Description and research notes
This 1935D 1 Dollar Silver Certificate (Friedberg 1613N, YE Block) combines classic blue-seal artistry with one of the most coveted numerical patterns in modern U.S. small-size currency — a Radar Serial Number. The serial Y88866888E reads the same forward and backward, forming a perfect numerical palindrome that collectors universally prize for its rarity and visual symmetry.
Radar notes are a special subset of fancy serial numbers, where the eight-digit serial reads identically when reversed. They are generated purely by statistical chance during numbering and were never intentionally produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Given the immense volume of bills printed, the odds of any single note being a true radar are only 1 in 10,000 — and examples preserved in Choice Uncirculated or better condition are far scarcer still.
The 1935D series was printed under the signatures of Clark and Snyder during the late 1940s, representing the transitional postwar period when the U.S. Treasury still issued silver certificates redeemable in actual silver dollars. This note’s narrow format (1613N) reflects late-series plate revisions that slightly adjusted margins and alignment to improve press consistency.
Graded PMG 64 EPQ Choice Uncirculated, the note exhibits bright, original paper and sharp color contrast typical of high-end blue-seal issues. The EPQ designation verifies untouched originality and natural paper wave. Subtle as it may seem, centering and alignment at this level become critical — even slight shifts prevent higher 65–66 designations — yet this example presents exceptional balance and full margins.
Visually, the radar symmetry is striking: the triple 888 sequence flanking a central 66 creates a mirrored composition that anchors the serial pattern. Numerically, 8 symbolizes prosperity and continuity in global numerology, while 6 adds balance, giving this serial both visual rhythm and symbolic harmony.
As a historical artifact, the 1935D Silver Certificate marks the last widely circulated U.S. note explicitly backed by silver — a tangible connection between paper money and physical commodity value. In the fancy-serial niche, radar examples from this series bridge artistry, mathematics, and monetary history. This Y88866888E specimen, certified Choice Uncirculated with EPQ originality, ranks among the most desirable blue-seal radar notes known in private hands.