Hello All, I found this in circulation. Do you all think, There might be collectors interested. Or should I just spend it?
I don't collect paper money so please tell me what makes this note special...I'd like to learn to see what others notice immediately.
Note this thread's title and the bill's serial number. U.S. President Abraham Lincoln died on April 15, 1865, (i.e.: 04-15-1865). The serial number is: 04161865 The degree to which this $100 bill note may or may not be "special" is the central issue. (I think we can all agree that it's at least $100 special!)
I have a few currency items in my collection, but none are radar, or poker notes, birthday notes. Those are for a "special collector of that particular taste in the hobby" I bought a coin off ebay once and he added he would send a radar note with it free. I told him to keep the note i'd just spend it. To each their own with serial note desires. Some love that hobby.
I believe it might have a premium to right collector if it was the exact date he passed. Kinda like having a note with serial number 09112001. The “day after” seems like a stretch.
I think it would be more interesting if it was $5 note since Lincoln is actually on that bill... maybe if the date was the day after Ben Franklin died...
Due to the high denomination, I'm not sure anyone would pay a premium, but what the heck, list it and see.
I appreciate everyone's opinion on this. For me, it's the wrong date, like an almost note, it's a high denomination, which is hard to hold on to, for most collectors. I love collecting notes and coins for the beauty and the history lessons. I would love to see an enthusiast, a Lincoln nut or even some one that would appreciate or be excited to have it. I don't really collect to make a profit, though it wouldn't hurt. But the joy it brings me, us something I feel needs to be passed on. I'm going to post it, in hopes it may reach the one that would enjoy it more than myself. Again thank you all for your opinion.
If you have to include a note on an item that you collected reminding you of why you collected it, the note is more collectable than the item.
Just out of curiosity I just checked the date of Ben Franklin's death. Apr 17, 1790. Doesn't really matter here, but I thought April 17 was quite a coincidence, considering Lincoln died on Apr 15 and the serial number has 04-16. I think that's the kind of dumb thing a collector of oddities might actually pay for. I would if it wasn't a hundred. I'm too cheap for that.
A numismatist might pass on it simply because the date is not right. Close would not bring a strong bid, in my opinion. Good luck with your decision.
There is an old saying that if you have to explain a joke, it wasn't funny. To that I would add: If you have to explain something's significance, it is not significant.