When is $50 worth much more? When it's a rare $50 bill worth thousands! Don't pay $50 for supper until you look.
How Rare Are $50 Bills? Even though we rarely encounter 50-dollar bills as pocket change, they're not rare.
In 2022, the Fed counted 2.5 billion 50-dollar bills. Though a little number compared to ones and 100s, that's a lot of paper money.
Your 50 must be unique to be unusual. That could mean being old, having a printing error, or having a unique serial number.
As the first year the US created paper money, 1861 banknotes are among the most valued. This Fr. 202a $50 1861 note is the only one known and in excellent shape. In 2005, it sold for $368,000
Another early paper currency, the 1863 (Fr. 150) legal tender note is uncommon and valuable. Fr. 150 notes are rare, and one in great condition sold for $299,000 in 2008.
The $50 1891 Treasury Note (Fr. 376) has just 25 known copies, and uncirculated ones with low serial numbers are expensive. Serial number B2 sold for $299,000 in 2005 in great condition.
Only four Fr. 1191 gold certificates exist, making the 1882 gold certificate a rare 50-dollar bill. One in superb condition with crisp detailing and clean printing sold for $299,000 in 2006.
The Fr. 151 $50 1869 legal currency is nearly tough to find uncirculated. This example is clean and appears to have never been shared. It sold for $223,250 in 2016.