so what exactly are keepers and spenders? I'm new to notes so really haven't a clue... also what are the types and ways you guys collect? any and all newbie information I can get the better.
Depends on who you ask. Some people love to save all the * notes they find, others only save low run * notes, repeaters, binaries, etc. I personally haven't kept a note yet, except for a $500 bill someone used at one of our stores. Haven't run into anything else worthy yet.
This is all my opinion and worth very little... Any bill that is pre 1980 and in crisp condition would be a keeper, any bill that is pre 1960 in almost any condition would be a keeper. I would probably keep any regular bill that has a ladder of 6 or more digits (123456), 6 or more consecutive (222222), repeating pattern (25252525) or (24072407). Also any serial number that is 5 digits or less. At this point I have kept every star note that I have found, only about a dozen so it isn't a huge issue. If I start getting too many I will get rid of the lower condition notes. I would probably take them to a local coin shop and buy something. Most of our local shops give change using uncommon items such as halfs, golden dollars, Ikes so they would probably be interested in them.
how do I know if I have a note that is a low run note? also it this a pattern worth keeping? F92940949 see how it's 9-9--9-9 idk I'm new...
Here is a site that can give you that info-uspapermoney.info http://www.uspapermoney.info/serials/ If you are looking for a star note I would suggest selecting the year and denomination from the table at right, then scroll to the bottom of the page (it tells you the minatage numbers for stars from each bank)
The bill you listed (post #4) has 4 different digits without a pattern, it would probably be worth keeping if it was a binary (with only two different digits)
I don't see it as being like race car, I see it as being like rycdcor, only part of a pattern=not a pattern. The easiest way to look at it is as follows- If you saw that bill on ebay for $3 (assuming it is a $1) would you buy it? If you wouldn't even pay $2 for the bill then probably doesn't have a reason to be kept. I hope someone else puts in an opinion, maybe they will disagree with me.
As you can see, there's a set of folks that base a significant amount of their collecting energy on serial numbers on US banknotes. There are plenty of other ways to collect of course. You can collect by "type" - one note of each different design and denomination, by date, by signature combination, by denomination, or by topic such as notes issued during WWII, designed by a particular artist, or showing pictures of animals - all would be acceptable collecting methods that have their own appeal and collecting community. Also keep in mind, if it wasn't blatantly obvious, that the USA is but one of hundreds of countries out there that you might collect. Here in the USA, the collecting community tends to be split into what's called "US" and "World" banknotes - USA the only country I'm aware of where dealers treat the collecting arena as if there are two halves, "us", and "everyone else", but nevertheless, "World Banknotes" has become a synonym for "Everything except the USA". Dave
I should also say that I have never found a note that I consider a keeper due to serial number. And I have never bought a note due to serial number. I have kept stars, I have bought stars. I have kept the lowest serial number I have found even though it isn't low enough to be worth anything (I keep replacing this bill as I find one lower and spending the old one). My collection is actually focused on San Francisco notes, one from each year/denomination.
I don't collect serial numbers, only stars and large-size notes I purchase throughout the year. It's all tailored to your individual taste, so if you like it, collect it!
The various types of things to keep watch for have already been addressed, so I'll just say this: The answer to the question of what to keep vs.what to spend, is solely a personal one. Everybody is going to like, and be drawn to, different things. I know that I have notes in my collection that either aren't in the greatest shape and/or don't have anything special about them, from a numismatic view, but I keep them anyway. Some of them will probably never be worth more than face, but that doesn't matter to me at all. I like them, so they stay in the collection. If something catches your eye, assuming you can sit on the face value of the note, keep it. Hey, it will always be worth face, so you lose nothing. As was mentioned above, collect what you like. If you like it, that's all that matters.
