Man takes out a $1 bill from the machine and notices something very unusual

Calvin Westfall, a 59-year-old ATM owner from West Virginia, recently made a surprising discovery while going through the cash from one of his machines.

Among the familiar pile of dollar bills was a rare find – a bill with the low serial number G00000001I, which could be worth up to $15,000. Westfall shared his excitement and the details of his discovery Newsweek.

“I own a few vending machines locally and I always go through my coins and bills,” he said Newsweek. “I emptied my machine, but I didn’t notice the bill straight away.

“That night one of my friends wanted to use my truck and I told him he could but that he had to stop and fill up because fuel was low.”

Westfall handed his friend a few dollar bills from his pocket and flipped through them at random, spotting the unique serial number on his last machine.

“I was so happy to see the dollar with that serial number,” he said. “We all had fun and to think of it I would have given it to him for gas!”

A rare collector’s item

Currency experts and collectors know that serial numbers like “G00000001I” have a lot of value. Suriel Arellano, a speaker, author and former IBM executive, explained the significance of the find.

“A one-dollar bill with serial number G00000001I could be very valuable to collectors, perhaps worth between $600 and, who knows, even $15,000,” Arellano said Newsweek. “There is no better collectible price than a super low number, and the first one is truly the best of the best.”

“A number that begins with multiple zeros is as rare as possible.”

This rarity means that the actual value of the note depends on demand at auctions or from private collectors.

“Collectors and their auctions respect expert opinions, especially the good ones that give you a nice early morning espresso,” Arellano said.

Westfall did some research, pointing to a YouTube creator who said similar bills had fetched up to $25,000 when assessed. However, he remains unclear about the true value of his find.

“Honestly, I really have no idea what it could be worth,” he said. “All I know is that for the 2013 B series, I’m the only one who has it.”

“Must be quite a collector’s item.”

When Westfall was asked what he planned to do with the rare banknote, it was clear: “Money talk! It would definitely be for sale.”

Unique serial numbers on U.S. currency have long fascinated collectors. Bills with low or unique serial numbers are usually distributed randomly, making them rare treasures when found.

The value of a collectible currency often depends on its condition, the rarity of the serial number, and demand. In Westfall’s case, his bill’s pristine condition and serial number “01” could make it a sought-after item.

Whether the gold piece ends up in the hands of a collector or is sold at auction, Westfall is proud of its discovery and encourages others to search their excess cash for hidden gold.

“I think my story will make people smile,” he said.

Are you having a financial dilemma? Let us know at [email protected]. We can ask experts for advice and your story could be featured on Newsweek.