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If you need to collect some
quick cash, look into
payday loans online.
It's fast and safe.

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Overview

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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.

banknote vignette-1

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

first polymer banknote

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

millennium banknotes

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

banknote vignette-3

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.

#8894 replica

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 ...... worth anything?

Who's Who on Banknotes

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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

fancy number banknote

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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