1957 $1 Silver Certificate Value
The 1957 series was the last $1 silver certificate ever printed, issued in three blocks: 1957, 1957A, and 1957B. Production ran into the early 1960s and the total was enormous, which is why these turn up in drawers and coffee cans across the country.
Being last does not make them scarce. A worn 1957 is a couple of dollars, and a crisp one is in the low tens. Star notes carry a small premium. The value here is sentimental and historical more than financial.
Quick facts
- Type
- Silver Certificate
- Series
- 1957, 1957A, 1957B
- Seal and serials
- Blue
- Motto
- First $1 silver certificate with In God We Trust on the back
- Significance
- Final $1 silver certificate series
1957 $1 Silver Certificate value by condition
| Condition | Estimated value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Well worn | $1.50 to $2.50 | |
| Lightly circulated | $2.50 to $4 | |
| About uncirculated | $5 to $9 | |
| Crisp uncirculated | $10 to $20 | |
| Star note, circulated | $3 to $8 | |
| Star note, uncirculated | $12 to $35 | |
| Consecutive uncirculated pack | $400 to $900 | 100 notes, original band |
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The end of the silver certificate
Rising silver prices in the early 1960s made the redemption promise on silver certificates untenable. The Treasury stopped issuing them, and Federal Reserve Notes took over the $1 denomination completely with the 1963 series.
So the 1957 marks a real transition point in US currency: the last dollar bill that carried an obligation to pay in metal. Every $1 printed since has been a Federal Reserve Note backed by nothing but the government's word.
First $1 with the motto
The 1957 series is the first $1 silver certificate to carry In God We Trust above ONE on the back. Earlier 1935 series notes do not have it, which makes the two easy to distinguish even when the date is hard to read.
Some late 1935G and all 1935H notes also carry the motto, so the presence of the motto narrows the date but does not fix it on its own.
When a 1957 is actually worth money
Three situations. An original bank pack of 100 consecutive uncirculated notes with the band intact, which sells for far more than the sum of its parts. A fancy serial number, particularly a solid, a radar, or a serial under 1000. And a genuine printing error.
Outside those, treat a 1957 as a keepsake. It is a nice thing to own and a poor investment.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a 1957 $1 silver certificate worth today?
Two to four dollars in circulated condition and ten to twenty uncirculated. Star notes and original packs bring more.
What is the difference between 1957, 1957A, and 1957B?
Different Treasury signature pairs. The design is identical and the values are effectively the same across all three.
Why is my 1957 dollar blue?
Blue seals and serial numbers identify silver certificates. Federal Reserve Notes use green. The color is the fastest way to tell the two types apart.