FAIRHOPE, Ala. — A cash reward is being offered for the return of several treasury notes taken from the Fairhope Public Library men’s restroom Tuesday.

According to a press release from the Fairhope Police Department, the reward is being offered by the owner.

FPD Sgt. Craig Sawyer stated that a Fairhope resident took several collector quality treasury notes to the library to electronically post them for sale on the Internet using the library’s computers. The owner placed the bills on the countertop in the men’s restroom and accidentally left them there. When he returned, the money was missing.

The stolen items are described as follows: two 1899 series $1 Black Eagle Silver Certificates valued at $200 each; one 1914 series $5 Treasury Note valued at $115; one 1914 series $10 Treasury Note valued at $120; one 1917 series $2 Jefferson Note valued at $200; and one 1923 series $1 note valued at $40. Total value of the missing bills is $875.

Anyone with information on the theft or current location of the money is asked to contact Detective Fred King, Fairhope Police Department Investigations, (251) 928-2385.

King said that if someone mistakenly picked up the items, they can return them to the library or the police department with “no questions asked,” but if they are found in possession of the notes, or attempting to spend them, they face arrest and prosecution.

Each bill has a unique serial number which will identify it as stolen. The bills still maintain their face value as currency, but as collector’s items, their value is considerably greater.