When a dollar bill is ripped, how much can be ripped off before it isn't counted as legal currency?

Answer 1

Paper money that has been mutilated or partially destroyed may in some cases be redeemable at full face value. Any badly soiled, defaced, torn, or worn-out currency that is clearly more than half of the original note can be exchanged at a commercial bank, which processes the note through a Federal Reserve Bank. More seriously damaged notes—those with clearly less than half of the original surface or those requiring special examination to determine their value—must be sent to the Department of the Treasury for redemption.

The redemption value of mutilated coins depends on their type, denomination, and the extent of their mutilation. Redemption of mutilated coins is handled by the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. Coins that are merely bent or worn slick through natural wear are not considered mutilated and are exchangeable at full face value.

Answer 2

Go to your bank, if you are a regular customer they will most likely trade it in for you. They send mutilated money back to the fed and get face value for it. I used to be a bank teller and would take anything up to around 50% missing. However most people brought in the two parts and I would simply tape them together.

Answer 3

Not necessarily 50%. In Australia it could be up to 70%, as long as the "metallic strip" is still visible.

Answer 4

my lil sister ripped a 10 in 1/2 and we tapped it back together and it was fine

Answer 5

as long as it has a cearial number on it you is legal but only if you bring it to the bank but you will only get a % of the value of the dallar value on the face.

Answer 6

If a little over half is still there, its good take it to the bank.

Answer 7

I believe as long as that metallic strip (or whatever its called) is still readable it is still a good buck.

Answer 8

50% Half