Weird Laminated $5.

Hey all,

So, to cut to the chase:

A buddy of mine who works for a clean out/removal/disposal service, found a laminated $5 bill, amongst a bunch of stuff, while cleaning out a house, where somebody recently passed away. The bill was in a box with a bunch of other random junk that the family of the decedent didn't want.
The bill is a series 1999 BB-B block note, and doesn't really have anything special about it. The note even looks like it was pretty well circulated, before being placed in the laminate. The note is genuine, as I held it up to light, and checked for the watermark/security strip.

My friend wasn't sure what to do with it, so he gave it to me because he knows I'm into currency collecting......and now I'm not sure what to do with it. :too-funny:
If this thing weren't laminated, I'd probably just spend it, but I doubt anybody would take it in it's current state. Do you think a bank would exchange it for another one, or is the note forever ruined?

I can post pics later, if anybody would like to see it. In the meantime, ideas on what to with it.....and why somebody would laminate a seemingly ordinary '99 $5 are welcomed.

Thanks for reading.

 

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Maybe it's a fancy number. What is the serial number?

Yes, a bank would exchange it.

 

Maybe the 1st $5 they made?

 

Thanks for the responses so far, guys. Rick, I'll post some pics, so you can see the SN.

That's a good theory, Detecto, as to why it is laminated in the first place.

Here are a few pics of the note, with a couple with light shining through, to show that it is authentic. As you'll see by the photos, nothing fancy or special.


-Watermark.


-Obverse.


-Reverse.


-Security Strip.

 

The person that laminated that note is dead, so his/her reason for the lamination is now equally dead.

I cannot see a reason for the lamination.

If it were mine, I'd just take it to the bank to trade for an unlaminated note.

 

Maybe he or she got bored and just felt like putting it through a lamination machine?

 

This is the first series of the Big Head. Also noticed a pinhole at the top where it was tacked to a wall or something.

 

There is no way to know conclusively that the person who laminated this note is now dead given the information that has been revealed about the note on this forum. Perhaps a friend or family member of the deceased laminated the note and knows why it was laminated to begin with. It is quite possible that whomever laminated the note is still alive.

This note clearly meant something to somebody, I would hold onto it for a little while longer to try and solve the puzzle.

 

I have to admit, you've piqued my interest, Russell. The more I look at the note, the more I wonder about it.
To the casual observer, it's just a run of the mill $5 bill, that's been laminated....but there may be more than meets the eye, going on here.

I'm going to do some digging, and see what I can come up with.
In the meantime, I'm going to set the note aside.

I just want to add, this is one of the things I love about this hobby.....when you find an oddity like this. People do some strange things to their money, and finding out why, when possible, can be very fun. :smile

 

Welcome back man.

 

I agree with Russ on this one. Look more into it.

 

I think it's from a business and this was the first note they received for their very first sale. Every business I started, I kept the first dollar I made (long gone now) and had it framed behind the counter.

 

In my mind, the most logical reason.

 

My first thought as well.

 

Thanks guys, for all of the thoughts/suggestions.

If I find anything out regarding this note, I'll be sure to post an update.