Social Media Links

Below:

Are just a few of the emerging social media outlets for banknote collectors. These social media outlets can be both positive and yet, slightly bent. On the one hand, they're a positive outlet for emerging collectors to share images of their SETS & these might spur others to join the fun. On the other hand, there can be a trend for dabblers to collect/post anything blindly (& the peanut gallery will suggest Third Party Grading on the most ridiculous items). I've seen (& flagged) Instagram accounts that have pushed counterfeit currency: so be wary & exercise some caution on Social Media! Keep in mind that many of the posts (& posters) are learning the ropes to this hobby (just like many of us when we first started out). Recently, I have seen many subs on FLEXING your currency on Reddit! This is essentially showing off wads of uncollectible cash. Also, some of social media's greenhorns pose as "experts!" It could be the realm of great (pertinent) information (such as this PCGS World Collector's perspective) or completely misleading information (& hyperbole for UPVOTES/Likes). I urge everyone to exercise caution when viewing anyting on social media.

On the other hand:

I have shared some of great videos from CNBC, CoinWeek, etc. I hope you find some of these fun (&/or interesting perhaps)!

As of April 2026, I have updated my list of Youtube videos due to the increase volume of excellent video content now out there! Please SCROLL to the bottom to see my Youtube recommendations!

Banknote Collecting Tips

UK: upcoming changes:

A short Euronews clip on the new King Charles III design (now available).

CNBC: What is wrong with american cash?

www.cnbc.com/video/2023/11/07/why-the-us-wont-change-cash.html

Coinweek: Pmg grading currency

IBNS jonathan callaway Interview

is Cash a thing of the past?

Numismatic Notes with Benjamin

FACEBOOK GROUPS:

ALL of the FB Groups below need your registration as a FB user & typically an invite (unless stated as "Public.") Don't worry, most "private" groups allow members to conceal their profiles & allow administrators to censor proper conduct on their forums. Before you jump in too deep, please remember that FB groups are often inhabited by enthusiastic collectors who may think of themselves as "experts" and believe collecting consecutive UNC banknotes is as good as it gets. I have seen several of these groups auction off VG circulated banknotes which have been excessively over-graded & crazy bidding frenzies on pretty common stuff. So BE CAREFUL. They're fun places to check out but be sure you know what you're getting yourself into.

Update: It has been 3 years since I added the info above on FB Groups (5/23/22). I have updated the stats below & one group has disappeared (so I deleted it). All groups have enlarged & I think its safe to say that a lot of these groups improved with time. I know a few collectors who have abandoned eBay to sell using a FB Group so my take has softened (that they are more useful than useless). Buying (& to a lesser extent selling) always involves a bit of risk in terms of all parties being trustworthy when we're dealing with money. It is what it is.

Banknote Collection (Private group: 17.1K members*/Anyone can view)
Banknote Collecting Society (Public group: 5.5K members/Anyone can find/view)
Canadian Coin & Banknote Auctions (Private group: 337 members/Anyone can find)
Canadian Coin, Paper Money (Auction - Sale - Trade) (Private group: 7K members/Anyone can find)
Canadian Coin & Paper Money Ask, Answer and Show (Private group: 3.1K members)
WORLD PAPER MONEY CLUB (Public group: 16.6K members/Anyone can find/view)

*members stats as of 05/23/2022

Historical perspectives:

Bank of Ireland's Series designer: Robert Ballagh

REDDIT:

Below are 3 fun reddit communities:

Here is one of my contributions as "Serious-Carpenter75"

The question is, "SHOULD I SEND MY BANKNOTE TO PMG TO BE GRADED?"

Very good advice here with "it depends." As @spalding91 pointed out, it costs $25-$40 USD per note graded by PMG. I have used BCS (Banknote Certification Services) here in Canada & they were about $10 CDN per note (now about $15 CDN per note for bulk grading/taxes/shipping included). That's about $10 - $12 USD/note. This is considerably cheaper in cost than PMG but they only grade Bank of Canada/DoC. I use the principle that the banknote must be collectible & have a Book Value about 3-4 times what it costs to grade (so BV should be about $50 - $75 per note) to certify a note.*

I would like to grade some world currency (which BCS won't certify) in the future & might have to adjust these guideposts slightly (like BV 2-3 X cost to grade) since grading is so much more expensive with PMG & some of these were cheap (in comparison to the CDN BCS graded notes). I have several special serial numbers which will be certified only if I feel they're truly Original UNC. So, I will only use TPG (Third Party Graders) on banknotes that I feel are UNC63 EPQ & up (unless the note is quite rare & EF+/AU).

*(the reason I have this guiding principle is that I've seen far too many non-EPQ common banknotes graded & wonder "who will buy/collect that note?")

Go here to read the entire post on whether it is worth submitting a note to a TPG.

-Last updated: October 13th 2025

My currency collection

REFERENCE TOOLS FOR US PAPER MONEY COLLECTORS

StevenbRON.NL

(An interesting blog with some great links)

fredo rockwell's videos on currency:

Youtube:

Youtube is much like Facebook: I have seen videos describing "safe ways to wash your banknotes" (I would not recommend this!) Some of the videos below are just awesome entertainment too, so check these guys out:

ANA

Fantastic educational videos from the American Numismatic Association!

Banknote World

See the video below FB Groups, comparing "circulated" to "uncirculated" banknote grades. The channel is geared towards those just getting started & wish to know some of the basics to starting a paper money collection.

Burkina2011

This collector is strictly focussed on completing some tough banknote sets. He has an extensive World collection (with some tough nations like Algeria, France & Belgian Congo). All of his sets are generally tough & enviable to eyeball. He also has featured top-selling notes from Stacks & eBay. I highly recommend you check out this master collector's videos, whether he's unboxing or rolling out his albums: its worth your time.

Caledonian Coins

Kelly has created a lighthearted approach to collecting coins & this Scot has some fantastic banknotes to share as well! His narratives is always fun to listen to!

Interesting Video on production of 20 Euro

Half-asleep Chris

Polymer

(how crime spurred on the development of these banknotes)

Reserved Investments

Victor Collection

This collector, whether his name is Victor (or not) is anyone's guess but I do know that he & "his friend" have recorded the contents of their monster albums. All of the notes are eye candy worthy of a 1st, 2nd & possibly 3rd view!

World Currency Collector

Please check out the interviews of two US dealers, Judy Kagin & the coin guy. Both are very interesting.

My Initial Perspective:

Below is a link to my Notaphylic Culture videos when I started this site. Honestly, I really had no idea what (if anything) would become of this. I only discovered World currency sporadically from around 2010 until about 2015. Before that, everything I collected was Bank of Canada & although I have been at it for a long time, I only got back into it around 2000. After getting my toes wet with World, I decided to take the plunge. My initial videos are mostly just powerpoint videos driving home a few points I picked up over the years with my Bank of Canada collection.