Best resource to start in Bill collecting. Anything from websites, to books. What is some of the better notes to collect for a starting collector?
That's a hard one. Everything including budget, the actual reason you want to begin collecting, what kinds of notes you're into, how serious you are, etc all plays a role in how and what you collect. Me? I basically collect as much as I can for face, although I must admit these days it seems as if I am slowly edging my way into starting to buy notes with premiums too (mainly BEP products for now until I am finished with that). Some other people on here are constantly buying notes that may well be 20+ times face value. Do you want large size notes (anything before 1928) or modern notes (1928 to present)? Do you want notes with history? Or notes that went straight from the print press into a plastic sleeve (uncirculated)? It's all really up to you and what you want to do. If budget is on the tighter side, if I were you, I'd shoot for notes I can get for face from straps. All you have to do is go to the bank and ask for straps of cash to look through. But then again, that's only if you're wanting modern notes. eBay is always a good place to look for nicer collectibles (be careful not to get fooled on there though because that is easy). Unfortunately, I cannot further help you without knowing what you're collecting intentions are. I'm always more than happy to help a fellow new collector figure out what kinds of notes to collect, but I just can't make any suggestions to you without knowing a little more about your intentions. A good site with some of the best info on the internet I have ever seen is uspapermoney.info It was actually created by a member of this forum. Welcome to the forum!:welcome: -Travis
I'd recommend before collecting to generate an interest toward a type of bill before you just start acquiring them. For me, I was cruising eBay and somehow stumbled into the currency section and saw the old large size notes, and that got me hooked - over time I diversified my interests into everything from Dallas FRBN notes to Colonials to Confederate Notes to errors to lime seals to early small size FRN stars to early Texas notes to Greek notes to... as you can see, it can get contagious. But I did at each stage develop an interest, and I think I would do *that* first - once you determine what appeals to you, what note you look at and *really* want, then I'd look at where to start, because it can be very different depending on what you decide to collect. Is there a note or type of note that you have an urge to acquire?
All good advice maybe I can add some more. Decide a certain area you want to collect. There are a lot of categories and ways to collect, no rules. United States can be divided into large size, small size, war notes, modern notes, serial numbers and so on. Decided what appeals to you. There are also World notes which can get out of hand easily. A good way is to also decide to collect vintage or modern. A specific country that you like or a country where you were born? Then there are also topical collecting in which certain subjects you like comes into play and of course some aim to get one note from every country. So as you can see there are lots of ways to collect. The main thing is to focus on a certain field but sometimes that can be hard as I just collect what catches my eye.
You might want to find some books about the history of different types of paper money and valuations. It will give you a better understanding of why certain notes are worth what they are worth. I thought that fractional currency and treasury coin notes are the neatest things. National Gold Bank Notes are some of the rarest and most valuable.
Well I guess to clarrify a bit more in the terms of what to collect, I wouldnt mind starting with Silver certificates pre/post of 1928. To me in the lines of history it shows what many people dont know what bills were intended to. Of course I want to start with USA bills. If i were able to get bills/ coins from where my family is from (Prussia) I would be quite amazed. In the type of Books any suggestions, such as but not limited to price guides, treasure hunter guides. I typically prefer to have a book because it is still more portable than my computer if I am out on the town and happen to see something I dont have. Any other question to help clarrify or additional adviced would help greatly
I like "A Guide Book of United States Paper Money" Its more portable than the bigger freidberg book. It has a little bit of history on each series with fairly accurate valuations. My only comment is regarding two small errors: Fr 1617 should be "Motto" and not "No Motto" on p. 46. And "top left and bottom right" on p.149 under Blue Seals should be the opposite - top right and bottom left.
I carry this http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/u-s-paper-money-red-book-565267/ with me almost everywhere I go. If you use the 40% off coupon its less than $15.00 plus tax if you have once close or plus $6 s&h if not.
You can gain some knowledge in The Newbie Institute of CoinTalk about Paper Money. I also recommend a guide book to give you an idea of what all is out there and how much a note can appreciate in value over time versus other types of notes.
Yeah, get married, buy a house and have kids....you should start getting bills on a regular basis. On a serious note, all of the advise so far has been sound. Visit several currency forums, buy literature pertaining to what captures your interest, go to currency shows (if possible) develop relationships with other collectors and dealers, and take your time. This thread on a different forum has lots of resources....http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=23&threadid=401912
Am married with two kids and one of them goes private school so i know about bills As for your lead thank you
