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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,739 |
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New Member
United Kingdom
2 Posts |
Hello there , I hope I've come to the right place :) , if not ,any advice pointing me in the the right direction would be greatly appreciated.
I work in England as a support worker for a young man who has autism and also some aspects of quite severe OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).
He has some issues relating to certain banknotes and his inability to spend some of them for slightly odd reasons. This can make life a little complicated and stressful for him at times.
He has a tendency to pick up on things he reads on the internet and in newspapers etc, and then reads more into these things than perhaps is the reality of the situation.
The latest issue is that he has read that new polymer £10 notes with serial numbers beginning AH are particularly valuable. I've seen a few articles stating this may be the case but I can't seem to see why. He has accumulated a few of these and is very anxious about spending them in case they have some kind of resale value.
The other issues are slightly stranger.
He has somehow got it into his head that notes with pen / permanent marker markings on them may be counterfeit or not safe to spend for some reason. I always just thought these markings were just a way for people who are counting/processing notes to keep track of total amounts etc ?.
He has also read about graham short the micro engraver and a potential copycat artist who has put a cryptic message on a new £5 note that says "look out for serial number AL22171910" which for some reason has prevented him from using any bank notes of any amount with serial numbers beginning with AL.
I do know how strange this sounds. My reassurances that he doesn't need to worry about these things don't seem to be working. He may respond to advice from people with more knowledge and insight of this issue than myself.
Many thanks :)
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
 I don't know enough to answer your question but I think it will get more attention with a title like "UK notes". I'll ask a mod to help with that. Hang on. Help is arrive. |
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Valued Member
Canada
97 Posts |
I don't think we're able to able, as we aren't psychologists. There may be people here who can confirm on disprove the theories about serial numbers or cryptic messaging, but is ultimately in you and the patient's hands on how to solve his problem.
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Moderator
 United States
188207 Posts |
to the Community! I edited the topic title to hopefully gain more attention.  |
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New Member
 United Kingdom
2 Posts |
Hi Buddy - thank you.
Hi canadacoins201, thanks for your response. I'm not looking for psychological assistance for my client, I'm just looking for someone who knows more about currency and bank notes than I do who can confirm that the ideas he has about these banknotes aren't true.
I believe this will make it easier for him to use these bank notes.
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Valued Member
Canada
488 Posts |
I can understand the issues a bit as a parent with a child on the spectrum. My first thought is to look for some resources that he can learn about banknotes. However I would be concerned that those resources may only add to his tendencies and expand upon his issues with searching for notes and not being able to distinguish what is worth keeping or not. When you get into looking at sereal numbers some fancy numbers may bring some premium while others may be neat but not worth more than face value.
I would start with seeing if he can show you where he saw the things you mentioned and maybe you can pick it a apart a bit. Maybe you can help him to understand what brings extra value.
Geting him on this site may help as I have never had a question unanswered here.
As for your actual questions I assume the A/H prefix would be a smaller run, Not sure though.
As far as writing on banknotes it's just graffiti, anyone can write on a banknote. Id say your spot on, merchants and bankers probably do it when counting. Could be lots of things. And I'm not sure about your last question. Someone will know more I'm sure.
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Valued Member
Canada
488 Posts |
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
I did some searching on the net and the five pound notes with certain quotes were worth a lot but they all began with the prefix AM. If I understand this correctly, the engraver added a miniature portrait on four notes.
I also found some information about the other note with the cryptic message on it.
It all sounds a little too fantastic to be true, but to be honest, if I had those notes, I'd hang onto them until I found out for sure.
I didn't get a chance to look up anything about the ten pound notes yet. But I will tomorrow.
No harm in waiting for a bit longer. I will check back tomorrow. I hope an expert has some information to share.
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
Okay -- I did some checking and I hope what I've learned will help. Collectors always want new issues and low serial numbers. Those were issued and many were sold on ebay for a premium. Some ebay dealers were listing notes for sale with the prefix AH even though they had not yet been issued. I doubt that many sold. They are not particularly valuable unless they have a fancy serial number such as all 7's. Still, the listing frequently state that they are 'rare'. As Bob Levi posted, I, too, suspect that the banknotes with permanent marker ink on them have been run through a sorter at a bank. When a stack is completed the bank clerk will mark the top of the stack so that everyone knows that all those are genuine as the counterfeits will have been kicked out by the machine. So those are safe to spend. I did find an article about the banknotes with the AL prefix. I think somebody was adding a little something to some notes as a game and I don't think that a serious collector would want a note that had any 'art' added to it. But I can certainly understand your client's concerns after having read through several articles. I think his concerns are misplaced and Bob Levi posted a link to a site that will check all the serial numbers you want. I think that might ease your client's mind. I sure hope that helps you out some.I had fun looking it all up and learning new stuff. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
992 Posts |
The AH prefix is all standard printing and offers no additional value.
Can't say about AL, but I expect that to be the same. Modern notes from large economies are printed in very great quantities and in general, offer no investment beyond normal dealer/collector markups.
The British government takes great pains not to create rarities when they print stamps, banknotes, or mint coins. The publicity is generally negative and directed at the officials and employees of the security printers and mints, who are accused of self-serving activities.
The pen marks are without meaning or premium. They will never be worth above face value, unless legibly signed by a famous personage.
If he can afford not to spend his notes, no harm in that, but he's not gaining anything by keeping them back. Better to use them to purchase some absolutely UNC notes and tuck them away for decades. Modern circulated notes really have no collector premium beyond face value.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,739 |
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Posted 02/05/2018 1:10 pm
