collector's corner:

Welcome to my "Collector's Corner" page where I share my own personal opinions & RECENT OBSERVATIONS as a collector & a series of videos I entitled: NOTAPHILYC CULTURE.  Please bookmark & tour this page weekly. Note the Notaphilyc Reads page which contains links to interesting online articles I have discovered re: some aspect of this gr8t hobby.  Also check out my Social Media Links. Trust me folks, after 47 years of collecting & 4 years of contributing to this site, there's a whole lot of info for one to take in on Notaphilyc Culture.  ALSO: Occassionally, I will use posts I see on various forums to illustrate a point. If you have been quoted & object to being quoted, please feel free to reach out & request that I delete the post.  I have no problem deleting/amending posts so they will not include your handle/forum ID. Just let me know.   A few collectors have told me to put my list of notes available here!

Bank of Canada Duplicates

World duplicates

MONTHLY: 

After each month passes, I add to my MONEY MARKET link for tips on how the market for collecting currency seems to have been holding up.  These are opinions based on observations, chatter on US/World forums, and may or may not be relevant to you as a buyer (but I do try my best to give an informed opinion).  Check out this article on The 7 coolest currencies in the world by Morgan Croissant.  I added a WORLD MOTIF page which I hope may inspire you. My intention is to help new collectors who may wish to form 1 or 2 collector goals to form SETS of what they wish to collect. I hope you can also draw the line on what NOT TO COLLECT so what you do collect only becomes better & better.

"Phil Notes"

Please see this link to an interview with an accomplished collector who I've dubbed "Phil Notes."  This collector (& many others) have helped me launch & maintain Notaphilyc Culture so it is current.

Try the "Collecting Banknotes" form quiz & submit.  If you're new to this site then you may want to take a look around before taking the quiz.  Remember: this quiz is based on strategies & info I have gathered for the past 47 or so years of collecting CDN banknotes & is IMO only.  Do not consider it "Gospel" (even if I do) or a "get-rich-quick" money scheme. That is my disclaimer & I will take no responsibility whatsoever from anyone who goes broke collecting world currency.  Some strategies may prove helpful while others may not. You must become your own judge on that case.

• View the Taking note: Currency Collector's Corner blog & add your comments/observations.

• Scroll down below for videos on "collecting" banknotes. 

• If you'd like to leave a comment please drop an email to notaphilyc@gmail.com, (& I will post them if you wish). 

• ALSO feel free to drop a line from one of the forums such as PMF, CPMF or CCF.  I will reply eventually.

money market

recent observations:

• April 20th 2024 Normally, I would say you cannot make money selling today's current series.  However, there is always an exception to this rule: one in which you have access to a large quantity of banknotes so you can check series prefixes & serial numbers. But you need a lot of luck, persistence & time! Special serial numbers (radars, low numbers under 100, ladders, & Million # notes) are all sought after & worth a good premium well above Face Value (FV) in UNC.  Smaller premiums may be paid out for signature change-overs or short prefixes.  Check my Notable Terms page if you need to refresh yourself on what these terms mean.  In order to make this task a bit broader you can also check World notes at foreign exchange outlets by getting the change-over prefixes info online.  Pam West publishes which prefixes she is after on her site.   Use threads on Numista or their info on a banknote series to get familiar with the tough prefixes. Info is key & your ability to get the best info soonest will help in this endeavour.  Also, be prepared NOT to rake in a huge premium if you are NOT an eBay Power Seller or have some means to sell the notes for minimum costs.  It will mean more to you if you are a collector since you may get a credit with a dealer & then purchase another desired note. This is the option many brick searchers employ.  It is also one of the reasons I despise the many Youtube (& Reddit) "experts" who try to use sensationalism to drum up "LIKES" or followers, etc when making unsubstantiated claims that "you will get rich by searching your banknotes (or coins)."  There's always a cost & the tubers' "Get Rick Quick" schemes are only worth a bag of dirt out there.

• April 13th 2024 I have seen a thread on the NUMISTA site which deals with a collector who has his collection stashed away & would like some advice on where to start again.  Several other collectors have advised him to trim, get focussed & organized. I think this is fantastic advice as it could save him money when he gets up & running once again. It has been the basic theme of my site for the past 5 years (develop some realistic collector goals).  Would it serve him to purchase some nice collector supplies? I think it would. If he buys just the better stuff & a bit at a time, it may limit what he acquires. Finally, it won't hurt him AT ALL "to take it slow." The more methodical his approach the more interesting his sets in his collection will be. Good luck to all those collectors starting out again!

• April 6th 2024 With the price of Precious Metals (Gold in particular) hitting new highs, some people are pondering "why?"  I believe, after reading a good PMF post  that it is the result of geopolitical tensions, post-pandemic inflation & Bitcoin profits. Clearly, Israel's unilateral defiance for a ceasefire in Gaza plus Russia's belligerent attack on Ukraine continue to rattle markets. When markets are jittery, people tend to put their money in Gold (& other PM). Many bitcoin investors have "made-off like bandits" with its steep climb while everyone struggles with inflation.  Those who profit from Bitcoin often like to have something tangible so they pour their gains into gold. (I believe many have also been putting their Bitcoin profits into Large size US & other World banknotes too). It is difficult to have faith in the dollar when the price of everything continues to rise & the value of our currency appears so inconsequential.  

• What does the rise in Gold (PM) mean to the average collector?  At first glance, a lot of collectors just like the fact that their silver & gold coins have gained value.  I would encourage paper money collectors to buy only the best (of what they can afford).  Less is more. Keep yourself diversified (such diversity always spreads out the chance of one major loss).   I am by no means a financial advisor but have read (or heard) this same "Diversify" advice be given over the years, for periods of uncertainty.  The jitters caused by world events is nothing new: it will always go on so long as there's markets and autocratic rulers, hegemony and global power plays.  All one can do is to seek opportunities and be wary not to sink one asset into only one particular investment. 

• March 30th 2024 On the Paper Money Forum (PMF), Bob, who goes by "ThePaperBoy" asked an intriguing question about how many Paper Money collectors were out there (in the USA)?   He ponders this question for good reason: could too many notes saturate the market?  Conversely, if there was an influx of collectors, could this make collectible banknote prices (or Book Values) rise?  On this particular thread, many of his PMF replies gave inflated estimates as to the # of US paper money collectors (IMO). And I do realize it is a popular pursuit for US collectors recently.  However, I preferred & actually "LIKED" "TigerTrader's" take that he was, "...not sure about specific numbers but" ...knew banknote collectors "are a fraction of a fraction of the coin collectors out there."  He does not elaborate on his assumption & unfortunately Bob's thread splits into several divergent tangents. One member suggested 5% of coin collectors maybe banknote oriented but I still find this approximation optimistic.  I would not be surprised if there only 1% (or less) of coin collectors that focus on paper (as a side to their coins). Fortunately, there are other stripes of collectors, like myself, who focus only on banknotes.  There are also many other types of collectors which I shall cover in next week's Collector's Corner.  

Twenty years ago, when I got back into this hobby, I met Don Olmstead (a well-known paper dealer) at one of our coin shows in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area).  He sold banknotes exclusively & this was his 2nd P/T job. He had to have another F/T line of work to make ends meet! He told me that paper currency collectors amounted for only a small fraction of the # of coin collectors. He was also the one to break it to me (gently) that US collectors drove the prices for Bank of Canada notes (not CDN collectors- as their numbers were far too small). 

I found the following PCGS article which backs up Don's (& tigertrader's) claim that the number of paper money collectors are a fraction of the number of coin collectors.  On May 11,2020, Steve Feltner published his perspective on "on Collecting World Banknotes"  To answer, "How do you see the future of world bank notes in respect to value?" he writes "If you look at the comparative values of world banknotes to other more commonly traded areas of numismatics, world paper money across the board is absurdly undervalued when considering its age, low survival rates, beauty, and broad appeal to non-numismatic people. If you had 10% of U.S. coin collectors also start collecting world banknotes, $200 notes would become $1,000 notes overnight because you wouldn’t be able to find them. " He goes onto elaborate that there are many opportunities for collectors to discover new signatures, dates, etc. I concur with his assessment & feel his predictions could prove to be prophetic.  Large size US currency continues to balloon in prices. Could this happen to World currency? I also feel that there is great potential for growth in the hobby & that collector interests/numbers continue to grow.  The reason more people consider collecting banknotes is likely Social Media but I also feel that our hobby is threatened by the Better Than Cash Alliance or BTCA's agenda to rid nations of their cash. If cash use becomes a thing of the past, it may go up in value (short term) but it could also disappear from the minds of the population rendering it forgettable (or insignificant) long term.  I know this may seem to be a gross exaggeration but our hobby could actually fade into oblivion if the BTCA have their way! (The issue of our lost privacy is a whole another "can of worms!)" This may also come across as far too hypothetical now, but look at what happened to other hobbies/obsolete technologies: where are all the stereoscopic or phonographic cylinder collectors?

• March 23rd 2024 A collector friend has asked me a very good question (which I hope to answer in today's observation).  How would he go about buying a 1935 French $10 in EF or better condition?** He has (rightfully) observed that the 1935 Series are very expensive (or out of budget on eBay (& most platforms). My answer was fairly simple (since I know he is just starting out on the 1935 series) & he has already done what most collectors would do (let everyone know he's looking for the French $10 in original higher grades).  I suggested he broaden his collector goal to include the English/French $2.00, $5.00 & the English $10 in original condition.  That's what I did over ten years ago when I finally could afford to buy 1935 (1937 & some Devil Face/DF notes).  TBH: my goal started out very laser focussed & broadened within the year of my search.  What I discovered was that most 1935/37 (& 1954 DF's) were offered by US sellers (& listed in USD) & very few sellers were CDN. This meant that most notes available (online) were subject to a 30-40% increase in price (from the get-go).  Nothing was up for auction but all BIN (Buy it Now). I ended buying my favourite (making an offer) on two 1935 notes from a Canadian eBay seller but had to pay the tax (which was still cheaper than buying from a US seller). By buying two notes at the same time I saved about $3-$400 on the combined purchase. It took me 4-5 years to buy those two notes & in that time, I also bought three 1937 notes (such as UNC P-58a/b $1.00 ; P-59a $2.00 & P-60a $5.00). I'm quite happy I broadened that collector goal since these "Osborne Tower" notes from the 1937 series have spiked in price & I doubt I would be able to afford them now.  Be sure to be flexible about your collector goals. Once you learn exactly how elusive a certain note is, be sure to give yourself some latitude in buying the next best thing or buying another tough series (on your terms). Start checking more auctions.  Go to shows & tell dealers what you're looking for (leave your contact info).  I still feel you should aim for EPQ (or Original) since I believe at least 66% of everything back then was pressed (or washed). But if you buy another tough note than you have done yourself a favour.  If money is not an issue then by all means go for the toughest note now but be prepared to pay through the nose.  I watched a CDN dealer list the 1935 French note I wanted for $2000 higher than BV (this note was still for sale after I searched for 4 years).  ** I have adjusted my friend's collector goal somewhat just so that I could illustrate my point about adjusting one's collector goals.

• March 16th 2024 A collector from the Canadian Paper Money Forum asked me about a note I placed on HOLD.  "What was up with this note?" Why was it on HOLD for so long, he asked. There was a few notes I had put on HOLD & left that way for a while as I had them put aside to be graded. Other HOLDS were for repeat patrons who had asked if I could wait a bit for them to decide.  There were also a few tough notes which a collector friend had asked me to hold for a potential "swap" with one of his notes.  These few tough notes we had agreed could be swapped but then the swap fell through. I did take the liberty to expand which notes I put on HOLD.  I forgot to take these BoC notes off HOLD (or remove them from my list) and I have since remedied this. There are times I will get busy and I don't always have a chance to update my Bank of Canada or World Doubles lists perfectly.  Remember if you see a note which interests you: just ask OR make an offer. The worst that can happen is I will turn you down. It's that simple: I won't chase or hound you if you do not follow through! Sometimes I may ask whether you are still interested (usually since another collector has enquired about the same note) but that's all I will do.  I want you to be happy (NOT have Buyer's Remorse).  The best way for you to get the note you want (& for me to make sure this happens) is to use this HOLD system. Sorry if any of my HOLDS caused any inconvenience amongst those of you looking for a particular note to fill a gap in your collection.  I will not divulge any reason (ID collectors, etc) why a HOLD has been placed on any note.  I just wish to remind those out there who check in with me that I will put a note on HOLD from time to time for other reasons too (& I reserve the right to sell or withdraw a sale).  Make sure you identify yourself if you are interested in buying/swapping a note (and let me know which note you are offering).   Most of my doubles are typically listed for far less than what other sellers can offer you on any other online platform. Nobody can beat the cost of my shipping & I package notes like nobody else (sending them very promptly).  I always want this to be a "Win-Win" transaction. Thanks again to all those who have bought notes from me in the past: Cheers & Happy St Patrick's Day (tomorrow, on the 17th)!

• March 9th 2024 "Raj," a collector from the Coinsandcanada site, asked me to create a youtube video differentiating  Almost Uncirculated (AU) from Uncirculated (UNC).  It's a great topic to review but I don't have the equipment (video editing suite + light box) to do the subject justice.  My first recommendation for collectors striving to distinguish these 2 variations of UNC,  is to review this Comprehensive Guide youtube video (on grading) by 4 Kollector. At the 14.30 point a female narrator discusses "Detailed Grading." She pretty much covers all the elements between a pristine UNC note and an AU example. Almost Uncirculated notes often have counter flicks or light centre folds (not a crease). The AU note may also have signs of poor handling, problem (dented) corners and imperfect edges on an otherwise UNC note.  Registration (the front design matching the reverse design) will be off &/or the borders could be uneven.  The reason why it is so essential to discern the difference between AU & UNC is that so many sellers pass AU notes off as UNC so it could cost you (dearly on the tougher, more collectible varieties!).  When you see power-sellers on eBay selling notes described as AU, do not expect UNC because the big sellers know how to differentiate (& it may have been returned due to one of the issues I've just described)! Remember, that AU are typically a "dime a dozen" with the more common varieties, so if you are an UNC collector, be sure to brush up on this area of expertise!  Great question & thanks for reaching out Raj!

• March 2nd 2024 A coin collector on Numista wants to buy a kilogram bag of coins here. He thinks it would be fun to search through the bag & snag the odd collectible coin but the shipping is prohibitive.  My suggestion to him (on his thread) is that he checks into his LCS (Local Coin Shop) & raid their bargain bin. I wrote this because my friend Kyle has been doing this with amazing results.  He bought a Fine 1954 Modified $1.00 2 digit radar (3377733) for $4.00 (USD).  He also got  VF (Beattie-Coyne) Devil's Face $1.00 & a 1937 (Gordon-Towers) $2.00 for $7.00 (or under) each. Those last 2 notes would be about $25 & $40! My point is that I think its very important to realize that where (or how) you source what you want is very important. You also have to know your stuff (you can't approach collecting blindly).  A lot of people just want access to a huge quantity (this can be costly & very time consuming). Others want access to the bank's access (again time consuming & more misses than not). Another collector from Numista (redsmithstudio) suggested the "kilobag hunter" put an ad up at a nearby senior's residence. I think that's a great idea too. Just be careful when it comes to where you exchange your $ for coins if you put an ad up anywhere (I don't think the senior will be a problem but if you put an ad up at your community centre & just meet anyone (with loads of change) who answers your ad- that could be potential for trouble). Good luck hunting!

• February 24th 2024 I really hope everyone has been enjoying themselves with their successful new acquisitions &/or trying to complete new (or old) collector goals.  I hope we're all trying to acquire legitimate coins & banknotes.  I also encourage you to drop in (& participate) on your favourite forums. Whether it is the kind folks at Canadian Paper Money, the Coin Community Forum or Numista, drop by and keep involved.  I feel obligated to share the Paper Money Forum's February contest link. And there's another important post on the PMF you may wish to check out: it is this one about the Bob Dillon Book being auctioned off to support the site.  I really do hope you drop by, make a bid, or enter the PMF February contest. All of these activities keeps you involved & they're pretty inexpensive compared to buying a new banknote! I feel that the collector community is only as rich as what we put back into it.  I have always admired this PMF site as it is consistently active & contributing collectors provide topnotch guidance.  Naturally, there are a few oddballs but overall, they're a pretty gentle group of excellent-advanced collectors who have a surprising depth of knowledge & experience.

• February 17th 2024 Every week I read posts like this one (bought a fake $5 Maple Leaf), queries on ways to clean your coins or what does a collector do with his washed notes? Every once in a while I get sucked into this vortex of TILT -off the reails-COLLECTING  habits & throw in my "2 cents" with a not-too-kind reply. Buying a fake coin should NOT be compared to GAMBLING.  Gambling is what we do when we make a bet with some educated notion of our odds.   I usually regret chipping into these threads because I also then get other couch-potato collectors who jump all over my "JUST DON'T" replies.  The thing is: buying fake notes/coins &/or cleaning good notes/coins- are similar to cancer for our hobby. They literally eat away at the legit coin shops business & keep new collectors OUT (from continuing).  Once burned, most of our "newbies" will then shy away. Buying 1 fake (silver plated) coin or 1 photocopied note keeps the creeps who do it in business.  It can only be BAD for the HOBBY folks! Those who purchased the copies/reproductions may sell (down the road) & never buy another real item. The fake coins are very bad as they can be passed off as the "real deal" to the inexperienced hobbyist quite easily. Washing either coin (or note) destroys the coin/note's inherent value.  It is very tough to explain this to the casual (once a year) hobbyist who drops in to see what collecting is about.  My speech (naturally) is just DON'T DO IT. Try to appreciate what you have as it is!  Okay, there's my rant! Please discourage others from keeping the creeps in business. Let's shut these dingbats down!

• February 10th 2024 Today, I answered "GBELEC's" question regarding the Narrow Panelled 1937 ONES found only on the H/A & J/A prefixes.  The question was posted on Coinsandcanada here.  The question was whether the first 5 prefixes (A/A to E/A) had narrow panels on the 1937 Osborne ONES. The answer is yes but it is inconsequential. They're not labelled as "Narrow signature panels" because they were all the same. There were no variations for the first "Osborne Towers" signature panels so you don't hear that term applied to them. The panel width change occurred shortly after the signature changed over to Gordon Towers. At this point, the printers realized a wider signature panel would better accommodate the new signature so they modified the plates after the J/A prefix.  A little over 1,000,000 J/A prefixes were released with the narrow panels. Wider panels were part of the plate design for K/A & all subsequent prefixes: A/L to Z/L plus A/M to N/M.  Few collectors would have noticed this change & it wasn't until much later that collectors struggled to find both narrow panelled varieties (H/A & J/A). The  Charlton guide would eventually publish the low number of J/A produced but many believe that the H/A prefix was also shortchanged (not fully released).  Nobody will know for sure but that is why a narrow panelled Gordon Towers note with either H/A or J/A prefix is highly sought after & far more valuable than an Osborne Towers note in original high grade. 

• February 3rd 2024 Yesterday, I received another package of notes from an eBay seller who's store is called Noteshobby. He always lists his items with very competitive prices and offers further discounts if you save an item on your "watch" list. This typically occurs if you have bought from him before.   He is from Thailand yet his packages arrive within a week in good shape. Notes are always packaged correctly though bulk notes are usually in flimsy plastic but this is to be expected. (When you buy lots from him you will need to purchase your own currency sleeves).  I started buying World notes (& small lots) from him 10 years (or more) ago, so he knows me well. If you are looking for world notes (& I don't have them listed ; - ) you may wish to give him a try.  Many of his notes are fairly common but they're usually in UNC condition (unless he's labelled them as AU or other grades).  

• January 27th 2024 Today, I will wrap up my month of collector strategies theme with a negative experience shared by a fellow collector.  He posts a Bank of Canada Centennial $1.00 note with no visible serial number & wonders what it would be worth. Several collectors wondered whether the note was a true error or a faux error (manufactured to appear like an error). He took the note to BCS & discovered that the serial numbers were routinely removed since the ink was so poor (BCS rejected it). I feel these type of lessons are important for us to experience or read about. It is also important not to let such a negative experience halt your passion. Perhaps take a pass on what you think is an "error" but continue to collect paper money. Try to be more critical of condition & look for small "tells" that the note may not be what you think it is. Notes in poor condition are not as collectible as ones in ORIGINAL EF or above. I bold the term "ORIGINAL" b/c it means the note hasn't been tampered with & this EPQ qualification has become a priority for me.  I suggest all new or emerging collectors to seek only original (or EPQ) items (unless scarce)!  I also have become much more suspicious of all listings on eBay. I have seen far too many mis-attributed (incorrect P#) banknotes there & have even messaged many sellers about their mistakes (several have thanked me while too many have kept the listing up unrevised).

• January 20th 2024 Last week, a fellow collector reached out for advice on "Selling on eBay."  She wanted to know how to list, what strategies she should employ, etc.  I have had 3 spotty experiences selling on eBay.  My first was probably 20 years ago, when I first upgraded my collection & sold off many of my notes I found working at a carwash. Since the notes were found, it didn't really matter how much money I made on them. The listing format was very straightforward & "easy-peasy."  Buyers found my notes with no problems. My 2nd experience was about 10 years ago & then my most recent experience was in February 2022 just before Russia invaded Ukraine.  The 2nd experience, I had paid for each note: they either broke even or earned me a small premium. However expensive it became, I had no issues with people finding my listings. Each time, my results were very mixed (some notes broke even, some notes net me a minor profit).  People could not find my listings on my last experience so I barely broke even on most of my listings. Listing my notes was far more complicated & less user-friendly. The fact that Russia went full scale war on Ukraine shook the markets & people's confidence. If it wasn't for the fact that one note sold well, I would have lost money.  So I advised this collector (who wishes to sell) to check what the "pros" who have made helpful suggestions on "TIPS for Selling on eBay"  Please take a look if you are curious on eBay seller's strategies. If you have bought extra notes (like I have) than it could be worth your while to sell using this (or other) platforms. My biggest "eye opener" on this thread was that a seller needs to pay a premium for a STOREFRONT to get his/her listings preferential exposure.  Apparently the storefront fee also reduces the seller's fee to 7% (instead of the 15% most of us experience).  Its a huge incentive but you must sell a lot consistently! 

• Remember my 1st strategy I wrote below about private sales & take a look at my doubles:

Bank of Canada Duplicates

World duplicates

• January 13th 2024 This week, I will continue with the theme of common newbie questions & some of the strategies more advanced collectors employ.  The following will be a few questions I see on the various forums:

• Is my serial number a ladder (radar, repeater, low #, etc)? Usually not. When you are "1 number off" you have yourself a "spender" unless the number is borderline. Numbers like 0001001 are 2 digit binary (not a "near radar") but more like machine code. (Note, it is NOT 0001000 which is a 1000 RADAR & far more sought after).  A lot of collectors continue to name serial numbers like 8448884 as "binary" but most collectors I know accept only the digits "1 & 0" as a "binary number" since the zeros and ones are used in computer language.  You may also see posts on social media about "trinary" or "broken ladders."  There's no future in these "wannabe" numbers. I really hope you don't get sucked into the superlative vortex/game of "super" radar (unless your catalogue has such a variety).  A lot of superlatives in collecting are still meaningless to most collectors! BTW: when I started collecting there were always collectors adding a superlative like "ultra low serial number" (no: a number 3 or 4 serial is still a low # note).

• How do I get started collecting banknotes? My suggestion would be to get educated since there's so many great online resources. BUT, remember there's also excellent sources of info and more dubious sources.   BEWARE of social media. I really hate to write that (-it should BE a great source of info- but it just isn't).  Most social media sites are inhabited by wannabe collectors who skip the education part. You will see a lot of "guru gaffes," including (but not limited to) manufactured "miscut errors" (on US $1.00 sheets), recommendations to grade, poorly centred notes as "errors," where to buy cheap, & other borderline (or humorous) recommendations/statements.   I call them "guru-gaffes" because so many social media contributors will downvote real collectors as they often consider themselves "experts" (although they never back up their claims). Consider social media as similar to eBay, "you take your chances/ use with caution" even though the "Bay" should not be such a risky marketplace.  But it is important to be careful with what you "buy in" on, including collector's advice.  

• "How do I sell my note(s)?"  Generally, do not sell your grandparents' collection as a "lot" but individually (unless quite circulated/common).  Always join a forum & ask important questions (just to be sure). You can use eBay but sure you list your item as correctly/clearly as possible.  Employ cropped photos/images which show off the note in the best way possible.  Do not make exaggerated claims, but rather describe the note to the best of your ability. Let the note sell itself. If the note is a short run, replacement or error, be sure to identify it as such.  I would be hesitant to list my item to END during a weird/off time: what I mean is, I would prefer my item to end between 7:00 and 12:00 pm for most North America (if I was selling CDN or US notes) when your market is awake & available to bid. Times may differ for other nations.   If you can find a way to notify the collector community -do so.  I also feel that there is a lot of opportunities for private sales which is what I do. 

• STRATEGY 1: Private sales have many advantages including: cheaper than eBay BIN, no taxes, less postage & often better quality notes. There are many seller fees using eBay today so this seriously cuts into what money you will see.  Many eBay sellers don't grade well.  Some of my doubles are the more common "garden variety" (like eBay) but many more are not (special #, tough, design errors, etc). 

• STRATEGY 2: Network! Get to know fellow collectors & LEARN from them! Most coin/banknote collectors are friendly & eager to help you out!  One of the best ways to network is to employ strategy 3:

• STRATEGY 3: Join a forum! If you have been lurking on one of your favourite forums then STOP! Join or register & become active. You will only reap what you sow!  The less you contribute the less you will learn. I started participating on the original Canadian Paper Money forum about a year after its conception (20 some odd years ago).  I got to know the webmaster: he, I and a group of 4 or 5 others from our region often met up at shows, had lunched, showed off our recent acquisitions, shared tips, etc. It was great fun!

• STRATEGY 4: Consistency goes a long way. Think about strategy #3 and think about forgetting about your coins for 3 months to a year.  Which would serve you (as a collector) better?  If you just drop in to the forum once per week (instead of once every 2 to 3 months) then you will start to become a better grader, become more informed, get better ideas of what to collect, etc. Being a consistent collector goes a LONG WAY into making you the best collector you can be. 

• January 6th 2024: For today's entry, the first of the new year, I'd like to reflect on some of the recurring questions/issues I observed from the many forums & social media I peruse. 

• Many collectors post questions about pressing, cleaning (or processing) crinkled, wrinkled & soiled older notes. Many collectors start dishing out advice & my advice to you is DON'T.  If your note actually is tough/collectible, the worst thing you can do is try to alter its condition.

• Collectors often post questions about where to source banknotes. The bank & exchange outlets are probably your cheapest source of regular issued notes.  Hopefully, you can meet nice employees who can exchange the best example he/she has in his/her till. Unfortunately, it typically doesn't pan out like we would like it to since banks/exchange outlets aren't in the business of providing us collectors with nice notes! The banks are especially reluctant to recycle (change up, or down) large denominations for small or large quantities of cash (even though some collectors with business accounts continue to "recycle cash)."  Some banks are better than others. The bottom line is that it is very time consuming & 98% of the time it's unfruitful.  If you don't mind the amount of time (& aggravation) then by all means knock yourself out!  My experience has been that you're better off to pay a small premium for a crisp UNC collectible note! 

• Remember, generally speaking, the sooner you buy a tough UNC note, the cheaper you will get it (most collectors know this!)

• Collecting banknotes isn't just about acquiring or accessing large numbers of notes.   Taking the time to understand what type of notes are out there should be part of your time spent on the hobby.  Getting to know how to grade, the key terms, how to store & become an eclectic or discriminating collector should consume most your time. Always err on the side of "quality over quantity."

• If you look at collecting strictly as an investment then you might want to try your hand at being a dealer.  You'll definitely miss out on some of the more pleasant aspects of the hobby! Advanced collectors become more conservative (are not afraid to sell sets or portions of their collection in order to acquire a better piece, etc) but usually balance a dealer's perspective with a collector's perspective. The only time they think like a dealer is in terms of quality (GRADE) & how hard it would be to move the item they purchase.  It's not all about what this is worth (but eye appeal & who might want one of these). If you find yourself becoming consumed (overly passionate) about the value of your collection, then perhaps its time for a break!

• Collectors' goals typically change over the course of one's "journey" as a collector. Do they always tighten (become more specific)? I don't think so. They simply 'evolve' whether you are aware of it or not.  They will change gradually & typically this change is for the better. Goals are often influenced by one's financial situation & those collectors you surround yourself with (you admire). 

• Be careful what you consume as gospel: there is a lot of useful information out there! Conversely, there's a lot of dreadful misinformation.  I'm not sure I would want to be a beginner in today's world of social media. There are too many social media gurus who tell young collectors to do this or do that. These faceless posters never back up their claims & can often bully unsuspecting newbies into misleading paths (or dead ends).  I still see a lot of posts about the "great wave" of "popular" Zero Euros, fantasy notes & the like. There's plenty of (defaced/"Nazi-Ghetto") stamped notes marketed as "special" for disgusting premiums. There are too many faux (manufactured) errors being sold as legitimate errors!  I really hope that newbies don't waste their money or feel so "burned" they never get past these traps. But that's not the worst part.  There are also other armchair gurus who push certain sellers & their circulated lots just to make a buck. I hope others will do their best to help ward off these types of illicit activities.  

• Get educated so you know what you're getting! If you're starting out, check out my "Top 5 Mistakes/6 habits to avoid" & "Proven Strategies" on my Money Market page.  That's really all you can do & "dig deep before you doll out another dollar!" Register on forums & participate (don't lurk). It doesn't pay to just peruse. Ask questions & get involved. The more you're involved the more you will progress.

• Finally, what does one do when one inherits a collection?  This is a tough questions because it involves a tough answer (it involves work- unless you wish to lose money)! Read this post on the Paper Money Forum for some ideas!

• Remember to check my PMG RESULTS page for a review of some of my recent certification experience.   

• Take the ARCHIVED ENTRIES link below for 2023 & earlier observations.

archived entries

The point of this website is to function merely as a REFERENCE point for my Youtube Channel & to stimulate interest in this gr8t hobby.   If there are other "take-aways" bonus!

In 2018, I attended an excellent RCNA workshop in Mississauga on storing/preserving one's collection and grading paper money by Steven Bell of BCS.  If you have been a collector for a few years and want more information- then I highly encourage you to try getting your feet wet at either a local chapter or at one of these great workshops! See the RCNA link on Notaphilyc Sites page.

Thanks for stopping by!

Scroll down for video tips on collecting, buying & selling banknotes, understanding what makes a note more collectible, etc.  Take this link for observation on the Money MARKET.

This site could not have been put together without a multitude of reference material drawn from many sources.  Please refer to the Notaphilyc Sites page if you wish to pursue more information (like I have) or see my Acknowledgement page to see who I am indebted to for info. 

PARt 4: (which nations should I collect?)

This video takes Part 3 to the next level: examining what countries are popular enough to have a solid "fan base" or buyer's market.  I consider pre-Euro, Euros and Commonwealth nations  that have never cooled down in the world market.  Check out what I believe are "hot" buys and what "not" to buy:

Video 5: Grading basics, references & how to source banknotes:

My guest, David Sykes, first looks at Third Party Graded (TPG) banknotes and how they've reached their designated grades.  Then, using Charlton Guide to Canadian Government Paper Money, David continues to examine some circulated examples (VF and less).  The point is: you should start trying to assess a note's condition asap!  Don't just rely on TPG holders! Finally, I urge you to use Internet sources to familiarize yourself with examples of notes and how to acquire decent collectible banknotes.

video 6: the key to selling is buying selectively:

This video takes Video #4 to the next level, examining smaller nations, discontinued currency & how to acquire collectible lots for less. Keep your costs down and be super selective.  Buy with the intent to sell & during world market instability. Sell those desirable extras when outlooks are more "bullish."  

video 7:

This is my one year anniversary video.  Essentially, I've boiled down most of what I feel is the essential stuff you need to know in order to collect world banknotes during these unprecedented times.  I will cover other topics in my next video. 

recent pick ups: