US Banknotes

if it a real us mint 1988 dollar bill it is valuable it need to be in good condition and graded by a pro. I would recommend taking it to SEGS google them

Second, much more information is needed to understand what's meant by "much faulted". Bills are subject to a number of different kinds of printing errors and without more specifics it's not possible to estimate a value. As noted, it shoud be seen by a professional.

As of 06/2010 a circulated 1934-C $20 bill might retail for $22.-$28. A nice uncirculated one could go for $35 or more.

Serial Numbers

It's normally not necessary to provide a bill's serial number. Serial numbers are counters and a security feature but rarely affect a bill's value. Some collectors will pay extra for numbers with a special pattern, e.g. 12345678, or low numbers such as 00000015.

"In God We Trust"

That phrase wasn't put on $1 bills until 1957 and other denominations starting in the 1960s, so the fact that your bill doesn't have it is not a mistake.

Most 1929 National Bank Notes are moderately valuable, but the number of factors affecting prices make an online estimate very difficult. While this site ordinarily tries to provide reasonable estimates, people who work with National Bank Notes recommend that bills be evaluated in person by an expert dealer or appraiser.

Info: What is a National Bank Note?

The brown seal and the banner across the bill's top front mean that it's a special type of paper money called National Currency. These now-unusual bills were backed by bonds deposited with the Treasury by the issuing bank.

Series 1929 National Currency was printed in two forms:

* Bills issued as National Bank Notes have the words "National Bank" and the name of the issuing bank to the left of the portrait. In addition, the issuing bank's ID number is printed in heavy black type on the left and right edges of the bill.

* Bills issued as Federal Reserve Notes have the words "Federal Reserve Bank" and the name of the district city to the left of the portrait.

Bond-backed currency was discontinued during the Great Depression as part of the government's efforts to stabilize the economy. 1929 was the last series date for National Currency Notes, although these bills continued to be printed for a few more years.

To clarify things:

> The Mint makes coins. Bills are printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

> The bill was printed in Washington. Boston is the site of the Federal Reserve Bank that distributed the bill.

> The US never operated a mint in Boston.

Please see the question "What is the value of a 1934 US 50 dollar bill?" for information about values.

One possible origin of In God We Trust is the final stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner Written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key.

The motto had been added to coins starting in 1864 but it took over 90 years for it to appear on paper money. The 1950s were a time of considerable tension due to the Cold War and the threat of what was often called "godless communism" in the Soviet Union.

Please check your item again. It may be a privately-manufactured "instant collectible" but it isn't a genuine US bill:

• There are no 1996-dated bills.
• The last silver certificates were $1 bills dated 1957
• The last $500 bills of any type were dated 1934
• The last $500 silver certificates were printed in the 19th century

The risk of finding a fake $1 bill is very low because most counterfeiters don't want to put the effort into copying such a small denomination. For that and some other reasons, $1 (and $2) bills don't have most of the anti-counterfeiting features found in higher-value banknotes. E.g. they don't have watermarks, security strips, or microprinting. You can look for the following, however:

• There should be tiny red and blue fibers visible in the paper
• The "teeth" on the two seals should be sharp and evenly spaced.
• Engraving lines, especially those on Washington's portrait, should be crisp and well-defined.