Banknote Storage

Yes! I just got a bunch of sleeves for my foreign bank notes too, I had them in binder sleeves, but I finally invested in the next step up.

 

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Great to hear!

There is no such thing as "binder sleeves" but there is such a thing as pages with pockets (2, 3 or 4). Pockets do NOT properly protect your notes (& many pages were made from the bad acidic vinyl. If you had your notes in the pockets then you exposed them to oxygen, dust, moisture (& possibly the acid from the old vinyl). Especially notes in the top pockets! But if you had them in museum safe sleeves then they would have been far more protected from 99% of the elements that degrades paper + 100% of any damage caused by handling.

There is a HUGE difference between storing your notes in a page (without a sleeve) & in proper PVC-free sleeves. FOR polymer notes: I don't think such exposure is as critical (or damaging) but for the older paper, it is really tough to see.

And I keep seeing YT videos of expensive "$500+" notes pushed into these old vinyl pockets (no sleeve)! Circulated dealer stock (I'm okay with that) but some of these older, more expensive series - being handled & knowingly exposed drives me crazy!

All it costs is 50 cents to protect a $500 note!

 

Storing Sealed Notes: 2 Questions....

(1) How should one store graded, sealed notes -- upright or flat down/up ?

(2) I noticed some of my PMG 60's notes have slight waves...they don't appear to be creases or folds...maybe the natural "flow" of the currrency linen/paper ? Could they have happened AFTER they were graded and I purchased them ? I wouldn't have thought anything of them if they were graded in the mid-50's, but mid-60's my other notes are perfectly flat.

 

I used to lay mine flat but I now have so many I store them upright or on the bottom edge of the note. The main thing to remember is to keep them tight so they can’t get wavy. Kind of like putting a graded note in a book but that’s not an option. Best wishes.

 

I store my TPG binders upright b/c they fit best in my safe this way. I think it would depend on the number you have & how long you intend to lay them flat. The weight of the notes would normally NOT be a factor (for small stacks of notes) but for large stacks for long periods it would probably make more sense to keep them upright.

I noticed my UNC notes from certain series (1950's and earlier) have slight waves as well. From what I understand, that was how they were made. I have read that notes often were slightly wet after the printing process & it was normal for them to have slight waves (& something certifiers look for).

If the certifiers are granting your notes EPQ or PPQ then they're original, right?