What do I collect? I’m working on a collection of modern small-sized US $1 notes. For me this covers from the Series 1928 $1 Red Seal Note through the Series 1969-D $1 Federal Reserve Notes. Why? The advent of the quarter-sized $1 coin was intended to replace the $1 note. The $1 note (last I heard) had an average life span of only 18 months. A $1 coin would have a double-digit life span marked in years. I could see the $1 note disappearing from circulation and I didn’t want to get left behind and having to play the more expensive catch-up collecting game. That’s normally an expensive way to collect. I haven’t checked but I bet the cost of getting a Canadian $1 note is more than $1 now that the Loonie is the coin. And probably the same in Europe with the €1 coin.
That's definitely a good place to start with paper money @kanga. Interestingly enough, most of the Series of 1928 $1 Legal Tender Notes were released in Puerto Rico in the late 1940s. http://www.uspapermoney.info/history/1933.html
Yes, I had read that somewhere but had forgotten. Forgetting is a skill I'm getting better at the older I get
Why was your end date of series 1969D chosen ? Lifespans of paper money has changed since you last looked.
Anyway, the Series of 1928 $1 Legal Tender Notes isn't all that hard to find in higher grades. You can probably find one graded a 64-65 for about $500. Moreover, the Series of 1928-E Silver Certificate is certainly a bit cost-prohibitive. However, since you obviously have the means to acquire an MS-62 1856 Flying Eagle, you shouldn't have much trouble finding a pleasing example that suits you unless you want a star note.
I personally am getting there. I have a pitiful note collection held together with a single paper clip but I am finding myself more intrigued with specifically 5 dollar bills. Would this only be for known examples? How was this data calculated? I know for sure there are a lot of $1 bills which get balled up and washed, torn, thrown out, is this based off of known shredded notes?
Here's a primer on the different types of paper money @Evan Saltis. I thought that you might find it quite fascinating. Regardless, if you're interested in collecting paper money I'd highly recommend buying a copy of Arthur & Ira Friedberg's, Paper Money of the United States. https://www.friesian.com/notes.htm
Because when I select a series I go after ALL the Federal Reserves for that series, A through L, plus all the Start/Finish letter combinations. For instance, in the 1969-D Series, Boston (A) has AA and AB. New York (B) has BA, BB, BC, BD and BE. And so forth for all 12 Federal Reserves. And then there are the star notes. The 1969-D Series has star notes for all 12 Federal Reserves. 1969 alone has 5 Series, It starts to add up quickly. And when you get back into the Silver Certificates (Blue Seal), cost for each note is much higher, especially since I try for CH CU (Choice Crisp Uncirculated).
As with coins, numbers printed vs. numbers still existing are two different things. Numbers printed come from US Gov't records; numbers still existing are unknown but catalog values would be an indication. I use two references: Standard Guide to Small-Size U.S. Paper Money 1928 to Date, 10th Edition by John Schwartz and Scott Lindquist, 2011 The 10th Edition goes through Series 2006-A but I only use it for the pre-FRN notes (through 1957-B) Collector's Guide to Modern Federal Reserve Notes/Series 1963-2009 by Robert Azpiazu, 2011. I use it for all the FRN notes (green seal), 1963 through 2009. It is out of print and currently there is no plan for newer editions. It may be difficult to find a copy.
I hear ya @kanga, but 1969D is kinda random. Series 1969B also has the same qualities, the same as 1963, 1963A and many others.
The OP mentioned the cost of Canadian singles. Now whereas these may now be regular ordinary in terms of condition, they're still kinda cool. I think I gave $7 or $8 each for these.
