Newbie Question

First and foremost...

The great thing I've found about collecting is that you can collect whatever you want! Something may seem very appealing to you but not as much to someone else. If you like it, that's all that matters.

Generally, notes have more value the smaller the print run is and the better the condition is. There will be a huge difference in value from a note that is uncirculated to a note that is less than very fine.

I personally check the serial first, because there are a lot of things to look for, i.e. radar notes, repeaters, solids, binomials, ladders, etc. Here's a decent link on fancy serials: http://www.iccurrency.com/ref_fancy.htm

Then I'll look at the date, but the design of the bill is obviously what you see first and that will give you a general range without even looking at it.

The "Barr" notes you mention are the $1 1963B series and refer to Joesph W. Barr, Secretary of the Treasury for less than 1 month! People always thought these would be worth a lot, but have yet to really increase in value.

Web print notes are denoted by the small number on the back of the bill being located next to "in god we trust" rather than below the E in "one". Or, on the front of the note, where there is usually a letter next to a smaller number, there is just a number. This began with the 1988A series and were also printed in 1993 and 1995. Here's a good link on those: http://www.webpressnotes.com/webnotesinfo.htm

The 1950's series are quite popular, so you're off to a nice start! Don't worry, you'll catch on rather quickly, I did. I obviously don't know everything, but the more you find out, the more interesting it is. Good luck!

You are speaking strictly of 'circulated' stacks and bricks right, bvalania?

I probably have the least to say when it comes to relevance than most people here. The reason why is because I usually don't have the time to "look over" the notes. I do purchase notes just for myself to look over, but normally am doing it for work related reasons. I have had to train myself to do it at slow, medium, and high speed... usually med to high.

One thing I do is always count the same way. I turn every note so it is face up President looking to my Left (I do this as I count almost as fast as most people can count without doing it). I look at the serial number, but can also see with my peripheral vision the signature and the position number.

At medium speed I am counting at about 2 to 3 notes per second. By seeing the serial I can look for any fancy number and block letters, by seeing the position number I can look for web notes, and by seeing the signature I can look for web notes, old notes, Barr notes, etc. Yes I have memorized the pattern of many signatures.

When I see something that catches my eye I will flip it out instead of passing it to my other hand so it lands on my desk and continue to count. I examine the kicked out notes later.

I know my method misses things I would like to catch, but it catches more than you would think.

It sounds faster than it really is. If you don't believe me try it sometime. A second is slower than you think when doing a repetitive action.

One of my friends young son used to fall down a lot. They made a cushiony headband they made him wear to protect his noggin. Perhaps I could get them to make you one too?

I'm not really a note guy. I have a $10 and $20 Confederate States and a $5 Hawaii and a North Carolina Bank note (crisp). Other than that, I Just wanted to say welcome :-)

Thank you guys. I went through 500 $1 and found 2 *'s.
I was 1 digit off on a rader. I got the $1 so I could get more bills. Are the higher $ bills worth more, beside face of course?

I went to the bank for my bills. Some of them were ratty. Is it best to ask for uncirculated? I also felt like a jerk returning 500 bills and asking for more. The guy had to recount them all by hand. Is there another way to handle this? Is the bank the best place?