1970's:

This site isn't "about me" but rather about my discovery of this "gr8t" hobby.  I use this cheeky gr8t license-plate spelling to highlight how FAST society changes & why cash, in itself, is becoming somewhat "retro" or a cool thing from our past. For me, banknotes are like coins, cool artefacts from our past which must be preserved. Given the vast landscape of a banknote (compared to a coin) the instrument's canvas allows for much more symbolic history, culture & national pride. The security features now incorporated in the higher-valued notes, are in themselves, a fascinating area to delve into.

While growing up in a sleepy Toronto suburb, I drooled over my big brother's shiny collection of silver. Like many young kids, I was attracted to anything flashy and whatever my parents also valued.  Mum & Dad always told us to separate our silver (if we found any in the late 60's/early 70's) from the newly minted, nickel-plated coins.  My big brother inherited a 19th century English gold sovereign from grandma & lorded over huge silver dollars, tarnished Fifty-Cent pieces with the profiles of kings & queens. I just knew there was no way I could compete with his fascinating, historically relevant coins!  

So, since my paper route bore a sliver of "silver," I figured I may as well keep as many nice Bank of Canada ONES or TWO DOLLAR notes I could afford to tuck away.  I did this on the sly because I suspected it was a silly hobby (& damn difficult) to stash away that kind of cash (saving $2.00 when my brother was only putting away a 25 cent coin)! I was also too broke to save much more than a TWO DOLLAR note.

Later, while I worked as a carwash attendant in 1978, I began studying the intriguing designs printed on the 'new multi-coloured' series banknotes.  By 1979, the Bank Of Canada (BOC) again modified our 1972 $5.00 into a new 1979 $5.00 by repositioning the serial numbers on the reverse! I pointed this out to some of my gas-jocky buddies at the carwash & they rolled their eyes like I had gone daft (or was sniffing too much petro fumes).  The Bank of Canada also modified the 1969 $20.00 in a similar fashion. Suddenly, I wanted to get an older 1969 $20 and I snagged a few soiled modified 1954 $20.00.  However, I rarely could afford to hang onto $20.00 as that was a large "chunk of change" for me (back then).  More often than not, I had to dip into my collection to pay for things & my TWENTY DOLLAR note would disappear "into the wild."  It broke my heart but there was nothing I could do about my poverty other than get a better paying job!

I also saw my brother's "Devil's Face" (a crumpled 1954 $5.00 our grandpa had given him). I found these first edition of the 1954 notes nearly impossible to find in circulation. Although I worked at a carwash and handles thousands of dollars in cash, I never came across a Devil's Face.  I actually bought a VF $20.00 example, with a pen mark on the queen's face, that I called "her beauty mark." I can tell you folks that this $20.00 has barely appreciated in value (because it has been so circulated).  It's one of the many lessons I learned over the years (pay more for the best grade you can afford since there's 'no real bargains' in this hobby).

I consider my teen years the first phase of my collecting journey.  The 2nd phase was as a dabbler who remembered to pull his binder from his closet (every 3-5 years) and add something to it. The third phase came in 2001, after my dad passed away & we had a huge garage sale to clear out some of his tools/stuff in 2002.  The new Journey $5.00 & $10.00 notes came out but I gave them little attention, until this big garage sale. At the end of the day, I had quite the stack of bills to examine! As I studied each note closer, I discovered something I had never seen before: the Bank of Canada had put the Canadian coat of arms back into their design!  I also noticed that the printers had dated them (on the reverse) & that the majority were worn out to circulated rags.  I turned to forums to find out why the cotton-paper blend (substrate) of the Journey Series were not holding up so well.  I also turned to eBay & started to buy my first Devil's Face & older series. I wanted signature sets in nice VF to AU condition. My goals were very simple & modest back then....

2020 What I like to collect (& why):

When I started collecting BOC series my scope was to acquire any denomination below $1000 (signature sets from $1.00 to $100.00).  I did not even come close to achieving this goal as the 1935 Series (especially the French versions) were far beyond my budget.  This 3rd phase of my journey, I had fluctuating scope, poor focus and even weaker discipline. Happily, I stored my notes appropriately in currency sleeves & in a dry place over that decade.  About halfway in, I learned that I had to replace all my sleeves with mylar (PVC-free) sleeves or risk damaging them!

Shortly after I discovered eBay & began trading up my old collection, I realized that I could free up money if I cut the $50 and $100 denominations from my sets.  Not long after this new objective, I began to focus only on replacements, change-overs, short prefixes or special serial numbers.  My scope and focus shifted so precisely that I have considered this my 4th phase as a collector.  I got serious, went to workshops & used the info I picked up from the forums to snap up tougher* World notes. Although I had defined goals at the end of my 3rd phase, I started collecting larger quantities of notes (nations I don't really collect) plus doubles of notes I collect, with the intent to swap or sell. 

Each collector will have his or her own approach to what he/she collects. This makes the hobby all the more fun & enlightening. One thing I learned early on was how important it was to network, understand/practice grading. I have learned what makes a note valuable & participated in activities which do not require a big bankroll (like maintaining this site).  If you don't organize your collection & get focussed on what you wish to acquire (like my initial phase with World notes), then you're simply a fan of money.  It requires a great deal more energy (goals/some education & dedication) to become a banknote collector! 

I have continued to be amazed at how much free information is readily available from so many excellent sites which allows anyone to acquire better notes at affordable prices.  I continue to see Reddit users (money fans) beg for ways to acquire notes at FV (Face Value) & while I understand this urge, don't really recommend it.  Today's banknotes are issued UNCIRCULATED in the millions so why not get the best quality examples money can buy?  Remember, accessing notes is not the only key to collecting (you simply need to learn where to get them).  Developing some discriminating strategies, arming yourself with pertinent knowledge & brushing up on your grading skills- will transform you into a topnotch collector. Transform yourself from a "fan" into a "collector" and you will never look back.

For up-to-date posts on what I have picked up from other forums, collectors, TPG's, shows, & other sites, please check out my weekly "Collector's Corner" page!

World Notes:

I decided to buy some 2002 Euros after my 1st visit to Europe.  I had learned that the 1st Wim Duisenberg signature was fairly brief & found the early notes tough to source.  That was my first step into the World paper domain (other than what I kept from trips).  But, having grown particular in my notes' grade/condition, I typically spent most of my circulated currency when travelling. 

From 2015 onward, I focussed exclusively on World banknotes from Commonwealth nations. Now that I have descended down this rabbit hole, I at least hope to approach the hobby with "eyes wide open" & hope not to get too bruised along the way! In the past few years, I've also looked for pre-Euro, El Salvador & Ecuador notes (nations that no longer issue currency). I have also taken an interest in African nations where currency hasn't held up so well to the humid climate. 

Please check out my Collector's Corner Spotlight page: this is where I have laid out some of my present collector strategies (or perspectives on the hobby) as well as links which showcase selected personal sets. These separate "Spot" pages show my personal journey (as I put together a set of a particular nation).

After collecting for 50+ years it should come as no surprise that I have collected more notes than I require.  I have bought "lots" (rather than singles occasionally) & even two collections. As a result, and with my foray into the World currency market, I have acquired a number of duplicates which I have listed on this site.  Please be advised that the prices I have listed are typically at (or well below) current BV.   A few very popular currencies (for example, some pre-Euro issues) have surpassed all expectations (or published catalogue trends) and as such- I have added a very slight premium to account for my Paypal/exchange/postage fees.    

I have regularly contributed to 3 forums: the Canadian Paper Money Forum CPMF as "walktothewater," Community Coin Family (Forum) or CCF as "walk2dwater" & NUMISTA as "Serial_Number_8." 

All CANADIAN banknotes are quoted in CAD while all WORLD NOTES are listed in USD.  I have used two currencies simply to follow the most popular guides/catalogues that track such trends (Charlton listed in CDN$ for CDN & the SWCPM listed in USD for world currency) & since I paid USD for World notes.   World banknotes listed use the P code set up by the Standard World Catalogue of Paper Money (SWCPM). I quote USD exclusively (rather than be confounded by fluctuating exchange rates).  I do not charge tax for our personal exchanges.

If you are interested in any one particular note, or a group of notes, I suggest you write down the serial number(s) and email me at notaphilyc@gmail.com.  

*What I consider tough & what another collector considers "tough" may be different.  At times, it could be getting a particular variety or getting the note in UNC condition that is tough. Generally speaking, collectible notes must be in UNC or at least have good eye appeal if they're very tough to source.