1981A $1 Federal Reserve MULE Note (St. Louis District) (073A) - Trinary - GEMCU

United States Series 1981A $1 Federal Reserve Note (St. Louis District)

• Denomination: $1.00 (One Dollar)

• Currency Type: Federal Reserve Note (Green Seal)

• Series: Series 1981A

• Federal Reserve Bank: St. Louis, Missouri (H - District 8)

• Catalog Reference: Friedberg # 1914-H (Fr. 1914-H)

• Serial Number: H 03434073 A

• Signatures:

  • Katherine Dávalos Ortega (Treasurer of the United States)

  • Donald T. Regan (Secretary of the Treasury)

• Plate Position / Identifiers:

  • Check Letter & Face Plate: C 1 (upper left / lower left quadrant indicator), C 8 (lower right plate number)

  • Back Plate Number: 306 (located at the bottom corner of the left ornate border framing "ONE")

Fancy Serial & Mule Evaluation

• Fancy Serial Status: Trinary Serial Number (Minor Variety)

  • Serial Number: 03434073

  • Digits Present: Contains 4 unique digits (0, 3, 4, 7).

  • Pattern Analysis: It features repeating sets of 3s and 4s (3434), bookended by 0s and ending in 73. While it has a neat double-pair rhythmic opening (3434), it does not qualify as a strict 2-digit binary, 3-digit trinary, radar, or full repeater. In standard numismatic cataloging, it is considered a standard / normal serial number with an attractive pattern.

• Mule Check: CONFIRMED MULE (Fr. 1914-Hm)

  • Back Plate: 306

  • Why It Qualifies: Back plate 306 is one of the 17 recognized transitional Series 1981 $\rightarrow$ 1981A mule plates (301, 305, 306, 416, 417, 674, 678, 679, 680, 697, 698, 699, 700, 701, 702, 705, 706).

  • This note shares the exact same back plate (306) as your earlier note H 03433808 A, and falls right in the same pack run (03433808 $\rightarrow$ 03434073 $\rightarrow$ 03433999), confirming that this entire original batch from the St. Louis district was printed using leftover Series 1981 back plate sheets.

Technical & Visual Assessment

• Estimated Grade: Gem Crisp Uncirculated (Gem CU 65 – Gem CU 66)

• Preservation Highlights:

  • Flawless pack-fresh paper crispness with deep, original embossing.

  • Crisp, pure white margins with bold, deep black intaglio and vibrant green overprints.

  • Razor-sharp 90-degree corners with no blunting, softening, or bends.

  • Pristine surface completely free of teller ripples, counting crimps, folds, or pinholes.

• Centering:

  • Face: Nicely balanced margins top-to-bottom and side-to-side.

  • Back: Clean, wide, and even borders framing the green lathework.