The Star of Money

This star represents what is known as a replacement note. When a printing error occurs during a normal press run and renders a set of bills unusable, replacement notes are used instead. With replacements notes, a set of serial numbers can still have the proper number of bills even if some of the original bills had to be pulled. The replacement notes have a sequence of their own, using the star as their final "letter.

This should be more than enough: In general, replacement notes aren't worth more than regular bills. However, if you find a replacement note with a particularly interesting serial number -- like or -- or a large number of consecutively numbered replacement notes that you keep together as a lot, you may have a collector's item on your hands.

Print "Why do some U. What do the symbols on the U. Why do some U. Notice the star located at the end of the serial number. The first letter, only found on the new-style bills, represents the series of the bill.

Photos: Modular Money Origami Star Instructions

The series indicates the year in which the design of the bill was approved for production. This begins with A, and moves through the alphabet each time a new series is needed for example, each time there is a new secretary of the treasury, the bill design changes because the secretary's signature is on all currency. Looking for instructions on how to fold a modular money origami star from several dollar bills put together?

You've come to the right place! This is a really neat piece of dollar bill origami.

You take 5 bills and fold each of them into one arm of a star, and then you slot them all together to make a 5-pointed star like this:. I've tried it with both UK bills which are short and wide and US bills which are long and skinny , so it should work with every other currency that fits somewhere in between in terms of shape.

I've seen some other instructions out there for this star which are excellent and very clear, but where you align some of the folds by using features of the note, like "just fold the bill until it reaches the green circle on the bill". I've deliberately avoided doing that in my instructions, because I wanted them to work with any currency in the world. So, all you non-USA folks can join in the fun too: If you're giving a cash gift, then I think that these money origami stars make a wonderful way to give it.

Usually, cash seems like a bit of an impersonal gift, but I think that by folding it into something beautiful you give it a personal touch and it becomes a much more meaningful and memorable gift. Feel free to get creative with how you use this fold. One day when I get around to it I'm going to try making Christmas cards using these origami stars on the front as decoration - I think it would look really neat. Maybe I'll combine it with a money origami Christmas tree or some of the other ways to fold money.

If you have a slow internet connection you might like to pause the video and come back in 2 minutes when it's fully loaded.

Or you might prefer to follow the photo instructions below instead. It's easier to see the folds this way than if I use a real bill. Fold both of the corners on the right hand side in to meet the center-line, as if you were making a paper plane. Also do the same with the bottom left corner.

Turn over the bill, and arrange it so that the folded-in corner is at the top left. Then unfold the folded-in corner.

Then fold both the corners on the right hand side in to meet the center, as if you were making a paper plane. Turn over the bill, and arrange it with the pointy bit facing upward. Then fold up the bottom edge and tuck it as far as it will go under the pointing-down triangle-shaped flap. Now it's time to slot them together. This is a little tricky to explain with photos, so if you get stuck you can always watch the video instead. First of all, let me show you how each bill has two types of slots.