Paper money that originates from the 19th and early 20th century is a very sought-after collectible item and can reach super high prices.
Before you go out and search for this highly collectible banknote, you’ll need to learn as much as you can about the value of the 1934 10 dollar bill. Today, we’ll explain the history, variations, and value of 1934 $10 bills.
The History Of 1934 10 Dollar Bill
During the Great Depression in the 1930s, most Americans worked for a dozen dollars per month, so ten dollars was equivalent to a small fortune. This also meant that demand for the $10 bill was not as high as you may think. For a lot of people using even a $2 bill was impractical.
When the $10 Silver certificate bill was issued in 1934 it was the highest denomination bill in the US. However, since this bill wasn’t so practical for the use they made a redeemable system where you were able to turn its face value into ten brand-new shiny Peace Silver Dollars at the local bank. This practice was very common until 1968.
The majority of 1934 $10 bills were destroyed by the government because they weren’t used in circulation. This means that very few examples still exist today, therefore they are valuable in any condition.
What Does A 1934 $10 Bill Look Like?
The Silver certificate 1934 $10 bill features a stark blue seal and blue serial numbers. This is how you will recognize it. Today Federal Reverse Notes mostly have green Treasury seals and serial numbers.
The front side of this note displays the portrait of Alexander Hamilton, while the back side of the note shows the U.S. Treasury building with a vintage car from the 1930s driving by. These banknotes witnessed key moments in American history which only increases their value and makes them more desirable to collectors.
For example, while these bills were in use Bonnie and Clyde were robbing banks, Roosevelt was President, and NYC just got its first theater. Investing money in this amazing bill is worthwhile since its value will only grow in the upcoming years.
Are There Different Variations Of 1934 $10 Bills?
Yes, there are three different variations of the 1934 $10 bill – regular notes, star notes, and Hawaii notes! Besides these, the regular 1934 $10 bill was introduced with different series which represented the mints from where they originated. There are five different variations of the regular 1934 $10 bill:
- 1934 $10 bill;
- 1934A $10 bill;
- 1934B $10 bill;
- 1934C $10 bill;
- 1934D $10 bill.
The B and C series are worth more than other bill series.
What Is The Difference Between The Regular And The Star 1934 $10 Bill?
There are some minor differences between a standard bill and a star note. It is very easy to recognize them and luckily you don’t need to be an expert. All star notes have a small star symbol at the end of the serial number.
Why Are Hawaii 1934 $10 Bills Valuable?
The Hawaii bills were published in the 1934A series during WWII by the US government. The government issued these bills in smaller amounts as a precaution in case Japan took over Hawaii. In that case, the bills would become useless in the US.
These Hawaii bills featured brown seals and the word Hawaii was printed on the reverse side in big font. These notes are rare to find, and if someone has the MS 63 graded Hawaii note in uncirculated condition, they will earn at least $750.
List Of Most Valuable 1934 $10 Bills
Most 1934 $10 bills in circulated condition will only sell for their face value, but bills that are in very fine condition as well as star notes will sell for a premium price tag. Keep in mind that the 1934 $10 bills have three different seal varieties – light green seals (worth more), darker blue-green seals, and brown seals (Hawaii series).
Now let’s talk value by regular 1934 $10 bill series:
- The regular 1934 $10 bill – The one that features a light green seal in very fine condition is worth around $35, while in uncirculated MS 63 condition the estimated price is from $100 up to $150 per bill. A bill with a darker blue-green seal in very fine condition will bring you around $20. The uncirculated MS 63 condition is worth from $55 to $85 per bill.
- The 1934A $10 bill – In very fine condition will cost you around $17, but on the other hand, in uncirculated MS 63 condition, that price will go up to $60.
- The 1934B $10 bill – You can sell it for $20 if it is in very fine condition. If you are lucky to have one in uncirculated MS 63 condition you can earn up to $115. Bills that originate from the Federal Reserve Banks of Boston and Cleveland are worth much more!
- The 1934C $10 bill – In very fine condition is around $15 in very fine condition, uncirculated MS 63 condition is at least $65.
- The 1934D $10 bill – In very fine condition can fetch you $20, but that price goes higher if it is an uncirculated MS 63 graded bill whose lowest price is $70.
- The 1934A $10 Hawaii bill – In a very fine condition these are worth around $125. In uncirculated MS 63 grade condition, the price goes from $750.
Star notes series is a bit more valuable. Here is a list of the estimated price tags for each category:
- The 1934 series $10 star note – The version of the star note with the light green seal in very fine condition is worth around $150-200, while the uncirculated MS 63 graded bill can reach up to $1,250.
- The 1934 series $10 star note – The variety of the star note with the darker blue-green seal in very fine condition goes around $80-125. For the uncirculated MS 63 graded bill, you will need to fish out from $400 up to $900 depending on the condition and the issuing bank, since Cleveland and Boston’s varieties are worth more.
- The 1934A $10 star note – These are worth around $40 to $ 75 if they are in very fine condition. For the uncirculated MS 63 grade bill, you will need to pay around $250.But here is a thing – bills that originate from Boston will be worth less money and those from Minneapolis will be worth more money.
- The 1934B $10 star note – Bills in a very fine condition worth around $75 up to $125. In uncirculated MS 63 grade condition, the price tag is around $950, but this depends on the issuing bank as well.
- The 1934A $10 Hawaii star note – The Hawaii $10 bill in a very fine condition will cost you around $700. However, the golden grail among the 1934 $10 bills is the uncirculated MS 63 banknote. The price estimation on this is around $11,500!
1934 $10 Bill Value Chart
Does The Serial Number Of Bills Also Affect The Value of The 1934 $10 Notes?
The answer is yes. Naturally, bills with low serial numbers are more valuable. All you need to do to identify your bill is to take a good look and check if you have a serial number that starts with six or seven zeros. Even bills that feature a serial number with five zeros will reach a higher price.
How Hard It Is To Determine Different Series Of The 1934 $10 Bills?
The great thing is that in the left upper corner on the face side of the bill you can find all the necessary information.
Every real 1934 $10 bill will have the exact series labeled in that spot so there will be no confusion. Also, keep in mind that the real Hawaii 1934 $10 bill has a brown seal and it belongs to the 1934A series!
Where Can You Find Rare 1934 $10 Bills?
The best option is to look in your local numismatic shop, or simply visit some numismatics shows or auctions.
These events are great since you can see the banknote that you want to purchase in person and estimate on the spot if it’s real or fake. Also, in case you can’t find what you are looking for, you can always ask for recommendations and extra information.
If you are an avid money collector it is useful to become a member of some online collecting community that is focused on collecting money or particularly collecting paper money. You can also surf the internet and visit auction sites like eBay, Etsy, and LiveAuctioneers to get an idea of what is available on the market and what kind of prices to expect.
You will always find at least a few examples of what you need, but make sure you are buying from a trusted dealer since the 1934 $10 bill is desirable for replication considering it is rare and valuable.
FAQs
What does “Silver Certificate” means?
The term Silver Certificate is a legal tender for paper money that allowed people to redeem the bills for silver equivalent to the face value. In the past, these dollar bills allowed investors to hold the precious metal in savings without actually having to buy it.
The silver certificates were phased out in 1964. Today, you can sell them only for their face value but not in silver. Our recommendation is to try selling them online since some of these banknotes can fetch you quite a handsome amount of money.
Is old money from 1934 worth anything?
Most 1934 notes are worth around $145, depending on the denomination, condition, and issuing bank. If you were lucky enough to come across a bill that is in uncirculated condition the price tag can go from $250 and over $1000.
In most cases, no matter the denomination, notes that are printed in the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis are the most valuable.
What serial numbers on bills are worth looking for?
Unusual serial numbers are always worth looking for, no matter which type of bill you are hunting for. Low serial numbers, ladder serial numbers, reverse ladder serial numbers, etc. are quite popular among collectors.
In most cases, they are focused on searching for numbers below 100 and 1,000. So anything that has at least four zeros is an acceptable option.
Also Read: 1934 5 Dollar Bill Value Chart (Worth Up to $15,600)
The Bottom Line
Collecting old money is a very fruitful hobby if you know which denomination and banknote varieties are desirable among collectors. Money that was printed during the Great Depression has a lot of historical as well as collectible value.
The Great Depression was the worst economic downturn in the history of the US a lot of people lost their jobs, and gold, as well as money, lost value rapidly. That is the main reason why the government did not print or mint a lot of money.
Most large banknote denominations from that time were destroyed and those that survived ended up in numismatic collections.
