2021 "Collector's Corner"
2021 Observations:
12/25/21 Merry Christmas & happy holidays to all of those collectors out who follow Notaphylic Culture's "Collector corner." At the moment I am busy working on the QEII BANKNOTES thread for CCF. Today I will add my "Fine" Ceylon 5 Rupees & discuss this nation, although quite honestly, I've only been learning about the former Sri Lankan colony recently. I am sure there are many collectors out there who know much more than I & if that's the case, please feel free to contribute to this thread.
12/18/21 For the next month, or so, follow along with me on a thread I started on CCF as I examine some of the "look-fors" & past observations I have made in assembling QEII BANKNOTES. As a collector, I have not conscientiously pursued a collection featuring her majesty's portraits. That has never been my goal. However, I have a number of banknotes (nations) with her portrait on them & have learned a few things about trying to acquire some of the more difficult (& easy) ones.
PLEASE ADD COMMENTS TO THIS THREAD! [If you know me you will know that I enjoy hearing from other collectors' with their shared images, opinions & observations]
For a list of QEII notes or a number of possible motifs any world currency collector may pursue, please see my ongoing WORLD MOTIFS page.
12/11/21 On Numista, a number of collectors discussed their currency errors. One member talks about manufactured errors from England. If you are interested in finding out how you can avoid buying into rip-off scams, it may be wise to read this thread. It is important that one accept that there are many dodgy sellers out there who will cut sheets or use laser jet printers to manufacture errors. Be aware of these unscrupulous sellers. Also avoid fake Nazi ghetto (concentration) camp notes from Poland. It is really sad that there are such fruitcakes out there taking advantage of the unprepared buyer, but that is the case & another good reason to become active on these forums & always practice a "Buyer Beware" mentality.
12/04/21 Please check out Notaphylic Culture's Money Market page where I have added observations for October and November 2021.
11/27/21 From the PMF I found an interesting thread on $5 1934 COP (US term for Change-over-Pairs). Are you interested in BEP Change-over-Pairs? If so, take this general link on COP's first and read about the many collectors who have assembled pairings (of various denominations) from a non-mule to a "mule" note (has a different reverse plate used) or a signature change-over or even a star note change-over. The amazing thing about these "change-over pairings" folks is that they are the subsequent serial number change-over (not 10 or 100 away like we may find here in Canada, but the very next note!). And often the sets are created by collectors who hunt down the next note! From the first link (1934 $5 COP), I learned about the Tabacca family collection (who sold off many pairs in one auction) and of course how one collector benefitted from this massive sell-off. Go here if you'd like to learn more about "Mules" or "Change-overs." I also added some interesting new articles to my Noteworthy Reads page.
11/20/21 Besides contributing to this site, one of my favourite pastimes is to contribute to the other forums, solve riddles (queries about identifying a note), read recent posts or just providing some helpful advice (I hope). To me these activities are as good (or better) than the videos I refer to (& been watching) below. Why? Well, in a lot of the videos its simply show & tell (a drool fest). Sure some have flashy narratives & some of the notes featured are exciting to see but the forums allow members to participate and often we can help each other determine what is scarce, or what varieties may be tough & get other important opinions/info/data. Reading the many new topics (posts), I have learned a great deal from all these forums. For example, just recently I learned that many low # 1 notes were actually cut from sheets that came from the Colonel Green Hoard. (This is interesting in itself since initially the sheets were of no interest to a lot of the appraisers of the original hoard). Who was Colonel Green? He and his mother are very interesting business figures. Apparently a collector from the Collector's Universe speculated that the origin of some low number nationals most likely originated from this hoard & that's how I discovered the story of Edward Howard Green (& his miserly mother). When Green died, his hoard of coins, stamps, jewels and other valuable took 8 armored cars 16 guards and 7 state policemen to escort to another safe location. It all makes for a fascinating (illuminating) read.
11/13/21 I started a new thread on How to Collect & Interesting Social Media Videos. I am always impressed by the new generation of You-tubers who create fun, snappy videos on collecting just for the fun of it. Right now we see 3 basic CLASS of videos: #1 the old "Show & Tell" or a collector flipping pages of his/her album (or a musical slideshow). The second type (#2) are usually videotaped lectures or panels/interviews on a subject. These can be jammed pack full of information but long and dull. The third class of video (#3) are the exciting theme based videos presented by You-Tubers such as "Half-asleep Chris" or "Fredo Rockwell." These usually explore specific countries for various reasons (security features/odd denominations, etc). Many also review fun themes like musicians, automobiles or UV security features. Banknote World does this too but on a more commercial level (large sized commemoratives, QEII, polymer) & they tend to push certain overpriced products such as the common Zimbabwe 100 Trillion note (an incomparable marketing triumph). Remember to check out my Social Media page to explore more of these videos/links!
I am hoping some CCF members will chip in to the VARIATIONS posts I've started too. It is important to remember that if NO COLLECTORS were to contribute to our common knowledge bank then these variations, errors & fascinating collectibles would still be floating around in the wild (with nobody the wiser). Think about it. Most of us would be oblivious to Duplicate $1 STAR notes, Double-denomination $10 or English Pounds printed with the experimental German Goebel Press if there were no dedicated collectors willing to report, post &/or keep track of them. I can tell you quite honestly that the number of collectors who report these rare & tough notes to find are just a fraction of the number of notes held by collectors.
11/06/21 Another week has flashed by & so has the month of October. On Coin Community Family, I have been trying to update a post on Eastern Caribbean Variations. I have used a few images from my personal collection and observations I've made over the past 3 years in my hunt for this series. I feel that its a fantastic series to collect because the SCWPM doesn't track the various suffixes (nation releases) nor the signature variations well. Please check it out & feel free to comment or provide any feedback, insights you have discovered yourself.
Please check out the fascinating presentation on "Ways to build your collection," presented by IBNS veteran collector Jonathan Callaway on my Social Media Links page. His collection is extensive & eclectic. You will see a great section on collecting by country, geography, thematic topics, inflationary notes as well "story notes." Its a long youtube video but well worth your time.
10/30/21 Interesting new vertical polymer designs coming out of Mexico. The new 20 Pesos and 50 Pesos can be seen on these two CCF links. You may want to try to get these notes at exchange outlets (or banks) from your country. This is the least expensive way to start a World currency collection. One warning, however, is that after you get these new notes, you may find it addictive.
On Collector's Universe (a thread showing off/discussing 1899 $5 Chiefs) I just learned about Track & Price which is an online platform that tracks auction results for collectible currency. For small size Federal Reserve Notes a subscription is $75/year, for large sized $125/year & for World Currency $149/year. It looks like it could be very helpful if you're serious about acquiring notes at affordable prices! You may want to check it out.
10/23/21 Last week's Variations threads on CCF has not received much traffic nor interest. I am assuming that most collectors either haven't seen it, or haven't bothered pursuing such banknote types. It's early yet, but I will not "beat a dead horse" by adding more threads should there be no further traffic/nor responses.
In past entries, I have discussed "recycling cash," or taking out large withdrawals & searching these for tough (change-over) prefixes or special serial numbers (radars, repeaters, etc). I just received $4000 (400) in Tens and found nothing worth keeping. In fact, I was pretty surprised (& dismayed) to see that they were the FTZ (3rd) prefix which were released back in 2018. It is a bit disappointing to learn how slowly the banks are allowing new notes to replace the old ones (especially when one continues to withdraw flimsy plastic rags which have the inks missing in the substrate). At this rate, one wonders when we'll get to the new FFE signature change-over (& what signature will it be, since the BoC appears to be in no rush),
10/16/21 Yesterday I initiated some new posts on CCF re: Variations on banknotes on their World Paper Money Forum. For the past 3 years (or more) I have been contemplating on which World banknotes to collect. The first one I noticed was the Eastern Caribbean States 1965 early versions plus their short-lived 1993 series. I do hope you take a little time to read and will perhaps make an attempt to contribute on what you think is a collectible variation! This will take time & I don't expect a lot of results over a short period but will try to add one or two new threads weekly, as certain nations bear attention. For example, today I added a new thread on the use of Tyvek alternative substrates which I believe was first used by the ABNC on the Haiti 50 Gourdes in 1979.
On my October 2nd entry, I described the September 25th Paper Money Forum zoom celebration meeting for their 5 Year Anniversary. The discussions were very interesting- all about currency, tips to selling online, some collector's niches, member contributions to the PMF, etc. I learned later that I won a special number $1.00 with the serial # 00044444 from Dallas & it arrived this past week. So, if you are still lurking amongst these forums then fine- but please consider registering & participating. Once again, a big SHOUT OUT to the generous folks at the PMF!
10/09/21 Over the past 2 years of keeping this Notaphylic Culture hobby site up & running, I have encouraged the more assertive collectors out there to "recycle cash" at their local branches. "Recycling cash" simply means taking out large sums ($500 to $50,000), bundles to bricks of a denomination (100- 1000X $5 to $50 notes) from one's bank and returning it to another branch (after a special #/prefix search). While it may sound simple, it can be anything but & it takes many recycles to score a collectible note. For one, it is imperative to order the bricks, or bundles, ahead of time & to be explicit what one wants (which is often ignored). Also, it is absolutely mandatory to be as polite as humanly possible since ordering bundles/bricks is prone to miscommunication (& just sheer non compliance on the bank's part). I discussed the case of "Wrekkdd" from CCF recycling coins below on my 09/25/21 entry two weeks ago. The reason I bring it up again is because another collector on the CPMF has had his RBC account closed. I wrote on Numista about it and urged the collector (from Australia) to tread carefully as it can lead to a big headache as it has for the CPMF member. As I have explained in the past, I have even gone so far as writing a letter to my local branch manager explaining my hobby in order to get one brick of FIVES back in 2013. Bottom line is: if you wish to use your bank to recycle cash be sure to tread lightly and be as transparent as possible (let them know what you're up to). That is the best (wisest) strategy to avoid complications. Banks may flag you as a security risk & that is the last thing you want to happen.
Please take a look at my Money Market page which has been updated with a September summary today.
10/02/21 Last Saturday (9/25), the PMF held a Zoom 5th Anniversary meeting. This was the day my wife & I do our grocery shopping (amongst other things) so I wasn't too sure if I would make it by 2:00pm. I showed up at 2:30 and saw some of the expert collectors who regularly contributed on the PMF forum ("Delistamps", "Beryl," "Tigertrader," "CurrencyDen," "Lighthouse250," "PaulD," & "HfJacinto" to just name a few). "Delistamps" hosted & "Tigertrader" discussed some of the past 5 years of the PMF's evolution (quite interesting). Delistamp shared a slideshow which showed the top posters for PMF & others commented on the great info that members (like "SteveinTampa") added to the forum. "CurrencyDen" discussed test notes & a few contest questions were asked. "Delistamp" had announced that "Hfjacinto" won #00055555 & that I won a special serial numbered $1.00 (00044444) from Dallas! I had no idea (I didn't answer a question) & I could not hear the host very well. I could only see the top of his head & didn't realize this was a "door prize" until I visited the PMF the next day. So I just want to remind those "lurkers" out there to register, join & contribute to any forum you find is interesting. Remember that there is a LOT MORE to collecting than posting images of your notes on IG, Reddit or FB Groups. Sure these S-M sites are fun but you will get a heck of a lot more detailed info from the old-timers at the forums (like CCF, PMF, CPMF & CU). Ask questions, post your notes & share what you have learned (or just share your passion). Even the coin collectors on Numista are getting into the banknote "action." Remember to check out my SITES & FORUMS page to register & participate on these informative sites.
09/25/21 A CCF member who goes by "Wrekkdd" posted a question re: ATM cash recycling here. A number of CCF members responded to her question as she found it difficult to deal with a certain bank employee. Searching through bundles (& bricks) of banknotes can be fun if you can get past the hassle of withdrawing them. Banks don't deal with cash out of pleasure but necessity and most employees don't look forward to handling large quantities of coins nor notes. So, if you do plan on taking this activity up, then please remember to exercise loads of patience and be as pleasant as possible. Another coin searcher recommended dumping your large withdrawal at another branch (I think this is a good practice too). No matter how many coins/notes you search, you will probably be astonished at how seldom you'll find anything collectible (I always am). I can go for months of searching and find absolutely nothing worthy of keeping. However, the exercise does help one understand how tough various types (prefixes) can be to locate (why they're worth a premium).
Another member from the CPMF who goes by "Lamb" contacted me recently. He wrote about his experience searching the nearby casinos for crisp UNC notes and finding some very scarce prefixes when the BIRDS series were being issued. I really enjoyed reading his anecdotes. "Lamb" is well travelled and also has a small collection of WORLD currency. He started looking again and found some nice UNC $5 IND change-overs (high +9M) with the Wilkins-Macklem signature (instead of the Wilkins-Poloz signatures).
Remember to keep checking my BIRDS SERIES page as I will be revising the information to include the higher denominations tomorrow (09/26). Happy hunting everyone!
09/18/21 On CCF a member who uses the handle "Rachel12" enquired about 24 matching serial numbered TWOS from the 1986 BIRDS series. One of her prefixes happen to be the EGR Bonin-Thiessen change-over which is good but unfortunately the majority (common) prefix and as such only commands a $3 BV (or $1 over FV). As a result of her enquiry, I revised my BIRDS SERIES page with a summary of the prefixes to look out for. Please check out the link for the most recent revisions. I will be revising the higher denominations ($20 to $1000) in the next week or so. Stay tuned.
09/11/21 It has been 20 years since 9-11 terror attacks on the WTC, Pentagon and other US sites. I am always humbled to see the various sacrifices the NYC Fire Department made and find the videos difficult to watch. This one day event changed our world just as much as the Covid 19 pandemic. With such events, global warming and other problems on the horizons, it always forces one to appreciate what one has. I hope those who were directly or indirectly impacted by this tragic day somehow find some peace.
When it comes to our collections, remember to spend a little money on storage and dry-aids. Keep your notes in decent (mylar) currency sleeves. They can be stored upright in boxes or in albums. The thing I like about albums is that they get less handling (unless you are moving them). Try to be careful each time you move your notes in the sleeve (do not bend). Seldom take the note out of the sleeve. Even low-value notes that are in UNC grade should be handled as little as possible.
09/04/21 Over at Numista I contributed to a thread "What do Numista users think about graded coins?" I myself have thought long about grading various banknotes since US Third Party Grading (TPG) certifiers are so expensive (IMO). But its not just the expense of large batch grading but the postage fees as well. Over at Collector's Universe a collector debates getting a 1963 $1 from New York certified. IMO: to go through the expense (& anxiety) of TPG certification, the note in question should be hard to attain, in great shape & worth a certain (X) amount. Question yourself: what do I gain by certifying this note? Is it really worth the expense? Each collector has his or her threshold for what the note should be worth (X). Some would have X = $100 (or $___) while others may go with X being 10, 15 or 30 times Face Value (FV). These are tough questions & if you're in doubt it may be a good idea to air your concern at one of the forums suggested on my Notaphylic LInks page.
08/28/21 I have just revised the Money Market & Social Media pages with observations & links to the 2021 ANA Worlds Fair of Money that took place in Chicago.
08/21/21 This past week, on the PMF, an ancient 2006 thread questioning whether there were "Fewer long term serious collectors" was revisited. It seems to be a question that all collectors pose one time or another since every hobby goes through cycles of hyperactivity or relative quiet stability. Some contributors took this question to mean purchasing notes worth $100,000 (serious note investments) while others thought this meant collectors from all age groups. Many PMF members began posting their age and how they got into the hobby. It is an interesting thread & I encourage you to read it over. I interpreted the question as a sign of the hobby's health if there is such a thing. Could the question be interpreted as "are there fewer long-term collectors?" [Older dealers & long-term collectors die off over the years] Most hobbyist will go through spells of being active and then put the collection away and be dormant or inactive for a period of time. I believe that the hobby will always replenish itself with young collectors & I'm encouraged by the arrival of more women, social media outlets (IG, Reddit, FB, etc) and how the pandemic seemed to be an unexpected shot in the arm (renewed interest). I believe some of the younger generation who may come upon new founded wealth will want to channel their new credit into something tangible (coins/banknotes, etc). My points all centred around the fact that people like to collect & will always collect no matter what becomes of cash. It is also important to keep in mind how technology can skew our perception of things. Shows were once all we had to participate in auctions & their attendance has dropped dramatically since more auction houses converted to online platforms. Many PMF members commented on how the tougher/scarcer items were climbing in BV the fastest/most dramatically. That's been my observation all along & something I always try to keep this general rule in mind while collecting (avoid easy/plentiful and just focus on tough/uncommon).
08/14/21 "Snobro110" asked about a Greek hyperdenomination P-127 note. He posted that he needed help & asked what could he do? My reply was: A) IDENTIFY the note using the bank note museum, Banknote Index, Numista or some other resource. When I started collecting world currency in 2018, I rarely used online sources but most often resorted to my copy of the SCWPM (Standard Catalogue of World Paper Money). Use whatever works for you. B) Use the Name of the country/Pick (P) Code and SEARCH eBay or another online auction platform to get an idea what the banknote is worth. C) Educate yourself (keep digging/search for the variations/short years/prefixes, design variation, etc). I should probably LIST this as the FIRST thing you must do since its so important to keep engaged in the hobby & to enjoy the hobby much more than many people do. For so many new collectors its all about where to find banknotes (banks, exchange houses, etc) for Face Value (FV) which, yes, is a worthy cause BUT is NOT what a more knowledgable collector will do. If you are reading this now you're probably okay (I'm preaching to the converted) but always keep an open mind. There are always things to learn in this hobby (whether the note you have is in COLLECTIBLE condition (grading); what are its flaws; what is the difference between Book Value (BV) & Fair Market Value (FMV), etc?
08/07/21 I just returned from a short holiday. While away, I did not have access to my laptop but I had my wife's computer & had to use this site a few times as a reference. In doing so, I noticed a few typos or grammatical errors so I will continue to work on site maintenance for the next month. In the mean time I encourage collectors out there to scour the forums for information. I have been trying to answer some questions on various forums (Numista & CCF) particularly & have noticed a keener interest in banknote variations. It is a great direction to follow since many collectors out there seek only these. Remember to check out my new World Motifs Page link below (in last week's post).
07/30/21 Today, I have published my new World Motifs Page. Please take a look to see the many different directions collectors have taken over the years. On this page I have included a list of banknotes which feature Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) since this has also become quite a large contingent of world currency collecting. Remember that the page only has a minor glimpse (with links) to the various nations/banknotes which feature any particular motif (nature/man made) or Art/Science subject. There will be many, many more that are not included. If you'd like to share what you think is a huge oversight than please feel free to drop a line.
07/24/21 Some time ago 'hfjacinto' from CCF recommended Allens Coins, Currency, Supplies and I was, quite honestly, somewhat skeptical at the time. A few weeks ago, I thought I would check out Allen's inventory listed on their site. One thing I wasn't too crazy about on my first visit, was to buy inventory I could not see. They supplied generic images (representative but not of the exact note) for the majority of their items. 'Hfjacinto' had assured me, though that they were (what he thought) fairly conservative accurate graders. [He also suggested I request an image of the note I wanted to purchase but I failed to do so: my bad].
I purchased 2 AU Australian $1.00; 2 UNC New Zealand $1.00; an UNC P-170 $2.00 RADAR; AU P-30b 5 Rupee from Mauritius; an EF P-47 1 Rupee and a Fine P-51 5 Rupees with a stain on the reverse from Ceylon. This last two notes were the toughest to buy as I am really gun-shy about lower graded (F-VF or EF) notes & unfortunately the Ceylon 5 Rupees has a fairly ugly small stain on the back. However, I looked at several of these on eBay and of the half dozen I saw, most were in VG-F (with stains/impairments but labelled F+) listed for about $100+USD. The same can be said for the King George Rupee & both Allens notes were priced much less than eBay. While the Mauritius 5 Rupee has a small spot on it, the Commonwealth of Australia & New Zealand notes (one a replacement/the other with a near solid serial number 111110) are perfect and priced well below what most eBay sellers would demand (BIN) IMO. All 8 notes came in separate large mylar sleeves and were packaged in such a way to guarantee absolutely no damage in transit.
Overall, I was very pleased with Allens & give them a BIG THUMBS UP! If you are contemplating ordering from a shop (rather than "roll the dice" with the often-times inconsistency one encounters on eBay) I encourage you to give Allens a try. They also have a selection of supplies (currency sleeves) which I may turn to in the future. Thanks "hfjacinto" for a great recommendation.
07/17/21 u/krzysztofvh (from Reddit) asked me about safe storage of banknotes last week. When I started collecting I put my notes in just about anything that was transparent. This was not a good idea. Purchase brand name PVC-free currency sleeves (BCW, Lighthouse, Guardhouse, Safeguard, etc) & keep each note in a nice semi-rigid holder. You'll often hear of archival grade, mylar, semi-rigid (good) or super cheap (100 for $10) flimsy PVC sleeves sold in bulk from China (bad). Acid from some clear vinyls will react (& colour/destroy) the paper over time. About a decade ago this was a hot topic since there were some companies still producing PVC holders (which are no good for your notes). Moisture is bad too.
Wizard Coin supply has a terrific selection of numismatic supplies (you may want to check them out). I have just used "currency sleeves" as the search term on eBay & they offer a long list of suppliers. Be sure to buy sleeves which are larger than your note! If you have larger (European high denominations) you will need to get the larger sized holders which cost slightly more. Remember to consider your notes an investment: cost should be approximately 2 holders for $1.00 USD (excluding taxes/postage).
How should I handle notes? First off- DON'T! Just don't fondle banknotes. The less you touch them the better. But if you buy lots then you will like have them arrive in one sleeve. You will need to take them out (carefully) & gently slide them into their sleeve. Do you wear gloves? I used to but not anymore. Now, I simply wash my hands and try handling them by reducing the time my fingers are on the surface of the note. I often handle them from the edges with one finger on each edge, or lightly holding by the surface before sliding into the sleeve. I do not want finger prints on my notes but what I learned was that cloth gloves just made me too clumsy & I sometimes mishandled a note while wearing them. If you are agile with gloves on then continue to wear them. Do what works for you but remember- less is more (minimal handling & get each note into a sleeve).
I realize that I have wrote a LOT about WHAT NOT TO DO when collecting coins/currency. I have always found it sometimes easier to think that I must avoid this as easier to remember. But it left a glaring void. Please check out my "Proven Strategies" on my Money Market page for 5 succinct strategies to keep in mind when collecting.
07/10/21 NC site maintenance has been ongoing for this past week. You should note that I have already revised the "WELCOME" message above. There are far too many revisions to mention here. I suggest you explore.
"CurrencyDen1" started a great thread on the Paper Money Forum (PMF) regarding nations who produce currency that feature UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This is a fascinating subject & "CurrencyDen1" has provided several great resources to follow up on. I have added a site he suggested StevenBron to my Social Media page. While I don't collect this way there are many collectors who do. As a result, I am constructing a page which will provide tips (& helpful links) to various world motifs that are featured on banknotes. It won't be an extensive list but it has been an ambitious project so far & may take a little more time than I expected. I should be ready to post/publish this page by the end of July.
07/03/21 I have been making a number of revisions on this site and hope to have these completed by August. I also hope to revise and update my "Notes Available." By then I should be able to get these ready and have them available again for purchase. Please take a look at my doubles and if you see anything that interests you contact this site address ( notaphilyc@gmail.com ).
06/26/21 A member from CCF dubbed "CurrencyDen1" expressed valid concerns about the impact CDN publishing (Greysheet) take over of The Banknote book will have. He (& other collectors) raised some very valid points about the expenses of a renewable subscription service (vs the old SCWPM). The Standard Catalogue of World Paper Money went under (due to mismanagement, etc) & Owen Linzmayer did an outstanding job at addressing some of the issues collectors had with the old paper standard. Many collectors preferred the new digital format with more updated/relevant images (& pricing). It appears as if the people at CDN publishing were impressed too. Will this have a negative impact on world currency collecting? I'm not entirely sure but I do suspect it may turn off some collectors. These older school collectors will likely keep their SCWPM & roll with the punches. Others may quit and come back later. On CCF, I commented how TPG (Third Party Graders) was unpopular to most of us 'old-timers' (who preferred raw/ungraded banknotes) but I have since crossed over into the TPG camp.
If you'd like to re-familiarize yourself to some of the collector's terms visit my Notable Terms page. Also remember to check my Social Media Links & Noteworthy Reads pages. I have added interviews & new articles about banknotes. I try to update these regularly (though it has become a bit of a challenge). With the influx of new collectors everything has become a bit more hectic trying to keep up with the many changes & evolving nature of the hobby. Also check my Money Market page with June's (& a HA video) update.
06/19/21 A member from CCF dubbed 'luckrollers' asked what to collect for Canadian banknotes. Take the link to read some of the responses from the other collectors. In Reddit, I asked which series should I collect for South African currency. The advice I got ranged from the 4 new series (in UNC) to "anything I like." I would have really liked to seen IF there were any tough series, denominations, prefixes or signatures I should be on top of? One replied that he could not understand the question: like it was redundant. Such vague & general notions that we should all sock away a note because one possesses it- this is NOT COLLECTING folks! This activity has NO purpose other than saving some FV notes. In fact, in my eyes, it's just hoarding. This was what my dad did. He always "socked away" some money in his top drawer. After he had passed away, I recall the long clean up process. Part of it was going through stuff. I wasn't surprised to see a stash of common, dog-eared banknotes in a strongbox (3rd drawer). None of these notes (some of them from a prior series) were worth keeping. They were all just worth FACE VALUE (FV).
Try setting up some specific guidelines on which notes to collect. Check out 'hfjacinto's' response to 'ShareBear' here on CCF if you still don't get it. This collector has clearly defined goals of what notes he wishes to possess. Collecting this way is so much more satisfying than collecting "anything you like." This is why I encourage serious collectors to avoid SM and stick to forums. You'll get very little from SM other than a large pool of sharing (bragging rights) but even then, not always that interesting. Comments like "Wow!" or "you should get that graded" are quite common, no matter what has been shared. Find yourself a forum and start asking tough questions. Get involved and you will get far more from the hobby than empty pockets and buyer's remorse.
Check out two great dealer interviews I added (including one with Judy Kagin) on my Social Media page.
06/12/21 I communicated with a collector who shared some ideas about this site months ago. He wanted to see a new video on storing banknotes. I promised him I'd make one so that may be my next video. I will start adding videos again this summer: I've just been too busy keeping a roof over our heads to give video production must time. But soon, I promise, I will get around to it. In the meantime, if you do drop by from time to time, I urge you to drop me a line if there is a subject you'd like to see on a video.
06/05/21 I was just going to participate in a few forums but suddenly decided to join the Paper Money Forum (PMF) a few days ago. I believe it is important not to get too caught up in buying, collecting but rather try to keep a happy balance between one's acquisitions & the social aspects of the hobby. With the past 15 months (& counting) in lockdown, or some other restriction based on the pandemic, this has been a real challenge. But if one must be social online then try a forum (rather than a SM platform like IG). It is really helpful (at least I feel) if there is some educational aspect: something IG seems to lack. It is nice to see the keen interest in banknotes, but please, start to look at why you are collecting a certain currency. In this day and age, with all the online resources, try educating yourself why you think your note is collectible. Is it in great condition? Is it from a short run? Was it replaced by another currency? The sad fact that cash is being aggressively phased out by a billion-dollar lobby group Better_than_cash_alliance (with the help of VISA & some big banks) should not be the only reason you are keeping common examples. Most nations produce at least 10,000,000 of any given prefix so chances are, there's plenty of more of where yours came from. If you are curious on how to collect more collectible banknotes than I urge you to watch a few of my videos below. Developing discretion for what one collects is not necessarily a bad thing. And of course, enjoy your hobby!
I have just updated my WORLD MARKET page with observations for May 2021.
05/29/21 Last week I updated Notaphylic Culture's 2011 Frontiers page to include the latest information we have on this series change-overs. The $100 EJZ prefix and $50 AMK prefix have proven to be quite scarce. Fewer $50 AMG were reported as well, and can be tough to find in high grades. The 2012 $20 BSW prefix was short too. It has been suggested that only small ranges were actually released since only 16 have been reported in the past 9 years. A big surprise was the initial Macklem-Carney (8.3M) FTH $10. With such a large number reported, but only 13 reported, it has been a scarce prefix and one which Charlton has still not acknowledged (oddly enough).
Collectors from various forums often ask how to get access to large quantities of cash so that they may search the notes for special numbers & short prefixes (as mentioned above). I must admit: it is not easy. I have gone through thousands of notes per month and have often struck out with nothing. It takes an enormous amount of patience and rarely pays off, but when it does, it is really sweet. It is not for everyone. I have been exhausted by my countless searches and am not sure how much longer I can manage. Banks prefer people who use credit. They're not cash friendly people. Sure you might get the odd friendly teller who has been freshly trained to be nice at first but that quickly wears down and before you know it, they're just like every other jaded, poorly paid, overworked bank employee. They will only help you so much. So yes, it is not for the faint hearted. If you can search thousands of notes and still get great service (& the odd decent find), then all the power to you sister (or brother)!
05/22/21 Collectors from some of the forums, like Canadian Paper Money Forum, will post their finds. A collector who posts "Dean Finds" often goes into branches and takes whatever his favourite tellers have to offer. I first commented about his exploits on a 01/16/21 (4 months ago/below) since he has been scoring some true collectible notes from as far back as 1954. I have caught myself being envious of this "Dean" for he has snagged 2 rare EET $10 "Good-overs," replacements and even the Devil's Face. Any time I ask to inspect the returns pouch, at my branch, I get stiff brush offs. I may even have bought some of these bank employees coffees and donuts in the past (though I suspect the way management recycles staff, it is unlikely). I just have not nurtured my relationships with bank employees as well as "Dean." I still withdraw large quantities of lower denominations and recycle them in search for special serial numbers and I'm very lucky if I find something in 2-3 months. I suppose my point it, that if you wish to find something in the wild, it will take plenty of time, & loads of patience. If you wish to get access to older cash, as the collector "Dean" has done, than it may take years to establish the rapport he has to get such results. It's an investment in time & it will take an incredible amount of patience, and perhaps a few dozen donuts, but it can be done.
05/15/21 Two days ago 'Aretim' from reddit Banknotes posted his newly acquired 500,000 Lira. According to the first comment, its exchange value was 250 Euros, when released. The reddit collector was pleased he paid 198 Euros on eBay. The note, while large and lovely design, was released in limited quantities is however circulated (possibly EF) & the discounted price should warn you away. $240 USD might seem like a good deal to some. However, I can think of a lot of other UNC Italian banknotes I could have for that kind fo money. One should recall that large denominations typically don't circulate like small denominations, and should be in UNC condition (minimum). The Italian Lira was demonetized and made worthless & high denomination will be a tough sell later on. There would have been several of these sold for quite a discount. One should not separate the reality of the note's history/value with what one is going to pay today. Early first prefixes/signatures of several Italian denominations would be far more collectible. My advice to any new collector: if you're about to park $240 USD then be sure to buy very selectively! At the very least, try not tie up your hard earned money on a high denomination that has been circulated. When the note has further been demonetized, this is sort of like buying a used newspaper on a commuter train. Refrain from BIN listings just b/c you're in a rush to get some note based on its design (or gap). Try to find a True Auction style Listing (TAsL) of a TPG high grade, tough prefixes/signature combo. Get something everyone will want & you will pat yourself on the back without buyer's remorse.
I just updated my Notaphylic Terms page with excellent world links to Moneypedia. Please review this page is you're unsure what type of banknote to buy.
05/08/21 Today, I added an interesting video on a treasure hunter who discovered a large stash of USD in some person's attic. You can watch this & other interesting videos on my Social Media page. Just remember, if you do enjoy the SM take on the hobby, be vigilant in terms of the advice given (& terms) you might see kicking about there. Collecting foreign currency has become the rage on many sites (IG, FB & Reddit) but most of these enthusiasts embrace it with more gusto than the average currency or coin hobbyist. Worst of all, most go into it without any self-education other than what they have heard/learned on other SM sites or Google. So, try to keep in mind, if you're going to get deeper into this hobby, to be sure to seek out the best sources of info. Go for the forums (where collectors freely share their expertise). I have linked many highly reputable forums (& sites) on my Notaphilyc Sites page. [And just as a side-note, we often see many SM collectors come to the forums who actually admit to being ripped off from these SM sites].
05/01/21 Interesting post on how to remove oil from banknotes. I love the comment about the iron -which I should have replied, "I don't think you have to worry about committing further blasphemy on that oily note!" I hope, if you're reading this, you will find yourself better than VF (Very Fine) original banknotes! Once again, I would encourage you to acquire the best you can & preferably UNC. Tougher prefixes, signatures, & some older series could be VF or better but just try to stick to "original" or EPQ (Exceptional Paper Quality). Happy hunting & don't forget to participate in the many forums out there. If you are new to this than I suggest you try perusing some of the many online resources on my Notaphilyc Sites page. Most importantly- have fun!
04/24/21 I am absolutely certain that too many "newbies" are bidding on notes which they really don't know much about. Be cautious. As I stated last week (April 17th): it would be a good time to cool it and take a break (if you're interested in buying new currency). Play the waiting game or sell. Get yourself organized and research the gaps you'd like to fill in your collection. The economy will start to stall now that a 3rd wave of Covid-19 has hit and vaccines roll out slower than expected. Organize what you have & use forums to learn more about your collection. Be conservative and please avoid Social Media sites which is filled with misinformation (or if you are a big fan/participant than refrain from propagating opinions & get informed before you post comments based on opinion). If you have doubles, sell them. People are buying (new people are entering the coin/banknote hobby everyday).
04/17/21 I am beginning to believe that it might be a good time to cool off buying world currency. The reason can be found on my Money Market page. I just visited a FB Group page which offers coins & banknotes in an auction style format. It was a bit alarming to see someone bid $17 for a common circulated 1973 $10. I swapped much better (EF+) notes for about $11 or a 10% premium. At the time I felt a bit shabby getting a 10% premium but now not so much (I guess there are people willing to buy these circulated notes!). If you are starting out in the paper money hobby and are using FB to start a collection I urge you to stop and think about a) learning to grade and b) using other online platforms or sticking to EF+ 'original/EPQ' notes. These notes won't be more expensive than what you're currently doing on the FB Groups but you'll likely end up with a group of more collectible notes. Sure the postage might be a bit more but at least you won't have to wait a decade before you can sell (to break even)! Seriously folks! Some foolhardy people out there are throwing good money after bad.
04/10/21 If you are new to viewing Notaphylic Culture then you may be wondering what all the belly-aching is about in my last post: "what US starter notes to collect?" I can hear you state, "I'm just going to put these nice crisp 2017 $1.00 notes in an envelope and see what they're worth in a few years." Well, there's no objection to doing that (everyone does that). In fact, I'm willing to bet that most collectors just sock a few crisp notes away each year and learn what they've got. My suggestion, however, is to become a more advanced, educated, collector, by learning what to collect. Once you have taken a few links (as suggested on my April 3rd post) & begin to understand the prefix/suffix codes (banknote identifiers), you might start wanting notes released from the Richmond or Cleveland FRB's. You may start to observe how tough a star note is OR wish to collect modern "Small head" $20 from 1990-1998. The idea is: develop a clear guideline & scope for your target denomination(s). The further you research (& understand your denomination) the better your collection will become. Don't expect this to happen over night. It is a process, but a process that can be very rewarding. And there is nothing wrong with having extras which you got in UNC shape to trade with others (in fact, I encourage it). Below, is a chart for the Federal Reserve Indicators as seen on the $5.00 banknote printed by the BEP. If you are collecting $5.00 banknotes you should know this chart! And then start your search & have fun!
04/03/21 Another new currency collector asked the age-old question "what US starter notes to collect?" on CCF. It's a good question to ask & somewhat tougher for a collector of US currency for two reasons. The number one obstacle for collectors of BEP notes is the complexity of their Federal Reserve Bank issues. Each Reserve bank has it's own prefix/suffix code & with 8 digit serial numbers good luck finding or buying a special serial number. As any long term collector will suggest, arm yourself with knowledge by educating yourself which denomination/series to collect. The second obstacle is that there are a lot of sellers making up names for fancy serial numbers like "tertiary" or "broken ladder" or putting stamps on otherwise good notes. The misinformation can be daunting so I advise each collector to register with a decent paper money forum to be sure that they're collecting Special Serial Numbers & not after someone else's gimmick. If you want more info on US banknotes a good place to start is on my USA Banknotes page & if you want further information go to the Notaphylic Sites page. I was reviewing the many links I've assembled on the 2nd page and always enjoy the VIRTUAL tour that the ANA . You don't have to be a collector to appreciate this.
03/27/21 Last week a Canadian collector posted a 1972 $5 crease error banknote on CCF which he would be selling on eBay for his mother-in-law. I think that it is great he's helping her out that way. However, I still maintain that he would probably get quite a good price (without seller's fees) on FB Groups (rather than eBay) and that the note (though nice) should be fetching about $100 CDN. I doubt that it will. I believe it will likely go for as much as $150 or even $200. As posted last week, I believe that this pandemic has caught a lot of collectors by surprise (& I am by no means an "exception)." Number one surprise was that most national governments have created stimulus plans to help ease our economic pain during this unprecedented time. Another surprise was that a lot of people have turned to hobbies and threw money into coins or banknotes. [If you were unemployed, in debt or struggling before the pandemic than chances are that you have probably been hurt worse by the Covid-19 situation]. However, if you had a job and kept it, as reported 2 weeks ago, it was more likely that you have faired well. I think its time for most collectors to be wary of jumping into bidding wars for any note. I believe it would be wise to be very careful these days. We have seen crazy action on the Stock Market, for Bitcoin & most recently for some common collector's stock. It may be time to maintain a holding pattern and see where this all takes us. However, I should add that seeing as the market has picked up, often collectors, dealers (& people who've inherited rare notes) wish to unload them. So, with that in mind, we may be seeing better banknotes up for auction. Just try to be cognizant of the fact that most auction houses have high buyer premiums, transaction premiums (unless paying the way they prefer) & costly postage rates (FED EX or worse). Sometimes it pays to snoop around eBay to avoid some of these extra costs.
Here's another reply I made to a Numista post on where to buy online. I really hope that if you're starting to build a collection fro inexpensive BIN items that you do research the note in question & be sure to double-check the signatures, SN patterns (same size or ascending? 1 letter prefix or 2 letter?) You will want to buy the correct note rather than discover you have bought a mislabelled one and pay for the return shipping (angst of getting what you want).
03/20/21 I have been trying to buy a few notes to fill in a few gaps from some Caribbean countries but have been finding it a bit difficult. The reason is mostly from procrastination. I put the note on my "Watch List" and when i come back to it, a few days later, it's been sold. So it would seem that the world market for world currency is still quite healthy, if not heated. It may be due to the extra money collectors have saved since staying home from the travel restrictions imposed by the global pandemic. It also may be due to boredom, people forced to stay home, picking up on their old hobbies like coin collecting and branching into banknotes.
03/13/21 In the Canadian news it has been reported that many Canadians who kept their jobs actually grew richer o//ver the past year as a result of less spending. In addition, the government took less tax off so this would result in more disposable income for that same group. House prices increased a further 14% so home owners are also wealthier by the same degree. However, people who were living in debt or in underpaying jobs suffered the greatest as CERB money did not offset the affects of being unemployed.
03/06/21 I just realized it's Saturday, my day for a Notaphylic observation & I'm running out of topics to write about. HA! So, I will share an anecdote I posted on Numista:
My dad collected everything. He grew up during the Great Depression, so he became an obsessive "hoarder." My mom was always screaming at him to throw out the junk he amassed in our garage (& basement). He just ignored her and never threw a thing out. I ended up spending months cleaning house after he passed away. I even gave my mom a strong box of his filled with old 1975 $50's blinded to the fact that they might have been collectible! I was on a mission- to remove so much of his stuff- I even gave away some of his prized fly-fishing rods. It was heartbreaking actually! (Fortunately, I kept one & a basket of fishing gear).
There are some collectors who just collect everything (with no real direction) for the sake of collecting. I was exactly like that when I started (just infatuated with the banknote designs). So I wanted some of everything: the more, the better (& in whatever condition). I had a big collection of used money.
But, honestly, as I got older & saw that other collectors had direction (focus) and limits (scope). It took me a while, but over a period of time, I realized I had it all wrong. I started to sell off all of my original collection & sold any note that wasn't a change-over, replacement, special number, error or had some such collectible characteristic (hallmark). I sold off any note higher than $50. I sold a 1937 $100 & a couple others to buy this note: (see BC-54ciE3ii above), my first offset printing error.
I have absolutely no regrets getting more choosy & specific- "knowing my onions" as you put it. I know world currency collectors aren't so keen to be so specific & I myself have backed off on this objective: but it still's a prudent way to approach the hobby (no matter what). At least keep decent (UNC) specimens if they're common.
Above is a response to the question "are you a bit snobby about coin collecting?" a member dubbed 'Lindylou' posted. And I really feel as if that's not the case. People just get more selective as they age (as they've been at it for a while). It's only natural. I know there are American currency collectors who actually collect specific plate numbered notes. Keep in mind that plate numbers are those tiny little plate numbers which identify which printing plate was used to print the actual sheet of notes. In some cases, US notes with high back plate numbers are notes with new front plates & older plates from previous series. They're called "mules" & the BEP printed a whole whack of em' in over the years. But, they're still far less common than the regular issue (& so a target for many serious US currency collectors). It makes sense. Bank of Canada banknotes have similar little numbers called Front or Back Position Numbers (FPN or BPN) & these identify where, on the matrix, a banknote was printed on the sheet (of 35-45 notes). Most Canadians don't collect by these tiny numbers (unless the numbers are missing as in a few prefixes of the 1954 Modified Series or are "hidden" as in some of the Birds Series). I guess my point is, if there is a point, "to each his/her own." Different strokes for different folks, but the bottom line is its healthy to have a focus (have an eye for what to collect). Don't just collect anything. I realize its tempting but its not a hoard you want. You should want to build a collection. Think of this as a more challenging task & you will do well in this hobby. For a boiled down version of my approach to collecting view my "Introduction to collecting banknotes" NC's first video which is below my previous "Cash is King" video posted on Youtube. I do realize that its somewhat more challenging to be equally eclectic when it comes to the world scene so just try to get excellent UNC (EPQ) grades (unless truly scarce).
02/27/21 I have updated the Money Market page. "smh" from Collector's Universe asked a great question about currency sleeves. As "Serial_no_8" I replied & hope you too won't make the mistake buying cheap sleeves with PVC. Apparently, as I did my search on eBay, to answer his question, there are still sellers selling PVC holders (& I don't believe they're mislabelled- just old stock!) Why not use sleeves with PVC? Simple, the PVC is an acid-based culprit which will react with banknote paper, turning it yellowish, over time. Not worth it folks!
02/20/21 Apple, Tesla and Visa have jumped into the Bitcoin game and driven the virtual currency to record highs ($60,000 USD) recently. What does this mean for collectors? I have seen some posts on forums whereby collectors wish to trade or sell their collections in order to get into the trend. It may be an opportunity to pick up inexpensive items. Will gold go down as a result? It is possible that gold will continue to slide if people believe the vaccines are working and the pandemic is being put to pasture. Unlikely to happen overnight but investors seem to be optimistic. Good luck in making a wise purchase. Remember, unless it is quite rare, try to get the highest grade possible.
If you are a collector of Canadian paper currency, pre-order your copy of the 33rd Edition of Charlton Standard Catalogue of Government Paper Money here.
02/13/21 Please read Dennis Hengeveld's article (featured on the PCGS site via US & World Currency Forum) I posted on Monday (2/8) below. I also wrote a rather long reply to a self-proclaimed "newbie" coin collector looking for cheap (but valuable) coin lots on Numista. I think it's a good practice when starting to collect - to review some of the golden rules of what not to collect (which I feature on my Money Market page). Please read the 5 Top Mistakes or 5 Habits to Avoid. Remember some of this advice is from my own personal experience. Nobody is perfect & we all chase our own elusive rabbits (some of which lead to be more expensive rabbit holes than others).
02/08/2021 Read Dennis Hengeveld's take on the World Paper money Market on my updated Noteworthy Reads page.
02/06/2021 Speaking of Reddit, it has been interesting to watch all the drama over Wallstreetbets & traders short-trading Gamestop stock. Here's an interesting article which sums up what happened. This is how I feel about the 100 Trillion banknote from Zimbabwe. It's a fringe movement towards the top end of hyperinflation notes (& I can hear the armchair collector yell, "yeah, but its the world's highest denomination!") Maybe so, maybe so. But I still feel there's so many other great banknotes to invest in (which are actually around the same $90 price). You could pick up P-252 Costa Rica's 1983 20 Colones with the Z prefix & one of the world's first polymer banknotes. Or, for even less, you could snag a 1983 Isle of Man One Pound P-38 (also one of the first Tyvek or polymer notes). These alternative suggestions aren't particularly rare but they are special in that they're world's first successful polymer & represent true advancements in currency security/innovation whereas the 100 Trillion Zimbabwe hyperinflation note is just a sad chapter of one draconian African regime's financial fiascoes.
01/30/2021 From Reddit, I saw an enjoyable video on "Argentina's Forgotten Currency." Take my SM LINKS page to view it. Please check out the revised Journey and Frontiers sections too. I have spent the better part of the day adding more details to which change-overs & tough prefixes to seek.
01/23/21 In last week's post, I have commented on how I added a few links on my SM Links page but this week I want to warn those not to get too bogged down in the "Social Media circus." One of the reasons I rarely post on InstaGram, FB nor Reddit is because of the time required (& I discovered early on that it can be the domain of dabblers &/or "predators"). I don't normally make statements like that but I have seen several newbies get caught up in the excitement of owning a banknote they know little about. They bid for an old note (incorrectly assuming its worth hundreds of dollars) and then are left with a bitter taste in their mouths once they validate that they've overpaid. [IMO: there are S-M predators out there because these guys take advantage of newbies by exaggerating how rare a typical 10M run note is, etc, anything to make a buck] Several coin collectors join CCF with that experience. "Old-timers," like myself, will give them the straight goods on the condition (& possible BV) on their banknote postings. The meek and ambivalent fade away from the hobby. Only the hard knocks (or determined collectors) survive. But I feel like these "predators" & others (who may be misinformed) are often the characters who scare off new collectors. And that is a shame. The tougher nuts (who persist) appreciate getting better information from guys like us on the forums. Gravitate towards CCF, CPMF or Numista forums rather than rely on a FB Groups (or other S-M avenues) for learning about what is collectible! And don't forget to drop by HERE!
My recommendation to you (if you find yourself on this learning curve) is simply to buy the latest (or older) edition of Canadian Government Paper Money (CGPM) by Charlton. I have just searched for some used editions on eBay and found this 2016 Catalogue for about $22 CDN (about half the price of a regular catalogue). The prices will be low (& it will be missing info on the 2017 Commemorative & 2018 $10) but it will educate you on what to look for with the older 1935 -1954 series. Back in 2003, when I was getting back into the hobby, I'd spend hours in the Reference Section of our local library & peruse these. Later, I would do the same at the Chapters or other bookstores. I never found a used catalogue but bought one new at a show in 2006. Later still I bought the occasional copy from a collector friend (who bought them in bulk & sold them at a discount). I can honestly tell you that the Charlton catalogue is the best place to start your education. Websites, such as coinsandcanada are fine, but it cannot compare to having a portable reference of your own at hand to check at your convenience. You can sit down & read this catalogue at your leisure. You will be able to get a better understanding why some series are more popular than others. Each series has an introduction with deeper insight into the production & series release. Websites, like coinsandcanada, reflect (& maintain) peaks (market highs on TPG notes) so it can show ridiculous HIGH BV which means you might end up overpaying for a note (if you take it as gospel) & they don't contain the charts or data of a catalogue. All catalogues provide ballpark figures on banknotes according to a note's condition. That is why it is important to be conservative & learn how to grade!
01/16/21 I updated my SOCIAL MEDIA page with a link to Reserved Investments 5 tips to help Collectors, Speculators and Investors in the new Era. Now I may not agree with all of Sean's advice but I do like his explanations on how markets are cyclical & not to get too attached to any item one collects. Plus, not to think in terms of "absolutes" (don't worry about selling off some of your collection, if you can replace it down the road). I agree that selling bits of one's collection is a good practice in order to be sure that something is worth $____ & to realize some payback from one's collection. He also has an interesting video on US LARGE SIZE CURRENCY which is also worthwhile to see & I enjoyed his commentary on how perverted the term "rare" has become (on another 1 of his posted videos). There are a few points I would like to make after observing Sean's youtube advice. He suggests one buys a rare US coin for at least $1000 in order for it to be "collectible" as an investment. I know very little about collecting coins but I can say without much doubt that this is probably excellent advice. [He also explains that you cannot start collecting currency without educating oneself in terms of what to collect at what price]. One cannot buy cheap circulated (full run) coins and expect them to have anything but nostalgic value. If you want to have a collection of coins, that are going to be desired by others, than it is imperative that MOST be "key-date" and in mint (or near UNC mint) condition. A similar principal can be applied to banknotes. Only the most rare and super desirable examples can be in lower condition. But here's the thing folks: coin collecting is an old hobby while paper money is still relatively new. And, while $1000 may be the minimum price for a collectible US coins, I would bet (yes $ to donuts) that you can buy a collectible Canadian coin for about $600. I would also speculate that collectible World banknotes can be bought for much less than US Large Size currency. I do believe that when it comes to collecting "LESS IS MORE" so put more money on a single rare high grade item & bid less often. Now, if only I can follow my own advice!
One comment I have seen time and time again (on CCF, Numista & Collector's Universe) is that US collectors are not interested in world coins/currency. I am banking on this & truly believe that this statement is TRUE! I know that US currency collectors used to be mildly interested in Canadian money. I am now certain that this mild interest has grown rather strongly into a near passion for 1954 Devil Face series and earlier. I have not bought a Canadian banknote in nearly 2 years. Why? Because I cannot afford to pay %30 above Charlton Book Value (BV) on CDN notes, plus the shipping, juice & tax. The reason I can rarely buy any 1935,1937, Devil Face banknotes is that too many US collectors want or list them! I have a rule folks and it is one I rarely break: not to pay over BV unless the note is a certain rarity (like EES or EEP $10 Lawson-Bouey "Good-overs") It is a rule that has served me well over 40 years of collecting. But its also a rule that has kept me away from older Canadian BOC series simply because the market is still too hot for 1935, 1937 & 1954 Devil's Faces. Some of the Devil Face denomination were issued in the hundreds of MILLIONS (so they ARE NOT RARE) yet they continue to attract a world following (high demand). This is what I've been preaching since I began Notaphilyc Culture- make it your mission to discover not just what is rare - but discover what is in demand! Nine times out of ten buying what is in demand will be a lot less expensive than buy what is rare. Of course, it also helps if you can zero in on what is uncommon & in demand (ie special serial numbers, design change-overs, prefix/signature change-overs, etc).
A collector from the CPMF has been going to many of his local branches and asking for old returned banknotes and striking it rich! He has found some amazing collectible banknotes. So I thought "why not give it another try?" I just walked in today and got a very dirty, overly circulated TWO DOLLAR Devil's Face. So, my point is folks, just give it a shot. Go into your branch and ask them if they have anything (& if they do) just ask nicely if you can buy it from them. You may be surprised.
I also added an interesting link to how polymer technology was invented as a means to deter counterfeiting crime. Please check out my SOCIAL MEDIA page and my Money Market page since I will be updating these weekly. And happy hunting!
01/09/2021 I have transferred all my older 2020 observations to my ARCHIVED ENTRIES Collector's Corner page below. Site maintenance continues but I have returned to my "real job" so this may take some time folks. Please be patient and bear with me while I work on several improvements. In the meantime, I have just wrote up an article on the "Top 5 types of banknotes to avoid" on my Money Market page! Enjoy!
01/02/2021 Happy New Year folks! Let's hope 2021 shows greater promise than the "year of the pandemic" (2020) which has ravaged the global economy and has turned most of our lives upside down. Lets pray that we can get enough people vaccinated in a timely fashion & put this sad chapter behind us. And now that it is a new year, time for more site maintenance & perhaps some collector goal setting? I, for one, know I must get another video completed. In the meantime, I have been working hard to revise my CDN series pages and just revised my US Banknotes page (I know it can still use some work!). I really do hope to revise each page I've created for my World Banknotes section & complete some critical maintenance on this site.
In late December I revised the BOC 1954 series ; 1937 Series & the 1935 Series pages. Please take a look and send me an email if you see a typo or other significant error.