What paper money collectible would you like to see the BEP offer?

I got bored at work and this question popped in my head, so I thought I would pose the question to the forum.

What sort of collectible would you like to see the BEP offer? Would it be a single item or a set? If a set, what would the set include?

State in your answer if you think the collectible is realistically feasible or if it is "wishful thinking" and possible or likely the BEP could offer such a thing.

My answer:
I see the United States Secret Service (USSS) will have it's 150th anniversary in 2015. Since there have already been a few "150th Anniversary..." offerings, I think some sort of collectible honoring that anniversary would be possible. Not sure what would be included in the set. Maybe a nice book with info about the origins of the USSS and a couple notes.

 

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I am not sure there is a tremendous amount of profit being made by these collectibles given the minuscule fraction of total production they represent. I think the main goal is to get people interested in currency and produce gift or collectible keepsakes for those that want them. The BEP is responsible for over half trillion dollars in currency every year. It seems unlikely that the collectibles produced represent any significant profit for this agency. If anything, any profit probably helps to offset the cost of having facility tours for the public.

As far as letting collectors decide on which notes are collectible, well, they have. Some collectors like the specially produced high quality coins or specially packaged paper currency produced and offered as collectibles. Other collectors like notes with certain serial number sequences or smaller production runs, etc. Suum cuique pulchrum est.

 

This is something I suggested to the BEP and I think it's entirely feasible. I'd like to see a reprint of the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition award diploma next year, in honor of the centennial of the expo.

And on the wishful thinking side, I'd like to see them put out an archival specimens book like this one: https://archive.org/details/specimens00unit

 

I agree with Tough Coins 100%. The Government's should only be making
any form of Legal Tender as a medium of exchange only. Unfortunately, they
are solely in control of supply and demand and if they make it collectors will buy it.

 

A quick addendum: The BEP is, in fact, going forward with this idea for their 2015 intaglio print program. They are planning to use parts of the award certificate, such as the "porthole" portraits, on next year's cards and possibly use the entire award certificate for intaglio print demonstrations at one or more shows and to produce numbered, limited-run proofs.

For those who have never seen one of these in person, they are huge -- about 24x18" -- and the engraving is quite impressive.