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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;funkee, post: 1700886, member: 37925&quot;]<b>Fall Guy</b>, if you want to get into currency, you should buy graded notes from reputable TPGs like PCGS and PMG. Coins can be doctored and cleaned just like paper money. It just takes some knowledge to pick out the good from the bad. If you want to buy raw notes, build a relationship with a trustworthy seller. Also buy from sellers with return policies and examine the notes as soon as you get them so you can return them within the given window.</p><p><br /></p><p>The program the OP used is called Track &amp; Price and contains auction histories. Although not all notes sold at auction are in that program, it is better than nothing.</p><p><br /></p><p>Another thing you should do is train your eye to pick out doctored notes. It&#039;s pretty easy to see a pressed note or a washed note. There are tell-tale signs to look for like faded or off-color seals and serial numbers, more than a couple of folds that are just barely visible, and paper that appears too white for the number of folds it has. And the paper may appear to have a sandpaper-like texture. A good way to spot folds is to save the image and invert the colors. They are easier to spot on a dark background. Pull up a high resolution image of the same note on ha.com. Invert both images and set them next to each other. The doctored note will have a lot more variation of color in the &quot;white&quot; areas. The AU/CU image should be straight black in those areas, while a doctored note will have areas of gray. </p><p><br /></p><p>I did the comparison on the OP&#039;s note against this one <a href="http://currency.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=396&amp;lotNo=17914#Photo" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://currency.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=396&amp;lotNo=17914#Photo" rel="nofollow">http://currency.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=396&amp;lotNo=17914#Photo</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>You can ask the seller to take some different photos. Have them take the photo at a low angle with a light shining over the note at a similarly low angle. This reveals folds and embossing (if there is any). Also look at the edges. Most high grade notes will not have seen enough circulation to have edge damage (there are exceptions). If you see a note that looks to be in high grade, but the edges are worn, have nicks or splits, or looks like the nicks/splits were filled in (restorations), stay away. You can spot the restorations by inverting the image as I mentioned earlier. It&#039;s rare for the pieces to be the exact same shade as the rest of the note.</p><p><br /></p><p>Check out these examples: <span style="color: #333333"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinforgeryebay/sets/72157631103745094/with/7866984970/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinforgeryebay/sets/72157631103745094/with/7866984970/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinforgeryebay/sets/72157631103745094/with/7866984970/</a></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><br /></span></p><p>Hope that helps.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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