The Russian ruble collector is likely someone who doesn’t just love coins, but has an interest in Russia’s heritage as a country. One of the problems with purchasing rubles is that counterfeiting has always been a common thing with Russian coins. And not just to produce fake money to use, but rather to simply copy a design for novelty. If you find one of these “authentic forgeries” you’ll probably pay quite a high price, as they’re valuable today. But other counterfeits, like circulated coins, are worth nothing.

The Russian ruble is also represented with paper currency, which saw less counterfeiting than the coins. It wasn’t uncommon for the early rubles of the 15th century to be counterfeited by the people, as they were merely oddly shaped bars of silver and easily reproduced. When coins were minted with designs, forgery became more difficult for common people. But the wealthy often ordered coins reproduced for them to keep as collector items.

One way to spot these collector forgeries in a Russian ruble is to look at the edge. Often there will be markings on the edge that you won’t find on an authentic Russian coin. Because these forgeries weren’t created for the purpose of purchasing goods, but instead to be kept as collector items, they’re usually in excellent condition and are very valuable, though they have no worth as currency.

Another way to detect a forged Russian ruble is to learn a little about the history of Russia and her coinage. With a little bit of reading and research, you can spot which rubles are the most rare and unlikely to be found in large lots where people buy coins, either from collectors or in places like eBay online.

The rarest Russian ruble, for instance, is one that coin collectors might want to own, even though it’s virtually impossible. The silver Constantine is the rarest. Only a few are known to be in existence, and the last genuine Constantine was sold for the largest price ever earned by a single coin in auction.

The value of this coin springs from the fact that the Russian ruble was minted when it was believed that Constantine would take over power after Alexander’s death. But Constantine abdicated the throne, after some coins were already created. For collectors who like the history behind this particular coin and would like it represented in their collection, a reproduction can be found for an affordable price, just to have as a novelty.

A ruble can be a great piece for a coin collector or even someone who collects things representing Russia’s and the Soviet Union’s diverse history. Whether paper rubles or coins, the designs on both show some of the best Russian engraving art created. The ruble isn’t much of an investment for its currency value, as the value is low compared to other world currencies. But as a piece for a coin collector or someone interested in Russia’s history, a Russian ruble can be a valuable part of a collection.

Originally posted 2008-12-25 05:00:25. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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If you are interested in collecting paper money, Colonial money is one of the hottest tickets going right now. When the first US colonies were formed, the nation and its currency system were still in their infancy. It was decided that paper money would be used, and gradually, currency was printed and distributed for use. Today, colonial money is usually worth much more than its face value, provided that it is original and not a reproduction. Here are some tips on how to tell whether or not you have an authentic piece of colonial history.

1. Check the Signature

Colonial money was always designed to have at least one signature on the note. You may need to look carefully to determine whether or not a signature is present, but if you can’t find even one, chances are you may be dealing with a reproduction. The color of the signature should be in red ink.

2. Is it Numbered?

Colonial money was always numbered to help them keep track of how many bills were in circulation. Once again, if you are dealing with an authentic note the ink color will be red and the number will be very noticeable. Age made have faded the note slightly, but you should be able to tell that the ink was once a red color.

3. Look at the Writing

Typically, colonial money featured a handwritten signature, and some bills may have other handwriting on them as well. This is actually quite important, and is a big clue to the authenticity of the note. If the handwriting is the in the same color as the rest of the bill, there is a very high chance that you are in fact dealing with a reproduction.

4. Look for the Stamp

In most cases, reproductions that are intended merely for home use will carry a stamp that says “facsimile.” This is done to help people get a better idea of the colonial money that was used, but they are not intended to be collector items. While some reproductions may not have this stamp, the majority should.

5. Find the Watermark

Even in the height of the colonial period, when technology still was struggling, watermarks were added to bills to help determine whether or not they were authentic. You can use that same watermark to help you determine whether or not you have authentic colonial money on hand. Hold the bill up to a light source to see if you can spot the watermark. If you can’t chances are you have a reproduction.

6. Take it to an Expert

If you plan on investing in a colonial money note, it is best to have it examined by an expert to determine the authenticity of the note. They will be well versed in the different types of ink, the different plates that were used, as well as how real colonial money should look. There is no substitute for getting an expert’s opinion, especially if you will be investing in colonial money.

Originally posted 2008-09-11 14:00:01. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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The Chinese actually invented paper money, and the process of making it dates back to the early 9th century. Collectors are always seeking Chinese paper money due to its rich history and value, and this is a currency that is very unique. Although it is nearly impossible to find many of these notes outside of a museum, Chinese paper money is very popular and if you can get your hands on a note, you may have a treasure on your hands.

Chinese paper money was originally called “Flying Money” because it was so light, and if the owner did not hold on to it, it could easily blow away. The first notes were made from very delicate paper and they were used almost like IOUs. The owner would write down on the note what they were willing to pay for something, and the recipient could then take that to the bank to cash it. This bank draft system is very similar to our own checking system now.

Chinese paper money changed slightly when the Mongols took over. Instead of paper, the notes were then produced from silk and they were backed by a silk standard, much like the gold standard that would later be used in the Western hemisphere. This was a new idea, and in order to use the notes, the owner would have to actually deposit a set amount of silk yarn in the bank.

The silk form of Chinese paper money endured, and was used throughout the world. It has been discovered in far flung parts of the world by archeologists, but it is very rare to find any that are available to private collectors. After this period in Chinese history, the Ming Dynasty changed the currency, moving back towards paper.

The main problem they faced with this new Chinese paper money was that there was only one set denomination. This forced many to rely on coins since the notes were hard to use for smaller purchases. Due to these problems, paper money actually fell out of use and inflation rose. It wasn’t until modern times that paper money would return and become widespread.

We can thank the Chinese for our current paper money system and their innovations which are centuries old are still in use today. Collectors of Chinese paper money will typically be able to find notes for sale from other private collectors or at auctions. The advent of the internet made it easier to locate many of these notes and business is booming on online auction sites.

For those interested in collecting Chinese paper money, it is best to find notes that are in good condition. The most common are the ones from the Ming Dynasty period, but every once in awhile you can find older notes. The paper is very thin, so these notes should be treated with extreme care and sealed off from air and dust. They are an important part of monetary collectibles and should be treasured as such by collectors.

Originally posted 2008-09-29 14:00:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Paper money has a long and varied history that dates back centuries. Although we are used to dealing with paper money on a constant basis it was not too long ago that it wasn’t even used. Let’s take a look at the history of paper money so that you can gain a better appreciation of the money you use today. It’s one of the easiest ways of spending, but it wasn’t always that way.

Originally, paper money was developed by the Chinese, who called it “flying money.” This was due to the fact that the paper used was incredibly frail and light weight. If you didn’t have a good grip on it, it could easily be blown out of your hand by a strong gust of wind, hence the nickname. It can be dated back to around the ninth century, but there are some instances and some evidence that point to paper money being around as early as the eighth century.

Instead of having an actual standard, like today’s money, the first paper money was backed just by your signature and how much you had in the bank. In that way, it was very much like a check that we would use today. This is also where the term bank drafts came into play, even back hundreds of years ago. It wasn’t until many centuries later that a standard was developed in Asia for paper money and at that time, it’s worth was solidified by silk.

Eventually, the use of paper money dwindled, especially during the Ming period in China, when the notes became worth a set amount of money, making them harder to spend, especially on the daily necessities of life. It wasn’t until the middle ages that it would again be put into use, and even then, it took until the late 1800’s for paper money to become standard.

Today, we don’t think twice about whipping out a bill here or there, but in ancient times, paper money was quite rare. There are records of paper money being used in the colonies of the United States, but coins were generally used more and of course, gold and silver were quite common. That is now flipped, with the vast majority of people all over the world using paper instead of coins.

However, the introduction of credit and debit cards has hit the paper money market hard. Fewer people are using it and as a result, we may be going backwards in time a bit. While coin money may never become quite popular again, it is clear that our reliance on paper money is definitely dwindling. This has created quite a market for collectors interested in finding unique notes.

While you may not be able to get your hands on a paper note made in China from the 900’s, you can certainly find European, American and Russian notes that are quite valuable. The best place to find collectible paper money is at a coin shop or at an online auction.

Originally posted 2008-10-05 00:27:08. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Canadian paper money has an interesting history. If many of us were handed an example of the first Canadian paper currency, we wouldn’t recognize its significance. That’s because the first bills issued in Canada weren’t printed bills at all because paper was an expensive and somewhat scarce commodity. In 1685, Jacques de Meulles,the intendant of the French colony in North America, needed money to pay troops. He gathered playing cards, signed them, put his seal on them, and distributed them. He made this card money legal tender and required merchants to accept them. The rarity of these cards today make them highly valuable, so they’re generally only found in museums.

Canadian paper money issued in the 1800s is unique in that different bills were issued by different provinces. The Island of Saint John (later known as Prince Edward Island), Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Newfoundland, Canada and Alberta issued separate bills. All of these monies are rarely available to collectors, including British Army Bills that were issued between 1813 and 1818 as a an emergency because of The War of 1812. They’re all highly valuable and extremely rare, though occasionally Newfoundland bills and some Alberta bills from 1936 become available. Municipal notes, like those issued beginning in 1821 in Saint John, New Brunswick, are also very rare and hard to find.

Bank notes are the most readily available collectible Canadian paper money, though certain specimens are still very difficult to find. But bank issues are the best place for beginning collectors to start, and the best way to enhance an existing collection. Proof and specimen notes do show up in auctions occasionally, but they’re very rare and command high prices. Notes with the lowest serial numbers were usually kept as souvenirs by banking insiders, making them rare and valuable today.

Notes issued during 1837 and 1838 were often distributed by merchants who were sympathetic to the Patriots, because there was a limited amount of coins in circulation. These are great for Canadian paper money collectors, especially those interested in Canada’s history. They’re readily found in online auctions in varying conditions, and while some specific examples might be rare, even these usually spring up and become available at less cost than other rare types of notes.

While they never had monetary value and weren’t technically Canadian paper money, notes issued by business colleges in the late 19th century and early 20th century were used during training. And merchant advertising notes that also had no value, but are also an interesting part of Canadian history, are highly collectible today.

Old Canadian paper money can rarely be found in anything better than fine condition, with most of the older and more scarce bills usually in much worse shape. When looking at money to purchase, certainly the condition is important, but since so much of the older currency is in less than fine condition, a collector shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to purchase even a worn but older and possibly hard to find bill.

Originally posted 2008-10-12 14:00:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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One of the most interesting collectibles in the field of coins and paper money are federal reserve notes. However, there is quite a bit of confusion out there about what these notes really are. If you are serious about getting into collecting federal reserve notes, there are a few things you need to know before you get started.

1. Knowing the Difference

There is a big difference between federal reserve notes and federal reserve bank notes. The first term refers to actual paper money, while the second is a specific type of banknote that is only produced by the Federal Reserve. Each one has a different collectible value, and it’s important to be able to tell the difference when you are collecting them. Some will be worth more than others, but generally, regular federal reserve notes are quite collectible.

2. Understanding the Fiat

The fiat, or agreement with a federal reserve note is that the reserve is not obligated to pay the face value of the note in gold or silver. In other words, this type of currency is not backed by a gold or silver standard. This works in both ways for collectors. For example, a $5 note may be worth much more than that, while a $100 note that is not collectible may only be worth $100.

3. The Two Dollar Bill

Surprisingly enough, one of the most collectible federal reserve notes is the $2 bill. All joking aside, these are a lot of fun to collect and many kids get their start with one of these bills. These actually can be spent just like regular money, but if you do find one of these, it’s best to put aside since the overall value may exceed the face value.

4. Condition Matters

As with most collectibles, the overall condition of a federal reserve note will determine its actual value. Ideally, you should look for notes that have not been circulated, but these may be hard to find. You should be able to come across notes that are referred to as “crisp” however. These are in perfect condition and are considered to be the best collectibles.

5. The Older the Better

Anytime you can find a federal reserve note that is at least fifty years old and still in good condition, there is the potential that it could be very valuable. At the very least, it will be worth more than the face value of the note. For example, a $10 federal reserve note that was printed in 1950 in great condition may be worth three times the face value. As notes age, they will become more valuable in many cases, so it is a good idea to keep looking.

If you do decide to collect federal reserve notes, it is important to do your research and stay on top of current trends. You never know – you may just be sitting on a gold mine, even if the note isn’t backed by the gold standard.

Originally posted 2008-09-18 14:00:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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• Canceled Postage Stamps Stamps -> United States -> 1901: to Now: Used If you are interested in getting into stamp collecting, but the brand new, mint condition and rare stamps are a little out of your price range, canceled postage stamps make a great alternative. While these are still quite valuable, especially depending......
• Business and Bible Terms: "Cost" The dollar is a currency.  Each and every country of the world has an accepted currency.  A currency has no value in and of itself.  It only has value as a group if people (1) recognize, and (2) accept its value.  For example, I might have $1,000 U.S.  But when......

• Mercury 1916-45 Dimes Coins US Coins Paper Money
• Federal Reserve Notes Small Size Notes Paper Money US Coins Paper Money
• 1936-42 Proof Sets Coins US Coins Paper Money
• Gold Bullion Coins Paper Money
• Collections, Lots Paper Money World Coins Paper Money