How many US paper money collectors are there today?

Discussion in 'Paper Money' started by funkee, Mar 24, 2014.

  1. funkee

    funkee Tender, Legal

    I have no idea how big or small the collector market really is.

    Relating to US paper money only, how many collectors are there?

    For this purpose, I'll define a collector as someone who has made more than 1 collectible currency purchase in the last year. It could be small size notes, large size notes, colonials, obsoletes, confederates, stars, errors or fancy serial numbers.

    I know it's not an easy number to determine, but what's your best guess?
     
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2014
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  3. harris498

    harris498 Accumulator

    At 317,000,000 people in the United States, I would guess that 2.5% of people are 'active' US currency collectors. That would make 7,925,000 people. I would further guess that there would be about 2,000,000 international collectors of US paper. So, my guess (and this is a rough, rather uneducated guess) would be just shy of 10,000,000 people.
    I would further surmise that many of these are not serious collectors, but just those who have a small collection - by your definition, purchasing one note per year.
     
  4. saltysam-1

    saltysam-1 Junior Member

    Almost 8 million people collecting even two notes a year seems very high. I would guess 500,000 total in the U.S. market and more like 75,000 who are serious collectors. IMHO.
     
  5. vlaha

    vlaha Respect. The. Hat.

    Hmm. Although I focus on ancients, I would be included in your definition, as I've made three or four buys in the last year. This is one of my favourites.

    PCGS cutting error.jpg
     
  6. MEC2

    MEC2 Enormous Member

    Based on the number of times I was first underbidder these last two months, I believe the correct answer is TOO DAMN MANY.
     
    BRandM likes this.
  7. funkee

    funkee Tender, Legal

    Interesting to see such numbers. I was thinking along the lines of 1,000 - 5,000 active collectors.
     
  8. saltysam-1

    saltysam-1 Junior Member

    When I look at attendance figures for major currency shows, that would mean every active collector had attended. Even if some did come back an additional day. ( Active based on more than one purchase a year.) I was figuring on approximately one in every 5,000 people in the U.S. Maybe one in 10,000? = 35,000
     
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2014
  9. Searcher64

    Searcher64 Member

    All people collect money. Most spend it, and some keep some of it. Then they spend the rest to buy more of it to keep. When the prices of common currency goes up, and are not rare, then you can say that there are more collectors, collecting currency. How to tell, will be hard to figure.
     
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2014
  10. lettow

    lettow Senior Member

    Using the definition given in the OP, the number is going to be artificially high if you are trying to estimate the number of active collectors. It would include everyone who bought a sheet of FRN after visiting the BEP as well as those who bought a "state commemorative" from an ad in the Sunday newspaper.
     
  11. funkee

    funkee Tender, Legal

    That's why I tried to define it as a buyer who has made more than 1 purchase. If someone buys 2 sheets or 2 commemoratives, I'd be satisfied to call them a collector.
     
  12. Lanny

    Lanny Mr. Nice Guy

    I've purchased 50 different notes this year.
     
  13. MEC2

    MEC2 Enormous Member

    About the same here. We count. So that makes 2. Plus Funkee, he's 3. So 3.
     
    Dave M likes this.
  14. Timewarp

    Timewarp Intrepid Traveler

    I'm in, that's 4.
     
  15. camlov2

    camlov2 Member

    I have a collection of a couple hundred different bills, fractionals, silver cert., obsoletes, and more. However, I am currently only purchasing national notes for one particular town. Given the fact that I haven't seen one come for sale in about three years I haven't made a purchase in that time. So am I still a collector?
     
  16. saltysam-1

    saltysam-1 Junior Member

    Collector: Yes. Active Collector: Maybe, if you are still searching on a regular basis.
     
  17. Dave M

    Dave M Francophiliac

    I'm not sure the OP was intended to be a roll call :)
     
  18. vlaha

    vlaha Respect. The. Hat.

  19. Dean 295

    Dean 295 D.O.M.

    Go to Memphis on a week end in June can't remember which one you will find lots of collectors. Go to any coin show you will find lots of them there also. Don't know the number but they are out there.
     
  20. funkee

    funkee Tender, Legal

    The point of this thread has been long lost.
     
  21. Endeavor

    Endeavor Well-Known Member

    I don't know much about paper money, nor have I ever purchased paper money for collection purposes, but I do look at the serial number on them. I got this one yesterday. Again, I don't know much about paper money, but I suspect it's not worth anything since it's a recent issue and in well circulated condition.

    20140328_005647.jpg
     
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