sending a bill to be graded costs money. You’re looking at shipping, insurance, and the grading fee itself, which usually starts around $20 to $35 depending on the service level.
If you have a standard 2017 20 dollar bill with no special features, grading it is a waste of money. You will spend $40 to prove your $20 bill is worth $20.
However, if you have a "Super Radar" or a "Low Serial Number" in pristine condition, grading is essential. It "locks in" the value. It proves to a buyer that the bill hasn't been "pressed" (an unethical practice where people try to iron out folds to make a bill look newer).
The Harriet Tubman factor
There’s a lot of misinformation about the 2017 series regarding the redesign. To be clear: the 2017 20 dollar bill features Andrew Jackson.
The Treasury Department under Secretary Mnuchin slowed down the implementation of the Tubman design, citing technical security features as the priority. Because of this, the 2017 and 2017A series became the "extended life" versions of the Jackson design. Does this make them rare? Not really. Millions were printed. But from a historical standpoint, they represent the final chapters of this specific design era.
How to sell your 2017 20 dollar bill
If you’ve checked your serial and it’s something cool, you have options.
- eBay: The wild west. You’ll get the most eyes on it here. Use high-resolution photos. Don't use a flash; it washes out the paper texture.
- Local Coin Shops: You'll get cash fast, but you'll get less than market value because the shop needs to make a profit.
- Heritage Auctions: Save this for the big guns. If you have an error note worth $500+, this is where the serious collectors live.
Kinda wild, right? That a piece of green paper in your pocket could be worth more than its face value just because a machine messed up or a number looks "pretty."
Practical steps for the casual collector
You don't need to be a millionaire to start doing this. Just start looking.
Check every twenty that passes through your hands. Look at the serial number first. Is it "fancy"? Check for the star. If it’s a star note, go to a star note lookup website to see if it’s from a rare run.
If you find something interesting, put it in a book. Flatten it out gently. Most people who find "valuable" money actually ruin it by trying to clean it. Never, ever wash your money. Don't use an eraser to get a mark off. Collectors want original, "original" paper. The dirt is better than the damage from cleaning.
Keep an eye out for the 2017A series as well. The "A" signifies a minor change or a new signature combination. While they are newer, they follow the same rules: stars, serials, and condition.
Next time you’re at the ATM, take a second. Look at the bills. You might be holding a $100 bill disguised as a twenty.
Check the "FW" mark. Check the signatures. And for heaven's sake, check for those stars. If you find a rare run star note from the Dallas (K) or San Francisco (L) districts, you've got a much better chance of a rarity than the common New York (B) prints.
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Hold onto anything that looks like a "binary" serial number. Even if the condition isn't perfect, there’s a growing market of collectors who specifically want 2017 notes to complete their modern sets before the currency design eventually changes for good.