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Paper Money Collecting FAQ

for rec.collecting.coins

currently maintained by Bruce Giese, <giese@world.std.com>

Contents

• Introduction and Disclaimer

• Credits and Copyright

• rec.collecting.paper-money

  1. Status of r.c.paper-money
  2. Rationale for r.c.paper-money
  3. Proposed Charter of r.c.paper-money

1. General Information on the Hobby

   1. Who collects paper money?
   2. What kind of paper money do people collect?
   3. What's the best way to get started collecting?
   4. I'd like to trade/buy/sell paper money, what should I do?
   5. How does the typical paper money transaction occur?
   6. How should I store my banknotes?
   7. Is there an all encompassing reference book for paper money?
   8. What is a "Pick" number?
   9. How do you grade the condition of paper money?
   10. Who are some dealers and professionals that I can contact?
   11. What are some societies/organizations that I can join?
   12. Are there any relevant periodicals?
   13. Who is J.S.G. Boggs and why is he famous for paper money art?
   14. Where are some paper money shows that I can attend?
   15. What are Green Sheets?
   16. I'm a World Wide Web junkie, give me all paper money URLs now!!

2. "I found a . . ." Questions

   1. How do I get a banknote officially appraised?
   2. I found a US 1935/1953/1957 Silver Certificate in circulation, how much is it worth?
   3. Is a US 1963-1993 note worth anything?
   4. Are US two dollar bills worth anything?
   5. I found a very old banknote in perfect condition in a very old book, what should I do?
   6. I found a note from country XYZZY, how much is it worth?
   7. I found a weird US Federal Reserve Note with the little numbers in the wrong place and poor quality printing, is it counterfeit?
   8. I found a note with a star next to the serial number, what does this mean?
   9. I found a banknote that says "Government of Japan", what is it?
   10. I found a note marked as "SPECIMEN" with serial number of all zeros, what is it?
   11. I found a Chinese banknote that is labelled "Hell", what is it?

3. USA Paper Money

   1. I heard the US is changing its paper money, is this true?
   2. What is a National Banknote?
   3. What are silver certificates and gold certificates?
   4. Can you exchange silver certificates for real silver?
   5. I heard that some US notes are stamped HAWAII, why?
   6. What is fractional currency?
   7. What is obsolete currency (broken banknotes, wildcat notes)?
   8. I heard there are a lot of counterfeit US notes worldwide, is this true?
   9. Is it illegal to copy U.S. paper money?
   10. Is it illegal to use U.S. paper money on products or in advertising?
   11. Are old U.S. notes still legal tender?
   12. Are banknotes with Barre's signature good investments?
   13. What's the story on the Bank of the United States 1840 $1,000 note with serial number 8894?
   14. Where are all the Federal Reserve Banks?
   15. What's with all those weird things on the one dollar bill?
   16. Where can I buy uncut sheets of U.S. paper money?

4. World Paper Money

   1. How do I get banknotes from country XYZZY?
   2. How do I get banknotes from every country in the world?
   3. What was Operation Bernhardt?
   4. What is concentration camp money?
   5. Does anybody collect Confederate States of America notes?
   6. How many countries currently issue paper money?
   7. A note from country XYZZY has a company name at the bottom, is it counterfeit?
   8. Are there really plastic banknotes?
   9. What is a military issue or Military Payment Certificate?
   10. What is the highest denomination note ever created or issued?

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