1999 $10 CU Cleveland Star Note BD 00375201 *

A star note is a United States bank note that has an asterisk (*), or star, before or after the serial number.   The Bureau of Engraving and Printing inspects currency for printing errors prior to releasing into general circulation.   When notes are discovered that have been printed incorrectly (such as upside down serial numbers, poor cutting from the sheet, ink smears, etc.) these misprinted notes are replaced with star notes.   The star notes are placed into the system and into the package in order to maintain the correct total count of notes produced.

By their nature star notes are scarcer than notes with standard serial numbers.  As such they are widely collected by hobbyists.   Due to steady advances in the printing process star notes have gone from being needed at a rate of 1 in 50 regular notes in the 1970s, to fewer than 1 in 250 now.   It is getting harder and harder to find star notes.   Some of the highest prices paid for modern (post-1928) banknotes have been for star notes.