Hello- I obtained these two bills from an old man that came into the pharmacy I worked at to pay for medicine. I just traded the store out for them because I thought they were interesting and I had never seen bills like this before. They both have 3 folds when I hold them up to the light. Could anyone tell me more about them, how do I get them graded or should I? I know little about paper money. Are they in good shape? How should I care for them...I have had them in an envelope for almost 20 years. Thanks! Stacey
If it wasn't for the ink smudge the $10 would be worth about $20, with the smudge probably about $12-13 or so. The treasury seal on that one is the Light Green Seal variety and they are a bit scarcer than the darker seal like on the $20. The $20 is fairly common - a dealer would want about $25-30 on it, but those prices are retail.
I like the lime colored seal on the $10! They look to be fairly circulated to me, specifically looking at the small tears on the bottom of the $20. I'm in no way an expert on paper money, but I personally would keep them as they are. I would not have them graded in that condition and just enjoy them raw. To answer part of your question, I prefer to store store notes in clear plastic sleeves or pockets, like the kind you can put baseball cards in, but larger. But make sure the plastics are PVC free (usually marked as "archival quality.") PVC can do some nasty things to coins and notes over time. You can buy safe sleeves online or somewhere that sells coins and notes. To answer another part of your question, if you were to get them graded, most people go through the Paper Money Guaranty (PMG) here: http://www.pmgnotes.com/ Bottom line is, be sure to enjoy them! That's the most important part of collecting!
Collectible, but not valuable. Not likely worth more than $10 over face. The ragged bottom of the $20 keeps it close to face, the $10 is nicer other than the smudge on the front but is not the more coveted lime, it's a transitional blue-green. Still, great notes for face value...
