Taking inspiration from LordM, I decided to collect my 20 favorite notes in one easy to transport binder. I tried to represent as many countries as I could, making this a true "eclectic" mix. Everything in this binder, with a single exception, is a very affordable not that can be had for no more than $20. I wanted to build a very attractive yet very budget-friendly set that anybody could build too. Without further ado, here we go, in alphabetical order, with a sentence on why I like it... 1. 2010s (ND) Australia 10 Dollars Something about the colors here really speak to me. I love the clear split in the middle. 2. 1960s (ND) Brazil 100 Cruzeiros/10 Centavos I appreciate the gorgeous red coloring and the delicate design engraving. Reverse vignette isn't bad either. 3. 1935 The Canadian Bank of Commerce 20 Dollars The Canadian equivalent of the American "educational series." The obverse with triton and nymphs is really one of the best full-span vignettes I've ever seen. Nice serial too. 4. 2000s (ND) Cook Islands 3 Dollars Nothing quite as badass as a nude woman riding a SHARK. Nuff said. 5. 1901-08 (ND) Costa Rica 10 Colones I love steam engines. I love them even better when it's in the middle of a large, colorful, and crisp remainder note.
6. 1896 Cuba 10 Pesos A few things. Perforated top edge. Hand-cut bottom edge. Hand-signed in blue ink. And cows. 7. 1932 Czechoslovakia 1000 Korun A fake "Specimen," the vignette of a woman gazing over a globe is really something else. Massive size doesn't hurt either. 8. 1904 Germany 5 Mark Not sure which side I like better. The gorgeous neoclassical woman and baby, or the smoking dragon on the back. 9. 1910 Germany 100 Mark Obverse is alright, while reverse has an entire large-scale artwork on it. Massive size is great for such a detailed artwork. 10. 1932 Greece 500 Drachmai Amazing technicolor on the front with a sweet stretched-out version of a famous Vaphio Cup on the back.
11. 1941 Hungary 20 Pengo The woman on the right is basically one with the trees and I lover her because of that. 12. 1889 (ND) Japan 1 Silver Yen I like the portrait for some reason. Plus, it has one of the best watermarks I've ever seen. 13. 1913 Mexico (Chihuahua) 10 Pesos The cowboy overseeing his herd really brings back memories of my childhood (not really). 14. 1964 (ND) Mexico 1 Peso The Aztec calendar on the front is amazing. I love it when a central vignette is NOT a portrait.
15. 1897-1911 (ND) Mexico (Sonora) 5 Pesos Three separate figures and a "funnyback" reverse make this a real treat. Plus, this is a rare circulated example of what I believe is generally a remainder. 16. 1907 Paraguay 5 Pesos A really nice central Liberty in a Phrygian Cap makes this almost look like an early American design. Hand signatures are also a plus. 17. 1933 Philippines 10 Pesos Excellent 3/4-length portrait in a definitively American note makes this one deserving of a second glance. 18. 1938 Spain 2 Pesetas Another Liberty in Phrygian Cap staring directly into your soul is cool. The weird colors make this one look like Monopoly money.
19. 1909 Russia 25 Rubles With a very high face value back in the day, this note has a size to match. The obverse is generically Russian but the back has the most amazing color-split I've ever seen in a note. Gorgeously smooth transition from pastel pink to mint green makes this a very pleasant companion. 20. 1999 Uzbekistan 500 Som Incredibly bright and popping colors with soe great arabesque designs make this one of the best modern notes out there.
Wonderful collection! Its too bad we cannot have notes like these for circulation in the United States.
Seriously... I doubt we'll ever have any truly nice looking notes here, at least not in any of our lifetimes!
That's a great collection! One that would make @lordmarcovan proud. I don't really focus on paper money, but these designs draw me in. It's also nice to hear that all of them are affordable.
The most expensive one here is about $70, and that's the Canada Bank of Commerce bill. Second most expensive is probably the Costa Rica at $25-30, and then the Czech at $25 or so. Most of the rest are $10 and under, with some like the Uzbek and Hungarian notes going for less than $1!
Very well done! I'm with you on the steam engine (Costa Rica), they're always magnificent. That Cook Islands note kind of ruins the phrase "queer as a $3 bill". Do you plan to alter the "20" periodically, as LordM does?
One thing I've always found interesting is how many banknotes worldwide were printed by the American Banknote Company. You've got 4 or 5 of them here. It would make a neat collection to have one note printed by ABC from each country they printed notes for.
I do! I hope to have each note be from a different country. I have 2 German and 3 Mexican, which are too overrepresented for my tastes. The goal is to have 20 unique notes from 20 countries to really give a wide spread view of designs, geography, and dates!
ABNC is for me undoubtedly the best engraver ever, with all designs being spectacularly gorgeous. That would be neat! I might pursue that on the side, trying to get a real nice example of each country they did. Thanks for the idea!
I'm also a big fan of American Bank Note and you have some terrific examples here. The Costa Rica and the Canada notes are my favorites. Earl, you should just title this the "Lovely Ladies" collection! ;-)
It's funny how many of those notes I have Earl - at least half to 3/4 and for the same reason you do - great engraving and appearance, often by ABNCo. The Czech 1000 Korun was punched SPECIMEN in English apparently when the notes were sent out to collectors in bulk to make sure they knew it was not valid currency. So, they weren't say production specimens, but really more collectors specimens...
UPDATE: I have removed the red Brazil note and added this very neat Faroe Islands 50 Kronor. My brother went to Faroe a few months ago and brought this back. Curiously enough, my scanner won't scan it because it's "money." BUT it has no issue with any of the other bills I've scanned, even the Canadian one. I guess the incredibly obscure currency of tiny island micronation rings the counterfeit bells.
It's those yellow dots you see most prominently on the left side of the obverse and the right side of the reverse. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EURion_constellation.