Found Mutilated Currency In Old Book. Worth Anything?

[rolekz]

Hey Everyone,

Posted this in the Whats It Worth? section and was advised to ask you guys your opinion.
I purchased a book (The Outline Of History by H.G.Wells 4th edition I believe) earlier today and inside all the pages was a bunch of torn up old paper US Currency ranging from $1-$500 bills. Most of them are either the left or right sides of the bills. not sure if this is worth anything at all but it has me wondering what was going through the previous owners head.

 

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[Molon Labe]

To be honest, I don't see to much value if any here being the fact u have fractions of notes, but they are still very cool! I would definitely keep them for sure and seeing that $500 corner its literally killing me!!!!!

 

[rolekz]

that corner was the first thing my brother and i saw when we opened the book.needless to say we were pretty disappointed when it was only a piece lol

 

[jeff of pa]

someones Reminders for all the money they made ?

Actually

looks like a con-man's stash .

No I can't think of a con offhand, other then Slip the $500.00 piece in a position
inside something for sale. The person may think they are getting as deal
paying $100 or more for something worth 50 cents )
But all the same, Looks like a con-man's stash to me.

either way, there is none showing that have enough to satisfy the Bank.
& I'm sure those larger pieces were spent.

Value ?

I'm sure you heard the phrase Treasure is in the Eye of the Beholder.

a Large Frame, With all the Pieces in it, Would be a treasure or piece of art to some.
& if you could think of a con pieces like that could have been used for,
so you could label it a con-mans Stash & add the Con on a piece of paper to go with it.

You certainly would have something you could call a treasure

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

I believe you have to have at least the serial numbers for a bank to exchange the note for you. Like if the bills were in a fire if the serial numbers were still there but edges burned they would replace the bills.A lot of those are old bills also I think some were silver and gold certificates.

 

[jeff of pa]

I believe you have to have at least the serial numbers for a bank to exchange the note for you. Like if the bills were in a fire if the serial numbers were still there but edges burned they would replace the bills.A lot of those are old bills also I think some were silver and gold certificates.

yes you need the Serial Number & over 50%, so people can't take half & half to different banks.

actually you need at least 2/3rd for a Bank to replace it.

Mutilated by Fire, Mold Etc. is different , but must be sent to the Treasurey
for confirmation.

 

[billn1956]

Jeff of pa hit it right on the nose. if there is enough there the bank will either give you a new one or the address to the reserve to send it in to them, just takes a month or so to get back to you how ever much they could prove was there.

 

[Herb Boyd]

A con stash is probably the best explanation....also an old custom among gangsters was to tear a note up at a party,give everyone a piece to bring to the next meeting....a representative could bring the portion as a symbol of membership

 

[Mackaydon]

At my bank you need both serial numbers to get a replacement.

 

[crhstreetwalker]

That bottom left corner $500 is a trip. It's a large size series 1918 too..if only you had the rest of it.

 

[cw0909]

interesting can anyone give a range of years for the money, im thinking the money may be counterfeit
why tear it up instead of burn it who knows, the 20$ nc looks like the earliest 1902 maybe

Dollar Bill Southwestern National Bank of Philadelphia Pennsylvania Charter 3498 Value and Information

 

[coinsareawesome]

If you had all the peices, you could take the time to piece them all together.

 

[oldsmith]

Hello, cool find, too bad no notes are intact. Is there any writing on the obverse side of the notes or some sort of a tally hidden somewhere in the book? Looks to me that the notes added up to some sort of a debt repayment, possibly gambling or purchase of some sort. Reason for my conclusion is that the note fragments resemble coupons. At first counterfeiting came to mind but back in the day they were not that messy.

 

[goober]

could they be some kind of code? for somthing else??

 

[oldsmith]

I'm new to this site, so please bear with me, a code is quite possible, but I don't think that is the case unless the book or the obverse side of the notes has some writing on it. If rolekz would flip those notes for us to see if there is something on the obverse or inspect the book to see if it is some kind of a ledger that would be helpfull. I am no expert in this field but have collected banknotes for over 40 years and have not seen this before . I would not buy or collect any partial note without the serial number. Seems to me that the left coupon was handed to the bearer along with the face plate complete with serial numbers to be redeamed and the right coupon was interest payable at a future date would make sense, the $500 coupon would represent payment in full, maybe. I would love to inspect this collection as it is truly fascinating. This might have been a practice that I have not heard of, so if any other numastist could enlighten this thread it would be welcome.

 

[Stripeythecrab]

This is absolutely fascinating! And very sad... I almost started tearing up at the sight of all those beautiful bills ruined...