The following comments may help to clarify some of the information found in the serial number tables.
Each table entry gives the range of serial numbers printed for a particular series, denomination, and FRB in a particular month. In general, there are no gaps in the ranges of serial numbers of regular notes printed for each FRB, except at the end of each full block. For example, for the $1 notes, the highest serial number currently issued for circulation is 96000000, so in each block the range 96000001 to 99999999 is skipped over. Also, the letter O is not used in serial numbers, so after a block with suffix N the numbering goes directly to suffix P. Because these particular gaps occur regularly, the tables do not mention them. It should, however, be assumed that no other gaps exist unless explicitly noted. So, for example:
| This table entry... | ...indicates that these notes were printed |
|---|---|
| H 896 00001 C H 256 00000 D | H 896 00001 C through H 960 00000 C, and H 000 00001 D through H 256 00000 D, but not H 960 00001 C through H 999 99999 C. |
| E 704 00001 N E 320 00000 P | E 704 00001 N through E 960 00000 N, and E 000 00001 P through E 320 00000 P, but not E 960 00001 N through E 999 99999 N, and not E 000 00001 O through E 999 99999 O. |
| A 832 00001 K A 128 00000 M | A 832 00001 K through A 960 00000 K, and A 000 00001 L through A 960 00000 L, and A 000 00001 M through A 128 00000 M, but not A 960 00001 K through A 999 99999 K, and not A 960 00001 L through A 999 99999 L. |
For the $50 and $100 notes, and for all notes printed before about 1990, the maximum serial number printed is different from 96000000. The correct maximum serial number for each denomination and series is indicated on the corresponding page. The omission of O as a block letter, however, applies to all denominations and series.
Unlike regular notes, star notes are frequently printed in irregular partial runs, with gaps in the ranges of serial numbers used. In current series, these gaps occur only between print runs of star notes, so that each print run for a given district need not necessarily begin where the previous run left off. In some of the older series, some star notes were numbered with very many small serial gaps within a run; for more information on such runs, see the explanations linked from the appropriate series' monthly tables.
The serial number ranges listed in the monthly production tables cover all notes produced for circulation. The BEP also produces small quantities of currency for direct sale to collectors; the production tables do not in general include these notes.
Since 1981, the BEP has sold uncut 32-note sheets of small-denomination currency to the public as collectibles. The notes in these uncut sheets always have serial numbers in the range above the maximum serial number used for circulation-issue notes (which has been 99840000, 99200000, and 96000000 at various times since 1981). These notes are not included in the monthly production tables, though they are legal tender and do occasionally end up in circulation.
The BEP also prints individual notes for direct sale to collectors from time to time. Recent examples include the "Millennium" notes (Series 1995 $2 star notes with serial numbers 2000xxxx) and special high-number collector sets of the new-design $10 notes (serial numbers Bx9999xxxxY). Again, since these notes are not part of the circulation print runs, they do not appear in the monthly production tables.
A separate page is available giving the rough serial ranges used on these uncut sheets and premium products, but in many cases exact information is not available, since these notes are generally not listed in the BEP's monthly production reports.
Additionally, however, the BEP occasionally pulls certain notes with mildly "special" serial numbers (frequently 777xxxxx or 8888xxxx) directly from the circulation print runs, replacing them by star notes, and sells the interesting serials directly to collectors at a premium over face value. Also, the first low-numbered notes of a new series are sometimes (though not always) retained by the Treasury, or sold to Treasury officials. Even though these notes are not actually issued for circulation, no attempt has been made to remove them from the figures in the production tables, again due to the lack of precise information on the serial ranges involved.
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