JasonB said:
Dr Detector,
I really like paper currency and I went through a couple thousand bucks last year. I found a Barr note one three digit serial which I sold on eBay for $50. I also found some stars and other nice notes. I posted some on this site.
Can you tell us all of the types you look for and what you consider a 'keeper.' I'd like to see an increase in interest for this board also.
As a suggestion, when you find a cool note, cross post it in Today's Finds.
Look forward to hearing from you.
JasonB
Jason,
I'd be glad to share what I look for and consider keepers. Basically, the first thing I scan are the signatures. That tells me quickly which series the note is. I save anything pre-1995. These notes I typically sell together as a lot on Ebay grouped by series, or to another collector I have dealt with directly before who gives me a premium. We are usually talking on average $1.10 to $1.20 per note...nothing too exciting.
Also, I obviously look for low serial number notes. Anything with 4 leading zeroes or more I will save. The 5 leading zeroes I sell right away for quick profit, but the 4 leading zeroes I save in hopes to match them up with another one some day. If not then I will eventually sell them as a lot.
Web Notes are another keeper note. Some can be very expensive and are quite rare. Check out
www.webpressnotes.com for more info. Best I did on a web note was sold one for $125.
Some other things I check for are the FW295 error on some 1995 series $1 notes. You can google that one for more info than I could even post here. Also, all $1 star notes I save. I usually group them in lots of 50 to sell on Ebay. Some of the notes that are from low print runs I keep out and sell individually but most I just sell in lots. I use
www.uspapermoney.info/serials for my reference on star and regular print runs, but I have pretty much memorized each print run and know the short ones for the most part.
With serial numbers, any interesting grouping of numerals I will keep. For instance, 6 or more of a kind in a serial number I will keep, or 'radar' notes, which means the serial is the same forward and backwards (ex. A12344321A). Repeater notes, which is when the serial number repeats itself, like A12341234A or A12121212A I would keep as well. Also, binary notes, which are only containing two numbers (A67777667A). All of these types of serial numbers I keep and will later resell.
And lastly, obviously, older notes prior to current Federal Reserve Notes I will save. For example the 'red seal' United States notes, or the 'blue seal' silver certificates. Most of the Federal Reserve Notes, even the older 1934 and 1950 series $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 notes really are not worth much over face value when circulated. In fact, if you try to sell on Ebay you will almost always lose money after the fees associated with selling. You may realize $22 for a 1934D $20 note but have $4.00 in fees. So typically I will not save these older style notes.
I think that about covers it. If I forgot something I will post back here.
