First off, let me acknowledge that I realize it is a bad idea to buy things you don't know anything about. But nevertheless, occasionally over the years I've found myself bidding on eBay auctions of foreign currency just because I'd start browsing and find something I liked, whether it was because it had a nice design or was an obscure country or whatever. But I don't know anything about foreign currency really. Anyway, sometimes I will get the note in the mail and I will really wonder if it's real or something someone made on their home computer. Whereas American and Western European currency is clearly made of cloth paper, I'll get some from non-Western countries that just feel like regular, thin paper. They are usually small and never folded or anything because they are being sold as uncirculated. But if they really are legitimate currency, I can't help but think anyone with a computer in these nations could be making these for themselves. So the question for the experts is, do these non-Western countries really make currency on such thin, unremarkable paper, or am I getting ripped off? Examples are former Soviet republics like Azerbaijan, or Vietnam. I have some Japanese Philippines occupation money that seems suspicious. I have a hard time believing someone living in World War II Philippines would have all these immaculate notes that would still be pristine 70 years later.
It all depends on the notes you have. Some of the poorer countries have produced lower denomination notes without any security devices but generally speaking they should have a security strip embedded in the paper and a watermark. Hold them up to a light to check. As for the Japanese occupation notes I figure there were a lot hoarded or stashed and never circulated but they are generally on thicker paper (even thicker than US dollar notes). I've been offered and seen a lot of them here in Asia. If you have any examples you're not sure about then post some pictures and I'm sure myself or someone else here can help out with verification. Vic
You always have to be suspect and do your homework before making A purchase of any kind it will pay off in the long run!!
Thanks for the replies. I don't think posting a scan would help much because it's really the feel and the physical examination that I think is needed. All of them at least seem to have raised areas - they're not just smooth paper. Almost all of them I only paid a dollar or two for so I don't know if anyone bothers counterfeiting something that cheap or not. I do wonder about the Japanese occupation notes though because they definitely are not thick.
