PMG Note of the Month: 2009A $100 Federal Reserve Note

Posted on 7/3/2026

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, here's a note with a whole lot of Philadelphia in it.

Click images to enlarge.

Country: United States

Catalog Number: 2187-C*

Date: 2009A

Denomination: $100

Varieties: The PMG Population Report also lists regular-issue 2187-A through 2187-L notes, covering all 12 Federal Reserve Banks (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond, Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas and San Francisco.) In addition, the PMG Population Report lists Star notes for all of these letters except J and K.

What makes it special? The US Declaration of Independence was signed 250 years ago this month at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, shown on the back of this note. The front shows Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, who spent most of his life in Philadelphia and helped draft the Declaration. Next to Franklin is text from America's founding document, which lays out the reasons why the American Revolutionaries decided to "dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another." The front of note bears the letter 'C' identifying it as from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia is located at the north end of Independence Mall near the US Mint; Independence Hall is located at the south end of Independence Mall.

Did you know? The $100 bill has been the largest denomination since 1969, when the printing of higher notes was officially discontinued. Star notes, like the one shown in this article, have high interest among collectors. In fact, for the 2009A $100 Federal Reserve Notes across all districts, the PMG Population Report (as of early July 2026) shows 2,133 Star notes, almost as many as the 2,152 non-Star ones.

Total graded by PMG: As of early July 2026, the PMG Population Report shows 301 examples of 2187-C*.

PMG median grade: One example of 2187-C* is graded PMG 67★ Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ.

PMG highest graded: Sixteen examples from other district banks are graded PMG 69 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ.

Sales highlight: The 2187-C* shown in this article, the sole-highest graded thanks to the PMG Star designation in its grade for exceptional eye appeal, realized $264 through Heritage Auctions in May 2021.

PMG Registry: There are two categories in the PMG Registry for $100 Small Size Federal Reserve Notes. They are $100 Federal Reserve Note - District Set with Stars and Varieties, where KSAUSA's first-place $100 FRNs & Stars has an example of 2187-C* in PMG 67 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ; and $100 Federal Reserve Note - District Set (Regular Issue Only), where the first-place set, KSAUSA' $100 Regular FRNs, has a 2187-B in the "Top Pop" grade of PMG 69 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ, as well as examples of 2178-E, F, H, I, J, K and L.

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