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Replies: 17 / Views: 3,862 |
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Valued Member
United States
54 Posts |
I was wondering if it is a bad idea to collect almost all large size notes in fine condition. I have some of the super common notes in better shape but most of my others are in vg-fine. I guess the real question here is should I be looking to expand my collection with more notes or build it more slowly with high grade examples. I'm a teenager so I don't have a massive budget ($1000 a year).
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5029 Posts |
That depends on your goals. Paper or coin is the same - collect what you like and get what you can afford. Unless your goal is simply to flip something. I think a coin or paper that is circulated has a story. What that story is has caused my imagination to run wild at times, but I personally prefer items with a story. The other aspect is when you start talking MS coin or currency quite often many of the ones you need/want may be out of reach due to cost. Personally I would rather see a full set or large amount of examples of f-xf coins or paper vs only a few examples in MS. That is simply my preference though. Bottom line - collect what makes you happy and helps you get to the goals you have.
Nice Avatar by the way
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5848 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4211 Posts |
Collect what you like and like what you collect...and can afford. As long as the note has good eye appeal I would not worry too much about the grade. Few can afford CU type sets so there will always be a good market for nice looking circulated notes.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
Great collection of notes there barryg! Especially like the battleships on the back. Any naval expert care to chime in on which specific ships or class is depicted? It seems like a perfectly fine goal (see what I did there  ) to collect a set of notes in that grade; plenty of detail and eye appeal still remains at that grade level.
Edited by KenKat 12/09/2016 4:13 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5029 Posts |
Pretty punny KenKat!
And fantastic looking notes barryg
Edited by scopru 12/09/2016 12:14 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
742 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
742 Posts |
Or USS New York. Depends on who you ask.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36688 Posts |
Hard to say which as both ships had two anchors on the port (left) side and one on the starboard (right) side. Here is a photo of the USS New York that may have been used but a reverse image of that used on the $2 note. Looks like the engraver took some artistic liberty when they did this as it shows two anchors on the starboard side. 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4637 Posts |
Whoever came up with the names of grades for paper money must have been a salesman.
GOOD (4 and 6) is the lowest grade at PMG, followed by VERY GOOD (8 and 10), so FINE (12 and 15) is certainly a stretch, at least to me it is. If you've seen any of my posts, you'll know I HATE problem notes, at any price, except rare or hard to find Nationals. I looked at @barryg's notes, and personally and respectfully, I don't have some of them, but I wouldn't want any of them in that condition or with the distractions. Please keep in mind that this is just my opinion. I'm a big believer in owning notes with great eye appeal and original paper. Notes free of stains, tears, heavy fold marks especially through the portrait, and generally dirty paper.
I do not want to buy and own a note just to say I have an example. I want to be proud of my collection and show it to everyone without having to discount the problems and distractions. Unless the note was handed down through your family, or from a former past famous collection, I have no idea how it will tell a story. Sounds romantic but none of my notes have spoken to me lately. Be patient and save, and then save some more, and research, and hunt and buy a note you are proud to add to your collection.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
Good info on the battleships guys, thanks!
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5029 Posts |
Steve I bet some of the circulated notes in your collection have some incredible stories about the places they have named on them :) Course you need to ask nicely if you want them to talk to you.  We all collect in our own way and for our own reasons.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Yes, we all collect in our own way. Point to remember is that "one's own way" will likely change often over a lifetime. I personally learned a long time ago that, for me, having fewer notes of better quality was more satisfying than the other way around. I look at my best stuff all the time - the rest, just once in awhile.
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Valued Member
 United States
54 Posts |
Thanks for all the feedback and the ship lesson haha. Barry, you have some pretty nice notes  
Edited by Tylosaurus 12/09/2016 8:09 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5239 Posts |
Personally, I am much fussier about the condition of a banknote vs that of a coin.
A note in Fine looks like a rag to me and has no eye appeal, whereas a coin in Fine is quite OK in my collection if it is a scarcer one.
But that is my personal aesthetics.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
742 Posts |
When I was your age I collected quantity over quality.
Thirty plus years later I am regretting that choice. I am thinning out the collection due to space considerations and changes in collecting taste. I have a pile of stuff that is going to be difficult to move because it is low grade and there is so much of it.
You have a long collecting horizon. Based on you current budget you will continue to encounter the notes you want. Don't be in a hurry to get something because you think you may not have a chance again.
Look for the good note at a good price.
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Replies: 17 / Views: 3,862 |