I am not really a paper currency collector, however I get the opportunity to browse through a lot of cash. So I have been keeping all the star notes and interesting serial numbered bills. They are always circulated with a fold or two and some wrinkles, corners bent, etc.. Is there something I can do or should do to straighten them before I put them in my plastic holders? Thanks!
I wouldn't do anything more than putting it under a stack of books for a while. If you press (iron) it, It can reduce the value......or so they say. Kinda falls under the same topic as coin cleaning/doctoring. Not something too many people talk about openly.
Using a iron to press a note is a no-no! most people use way to much heat And actually scorch it making ugly brown coloring
If you do iron one, use a lot of packing. Thin card board will do, so that it can dispated the high heat. Only clean white cardboard, with no other type print on the cardboard. -O) Use it first on a piece that you do not care about.
I've done the "stack of books" thing, but put them in a Mylar-D holders first, before inserting them between the pages of the book. I've never tried applying heat (iron).
Rehabilitating currency is a dark art. The skills it takes to be a competent restorer of archival documents also make one able to cause a well-creased note to appear new again. I've seen a clearly circulated note sold on eBay resurface a year later in a TPG holder, graded as uncirculated. I'm a purist, and say don't do anything to a note to change its appearance. Though I can live with putting one under a stack of books for a while.
In a similar thread, on a different forum, the topic of "teller stamps" is being discussed, and should they be removed or not removed. I've shown this note to several collectors/dealers/friends in the hobby, and it's been the general concensus to leave it alone.
Agreed. I would leave it alone since removal of the stamp could deface the note and remove any type of collector value. Most of the time the added character will increase worth as well.
Never iron a note, as has been said, it can flatten any embossing, which will lower the notes value. Place it in a curreny sleeve made of Mylar, Prolar, Mylar-D or any other polyester material. Beyond that, i would let any damage already done to it, left alone. Same with Steves teller stamp. Trying to remove it will likely damage the note more then leaving the stamp alone.
