I have just started collecting paper money and it is very interesting. Heres some pictures of what I have in paper money so far. I bought these today at a coin show and I really enjoy looking at them. I go coin roll hunting all the time. Can you do this somehow with paper money? How would you even go by doing that? I'm fairly new to this paper money deal so give me all of your advice! Thanks!
Paper money tends to get looked at more closely than coins and as such interesting finds in paper money tend to be rarer. Working as a cashier or a bank teller is a good way to search lol... seriously, that's how I found a 1957 silver certificate and a Barr note, both in near mint condition. I suppose you could search paper money but it would be a bigger cash flow issue and interesting finds would be a lot less. But keep your eyes open!
I started my collection with a $2 United States Note and a $1 Silver Certificate, much like you. After a while, I found that in order to collect rarer notes, I had to pay a premium. I now buy them on auction websites and occasionally from dealers. Fortunately, you can find some very good deals online if you are patient. You can still find some rarer notes in circulation, but they will usually be in poor condition. Just the other day, I got a $2 US Note (red seal) from a withdrawal at a bank when I asked for a stack of 2's. It was not in great shape, but still a good find for face value. People do turn in things to banks that they don't know what to do with. The teller I met the other day told me that someone came in a few weeks prior to turn in nearly $10,000 worth of $100 FRBNs (Brown Seal). They didn't think anyone would ever want them, so they sent them to the Fed. That same teller handed me a stack of twos during my withdrawal, inside which I found a 1953A $2 red seal. On another visit to a branch an hour away, I talked up a teller, who told me that a few months prior a woman came in looking to exchange an almost uncirculated $500 gold certificate for hundreds. She found it in a book owned by her grandfather. The teller knew it was something special, and tried to set something up outside of the bank so he could get the note without having to switch things out of the drawer and get fired. Unfortunately, the lady never returned and likely realized what it was worth. But just as an example, there are rarities out there. Make friends with tellers, and you will get things from time to time.
You can get straps of cash from your bank which is the same as a roll of coins. Collecting paper currency is a bit different then coins. There are a lot more things to look into. This is where I believe a book or a site with lots of good information will help. It will also help you determine what you want to collect and focus on. Also paper money can be drastically more expensive than coins once you get into large size notes. Also the tiniest things on a note can triple the amount of value if not more.
