I have $20 bill that’s not printed on the back

Tom D. writes: I have a US $20 bill that is not printed on the back. The bill is in uncirculated condition. I have no idea what it is worth, could you please help? I am from Canada, and when I ask dealers here I get a different price from each of them. I have been told that the bill is worth between $30-$150. 

U.S. currency is printed in three stages. The notes are printed on sheets. The backs are printed first, allowed to dry, then the front is printed and allowed to dry. The last stage prints the Treasury Seal and serial numbers on the front of the notes.

Your note is missing the first printing. There are several events that might cause this error.

• two sheets got stuck together and went through the first printing. One sheet is missing that printing
• A sheet was folded over, not allowing some of the notes to be printed on that side.
• Major screw up by the BEP workers. They never printed that side.
• The sheet went through but there was no ink on the plates, that printing will now be blank.

“Blank Backs” are rarer than “Blank Fronts”. You didn’t mention what series the note was, though a good guess is 1988, they messed up a lot in that series. Values: $150-$200.