StarBulletin.com

'Hawaii' bills are worth more than the face value


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POSTED: Tuesday, February 16, 2010

QUESTION: I have a $10 bill, U.S. currency, with “;Hawaii”; stamped on it. Is there a significant value to it? Where can I exchange it? What bank can I go to?

ANSWER: It's considered legal U.S. tender, so you can go to any bank and exchange it for face value.

But if you take it to a dealer or collector, depending on the condition of the bill, it could be worth double its value up to $100 or more, according to Brian Medcalf of Hawaiian Islands Stamp & Coin.

The bill is “;probably worth $20 and up,”; he said, but added that if “;it's a high-grade 10,”; meaning in very good condition with few folds, it could be worth several hundred dollars.

Medcalf said bills stamped with “;Hawaii,”; which date back to the World War II era, are still fairly common.

The U.S. Treasury Department's Bureau of Engraving and Printing devotes one section of its overview of U.S. currency to “;Hawaii Overprints”; (see www.moneyfactory.gov/hawaiioverprints.html).

According to the bureau, the “;Hawaii”; overprint was used beginning in July 1942 to ensure the currency could be identified if it fell into enemy hands. The notes included $1 Silver Certificates and $5, $10 and $20 Federal Reserve Notes.

All currency restrictions were revoked on Oct. 21, 1944, and normal monetary conditions were reinstituted in Hawaii.

As to what those bills are now worth, the Treasury Department says it will redeem any “;genuine”; U.S. currency at face value only “;and does not render opinions concerning the numismatic value of old or rare currencies. If you wish to have your notes appraised, it is suggested that you look online for a private collector or dealer.”;

QUESTION: Last November the city began replacing water drainage pipes on Kanalui Street. They appeared to have completed the work before Christmas. Workers removed all tools and equipment but left behind a giant crane/shovel machinery truck which took up the entire block of parking area between two houses. It has not moved an inch in the two months since the workers had finished their job. It is not only unsightly, but a hazard to parking, and gets in the way of garbage collection. Police officers said they cannot issue a parking violation ticket because the owner works for the city and we have to take it up with city authorities or the mayor. To whom can citizens lodge a complaint on the misuse of the city's property as a storage lot?

ANSWER: After we passed your complaint on to the city administration, you let us know that “;the yellow giant of an ugly machinery was gone from the front of my house”; last week.

“;Based on your inquiry, the city made the contractor aware of the community concern,”; Bill Brennan, spokesman for Mayor Mufi Hannemann, told “;Kokua Line.”;

“;At the city's insistence, the contractor moved the equipment to a location where it has a permit to park the equipment,”; he said. “;The city followed up to be sure this was done sooner rather than later.”;

In the future, you can also report a problem or make a complaint by going online to www.co.honolulu.hi.us/csd/publiccom/fixit.htm, e-mailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), calling 768-4381 (TDD at 768-3489) or writing to Director of Customer Services, 530 S. King St., Room 302-A, Honolulu 96813.