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CCF @GovernorKW
The number of digits on a serial # usually indicates how long it has been issued. So, typically a 10 digit serial will be an earlier variant of the series in comparison to the 11 digit serial. We see this with German hyperinflation notes often.
Some nations also issue (earlier, typically more expensive) no-letter prefix & then (cheaper) single letter prefixes in front of the serial #. And other nations may also have an (expensive) single-letter prefix variant initially & then get into double-letter prefixes (less expensive). The general rule of thumb is that earlier variants are usually higher in demand (& command higher premiums) however, this is not always the case. Sometimes a 2nd or 3rd variant can be tougher too (b/c it was cut-off short due to counterfeiting issues or a dire need to replace the series). The "rule of thumb" can be flexible (so you need to check the history of each series).
So, for your 1971 25 Gulden, the 11 digit is the second ("b") version or would be
P-92b (this is the Krause code for that note). When I want further info on a certain type of note, I turn to Numista or the Netherlands section in the Banknote Museum (BNM for short).
Here's the Numista entry for
P-92b:
https://en.numista.com/203894Numista shows nearly a billion of the a variant and nearly 200,000,000 of the b variant so the note is quite common.
Numista usually has
ebay listings & sometimes their own pricing tables. Their pricing tables are generally very low b/c Numista members enter circulated (VF-AU) notes like yours as UNC & the price for Face Value (FV) which gives a low estimate. Their estimates are $53.00 for UNC of the a variety but this would be an ungraded example.
About 5 years ago, I was interested in purchasing the "Red Robin" 1989 version & was looking to pay about $75 USD for an UNC (ungraded) version so I think the price you paid was probably about right. If you register on Numista, you could post the same question there and may get a better answer. Good luck & happy collecting!
Posted 09/28/2025 06:19 am
