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Introduction
Welcome to my website. My hobby is collecting paper money from different
countries of the world. I dedicate this site exclusively to paper money so that
you too can share the joy of my collection. My entire collection, totaling 1767
notes, is now on display for your viewing pleasure.
Paper money covers an enormously large field. Collectors can be broadly divided
into two major categories, U.S. currency or world paper money (WPM). Within each
category, one can be either a general collector or a specialized collector. The
goal of a general collector is to collect a sample of everything, whereas the goal
of a specialized collector is to collect everything available in that specialized
area. Examples of specialized areas are: pictures of animals, pictures of QE-II,
notes with a particular denomination, and notes from a particular country.
Scope
I have been a WPM collector since 1991. My goal is to collect at least one note
from each country. My collection consists of 1767 different notes from 289 countries.
So far I have at least one note from every country currently issuing notes.
However, I'm still missing 11 countries. These are mainly the ones which are either
no longer exist or are not currently issuing their own notes.
My Want List
I'm looking for the following 11 countries to complete my collection:
British Virgin Islands, Fanning Island*, French Sudan*,
German New Guinea*,
Gilbert & Ellice Islands*, Hejaz*,
Leeward Islands*, Madeira Islands*,
Malvinas Islands*, Turks & Caicos Islands*, and
Upper Senegal & Niger*.
* Although I don't have these notes in my collection, donated scans are available
for your viewing.
Polymer Plastic Banknotes
In the early 1980's, several countries, mostly in South America,
experimented with banknotes printed on Tyvek®, a commercially available plastic
material produced by Dupont. Costa Rica, Haiti and Isle of Man actually issued
Tyvek® notes. Tyvek® turned out to be unsatisfactory due to problems with ink
wear. It was not until 1988 when Note Printing Australia (NPA) successfully
developed the world's first polymer plastic banknote
with the release of Australia 10 Dollar note, commemorating the Bicentennial of
British Settlement. Many other countries eventually followed. Why go plastic?
More durable, difficult to counterfeit, carrying fewer germs, and less likely
to trip up ATMs.
Today, 32 countries have issued polymer plastic notes: Australia,
Bangladesh, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, China/Peoples Republic, China/Taiwan, Dominican Republic,
Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, North Ireland, Israel, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico,
Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Paraguay, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Samoa, Singapore,
Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vanuatu, Vietnam, and Zambia.
Polymer Plastic Banknotes
Hybrid Polymer Banknotes
A hybrid polymer banknote is essentially a paper note with a
polymer band. The polymer band is typically applied vertically over the entire
height of note, thus creating a clear window.
Bulgaria issued the world's first hybrid polymer
in 2005 with a 20 Leva note.
Today 8 countries have issued hybrid polymer notes: Bermuda, Bulgaria, Fiji,
Kazahkstan, Latvia, Tonga and Western Samoa. Hybrid Polymer Banknotes
Hyperinflation Banknotes
Inflation occurs when demands for goods and services exceed supplies. Often the
government responds by printing more money with ever higher denominations. Many
countries had at one time or another gone through periods of hyperinflation when
their paper money became practically worthless. Hyperinflation Banknotes
Millennium Banknote Exhibit
The following fourteen countries issued special banknotes to commemorate the
new Millennium: Belarus, China, Fiji, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Honduras, Hungary,
Malta, Northern Ireland, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Scotland and Singapore.
Millennium Collection
U. S. Obsolete Banknotes
I also collect U.S. obsolete banknotes, sometimes known as broken banknotes
because many of the issuers had eventually gone broke. Again, my goal is to
collect at least one note from each state.
The term obsolete banknotes applies to all notes not backed by the Federal
Government. These included notes issued by private banks, states, cities, counties,
private companies and even individual merchants. Many Southern states issued notes
to support the Civil War. Confederate States of America
and Republic of Texas are listed under WPM as separate
countries. Obsolete Banknotes
Replicas of U. S. Obsolete Banknotes
What is the difference between counterfeits and replicas? Contemporary
counterfeits were usually printed from unauthorized plates and meant to pass as genuine
legal tenders. Counterfeits are collectable. Perhaps the most famous counterfeits are
the Operation Bernhard forgeries, Bank of England Pound
notes produced by prisoners of war in a German Concentration camp during WWII.
Replicas, on the other hand, were later day "photo copies" of the original notes. They
were usually sold as souvenirs or distributed for promotional purposes. Many U. S.
Obsolete, Colonial, Confederate States of America, and Republic of Texas banknotes
were reproduced in quantity and sold in tourist shops. These notes are worthless,
having no collector value.
How can you tell a replica from a genuine note? Genuine notes in the 1700-1800's
were individually hand signed, have handwritten serial numbers and dates. Replicas
were often printed on parchment paper to look antique, and have printed copies of
the original signatures, serial numbers and dates. A replica is recognizable by its
static serial number, hundreds of them have the same serial number. Here is a list
of well known replicas by their distinct serial numbers.
The best known replica is the Bank of the United States $1000, dated Dec. 15,
1840, serial number 8894 shown above. Serial number 8894 was reproduced in the
1960's for a promotional giveaway in cereal boxes. These replicas are
essentially worthless. They were printed on yellowish-brown "antiqued" paper
that is crisp and brittle to the touch. The genuine
$1,000 Bank of the United States notes were printed on thin banknote paper
that was originally white or cream colored.
Worth Anything?
Many visitors asked me whether a note they found in the attic, given by a friend
or brought back from travel awhile back is worth anything. The answer is ......
Who's Who on Banknotes
Many countries depict national heroes, kings, queens, presidents, famous
artists and scientists and other notable personalities on their banknotes. This
site attempts to include a short biography of these individuals below each note.
Country Index
The index covers all officially known note-issuing countries, past and present,
in alphabetical order. There are 298 countries. The term "country" is used loosely
here to mean any recognized note-issuing authority. For example, Central African
States is counted as a "country" even though it's only a bank that issues common
currencies for member states. Due to shifting geopolitical boundaries, some
countries are counted more than once under different names. For example, Burma and
Myanmar; Belgian Congo, Congo Democratic Republic, and Zaire; Ceylon and Sri Lanka;
Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia and Zimbabwe. Country Index
Top 20+ Most Valuable Notes
This page originally started as 20 most valuable notes in my collection. However, as my collection grew and values of the notes increased, it evolved
to include all notes with an estimated value of $300 or more. The notes are listed in the order of descending values. Top 20
Paper Money Trivia
This is by far the most popular page. Here you can find interesting
tidbits concerning paper money such as the world's highest denomination
note, the world's lowest denomination note, notes with no denomination, note
with the most zeros, the world's largest banknote, the world's smallest banknote,
the world's oldest surviving banknote, and much more. Trivia
Fancy Numbers
What's a fancy number banknote? Any banknote with an unusual serial number is knowm as
fancy number banknote. Fancy number banknotes are divided in several catagories: radar, solid, binary,
doubles, repeater, consecutives, bookends, ladder and special dates. Fancy Numbers
Paper Money Links
Here are my favorite links to other paper money related sites such as
galleries, auctions, dealers, books, etc. Links
Banknote Collectors Directory
Here's a comprehensive directory of websites of other paper money
collectors. I review these sites regularly. Abandoned or neglected
sites are periodically removed. Collectors Directory
Banknote Dealers Directory
Here's a comprehensive directory of websites of paper money dealers. I
review these sites regularly. Abandoned or neglected sites are periodically
removed. Dealers Directory
Banknote News
Here's an archive on the latest banknote news around the world. To keep the
list fresh, only articles appear within the last 12 months are retained.
News Archive
My Store
After you have visited my Gallery, perhaps you would like to start your own
collection or add more notes to your collection. Here you can buy some of the
world banknotes I have for sale. My Store
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