The Serial Number Spiral

Part 2 of “The Blood Bills”

They say curiosity killed the cat. But I’m starting to think it just slowly drives you mildly unhinged… one rabbit hole at a time.

After I published Part 1, friends, readers — even a retired bank manager — started messaging me. Some laughed, some were spooked, and one person casually suggested I check if the bills were ever part of a robbery.

Wait… what?

So I did what any reasonable human with unresolved trauma, an internet connection, and a need for closure would do: I started digging.

Clue #1: All three bills came from the same Federal Reserve District

All were marked with a “G” — Chicago. That’s not rare in itself, but considering they were all:

• From the same narrow time window (1974–1977)
• Crisp and uncirculated
• From the same bank …it felt intentional.

Clue #2: 1970s Bank Robberies in Illinois

Turns out? The late 1970s were peak bank robbery years in the Midwest.

According to old FBI reports and Chicago Tribune archives:

“From 1973 to 1979, Chicago saw an average of 180–200 bank robberies per year, many never solved.”

Some involved dye packs. Some involved hostage situations. And in more than a few, the stolen money was never recovered.

So what happens when stolen money never re-enters circulation?

Someone’s holding onto it.

Clue #3: Serial Number Range

My three bills had serials close enough to suggest they were bundled together. Not enough to prove anything — but enough to haunt me at night.

And just for fun, I emailed a contact at the Numismatic Crime Information Center. I didn’t use words like “blood” or “heist.” I simply asked:

“Are there any reports of stolen 1970s $20 bills from the Chicago district with similar serials?”

No official hits. But I was encouraged to continue documenting and photographing the notes — because rare bills linked to crimes often turn up years later in estates or anonymous deposits.

Then I found the case of the ’77 Disappearance

In 1977, a small-town Illinois bank reported a “quiet theft.” No cameras. No dye packs. No alarms tripped. The teller involved? Never charged. The money? Estimated at $60–$100 in untraceable bills.

Yeah. You read that right.

Sixty dollars.

So now I have three crisp $20 bills from Chicago, dated 1974 and 1977, that smell like blood and were just randomly handed to me at a bank.

Coincidence? Maybe. A stretch? Possibly. Enough to keep me up at night? Absolutely.

Stay tuned for Part 3: “Contacting the Dead” where I track down old employees, maybe talk to a former FBI agent, and try not to get flagged for being “the blood money lady.”

Tags:

TrueCrimeInspired #BankingHistory #CurrencyMystery #Unsolved1970s #MediumSeries #TheBloodBills #SerialNumbers #RabbitHole #TheEchoedWhisper