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Notes $5.00 and under

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Afghanistan

Albania

Aldabra Island (fun notes)

Algeria

Amotekunia (fun notes)

Angola

Anguilla (fun notes)

Antarctica (fun notes)

Antigua

Antigua (fun notes)

Arctic Territories (fun notes)

Argentina

Armenia

Aruba

Aruba (fun notes)

Atlantic Forest (fun notes)

Atlantic Ocean (fun notes)

Australia

Australia (fun notes)

Austria

Azerbaijan

Azores Islands

Azores Islands (fun notes)

Bahamas

Bahrain

Banco Nacional (fun notes)

Bangladesh

Banknote Commodity Tokens (fun notes)

Banzibra (fun notes)

Barbados

Barbados (fun notes)

Barbuda (fun notes)

Belarus

Belgium

Belize

Benin

Beringia (fun notes)

Bermuda

Bhutan

Biafra

Bohemia & Moravia

Bohemia & Moravia (fun notes)

Bolivia

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Botswana

Brazil

Brazil (fun notes)

Brazilch (fun notes)

British Caribbean Territories

British Guiana

British Guiana (fun notes)

British Honduras

British Indian Ocean Territory (fun notes)

British West Africa

Brunei

Bueno Chini (fun notes)

Bulgaria

Bulgaria (fun notes)

Burkina Faso

Burma

Burundi

Cambodia

Cameroun

Canada

Canada (fun notes)

Cape Verde

Caribbean Fantasy Money Authority (fun notes)

Cayman Islands

Central African Republic

Central African States

Ceylon

Ceylon (fun notes)

Chad

Chatham Islands (fun notes)

Chile

China

China -Taiwan

COIN JEWELRY

Colombia

Colombia (fun notes)

Comoros Islands

Confederate States of America

Confederate States of America (fun notes)

Congo Democratic Republic

Congo Peoples Republic

Congo Republic

Cook Islands

Costa Rica

Croatia

Cuba

Curacao

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Czechoslovakia

Denmark

Disney Dollars (fun notes)

Djibouti

Dominica

Dominica (fun notes)

Dominican Republic

Drift Island (fun notes)

East Africa

East Caribbean States

Easter Island (fun notes)

Ecuador

Egypt

Eklisivia (fun notes)

El Banco del Polo Norte (Christmas Bill) (fun notes)

El Salvador

England

Equatorial African States

Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Territories (fun notes)

Eritrea

Estonia

Ethiopia

European Union

European Union (fun notes)

Evshlohogi Islands (fun notes)

Faeroe Islands

Falkland Islands

FANTASY ART NOTE COLLECTIONS (fun notes)

FANTASY COINS (fun notes)

Federation of North America (fun notes)

Fiji

Finland

Finland (fun notes)

France

France (fun notes)

French Guiana

French Guiana (fun notes)

French Indochina

French Oceania

French Oceania (fun notes)

French Pacific Territories

French West Africa

FUN NOTES ASSORTED (fun notes)

Gabon

Galapagos Islands (fun notes)

Gambia

Georgia

German Democratic Republic

German East Africa (fun notes)

German East Africa

Germany

Germany (fun notes)

Germany - Local Inflation

Germany - Notgeld

Germany, West (FDR)

Ghana

Gibraltar

Gilbert and Ellice Islands (fun notes)

Great Brighton & Northern Direland (fun notes)

Great Britain

Great Britain (fun notes)

Greater Republic of Central America (fun notes)

Greece

Greece (fun notes)

Greenland

Greenland (fun notes)

Grenada (fun notes)

Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe and Martinique (fun notes)

Guatemala

Guernsey

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Guyana

Haiti

Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian Islands (fun notes)

Honduras

Hong Kong

Hungary

Hungary (fun notes)

Ice Age (fun notes)

Iceland

India

Indir Catan (fun notes)

Indonesia

Indonesia (fun notes)

Iran

Iraq

Iraq (fun notes)

Ireland

Isle of Komplece (fun notes)

Isle of Man

Israel

Italy

Italy (fun notes)

Ivory Coast (WAS)

Jamaica

Jamaica (fun notes)

Japan

Jason Islands (fun notes)

Jersey

Jordan

Jurassic Bank (fun notes)

Kamberra (fun notes)

Kazakhstan

Keeling Cocos Islands

Kenya

Kerguelen Archipelagos (fun notes)

Kingdom of the Francs (fun notes)

Kuninganna Territory (fun notes)

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

La Savanna (fun notes)

Laos

Latvia

Lebanon

Leeward Islands

Leeward Islands (fun notes)

Lesotho

Lia Antootica (fun notes)

Liberia

Libya

Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein (fun notes)

Lithuania

Lumentina (fun notes)

Luxembourg

Macao

Macedonia

Macedonia, North

Madagascar

Malawi

Malaya

Malaya and British Borneo

Malaysia

Malaysia (fun notes)

Maldives

Mali

Malta

Manana (fun notes)

Mardi Gras (fun notes)

Marie Byrd Land (fun notes)

Martinique

Martinique (fun notes)

Mauritania

Mauritius

Mayan Empire (fun notes)

MEDALLIC ART

Mexico

Mexico (fun notes)

MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS

Moldova

Monaco (fun notes)

Mongolia

Montenegro

Montserrat

Montserrat (fun notes)

Montserrat Island (fun notes)

Morocco

MOVIE PROP MONEY (fun notes)

Mozambique

Mrokland (fun notes)

Mujand Republic (fun notes)

Muscat & Oman

Myanmar

Nagorno-Karabakh

Nakedonie (fun notes)

Namibia

Nation of Andaqesh (fun notes)

Neilland (fun notes)

Nepal

Netherlands

Netherlands (fun notes)

Netherlands Antilles

Netherlands Ceylon (fun notes)

Netherlands Guinea {Ghana} (fun notes)

Netherlands Indies

Netherlands Indies (fun notes)

Netherlands Mauritius (fun notes)

New Caledonia

New Caledonia & Wallis & Futuna (fun notes)

New Hebrides

New Jason Islands (fun notes)

New Zealand

Newdgaledonia (fun notes)

Newfoundland

Newfoundland (fun notes)

Nicaragua

Niger

Nigeria

Nordur Icees (fun notes)

North Korea

North Sea Empire (fun notes)

Northern Ireland

Norway

Nudedenland (fun notes)

Oceania

Oman

Outer Space-Related (fun notes)

Pacific States of Melanesia Micronesia & Polynesia (fun notes)

Pakistan

Palestine

Palmyra Island (fun notes)

Panama

Panama (fun notes)

Panama Canal Zone (US) (fun notes)

Papua New Guinea

Paraguay

Peru

Petra Rose Precious Metals (fun notes)

Philippines

Philippines (fun notes)

Pitcairn Islands (fun notes)

Piwi Island (fun notes)

Poland

Political (fun notes)

Poneet Islands (fun notes)

Portugal

Portugal (fun notes)

Portuguese Guinea

Private Reserve Note (fun notes)

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico (fun notes)

Qatar

Redonda Islands (fun notes)

Reed Banknote Company (fun notes)

REPLICA BANKNOTES (fun notes)

REPLICA COINS (fun notes)

Republic of Pratny (fun notes)

Republic of Texas (fun notes)

Republica Aborigen (fun notes)

Reunion

Reunion (fun notes)

Reunion and Mayotte (fun notes)

Rhodesia

Rhodesia & Nyasaland

Rixbuxistan (fun notes)

Romania

Romedia (fun notes)

Russia

Russia (fun notes)

Russian States of Amerika (fun notes)

Rwanda

Saint Helena

Saint Kitts & Nevis

Saint Kitts & Nevis (fun notes)

Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia (fun notes)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Saint Pierre and Miquelon (fun notes)

Saint Vincent

Saint Vincent (fun notes)

Samoa

Sandwich Islands (fun notes)

Sao Tome (Saint Thomas & Prince)

Sarawak (fun notes)

Saudi Arabia

Scotland

Scotland (fun notes)

Senegal

Serbia

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

Sima Senco (fun notes)

Singapore

Slovakia

Slovakia (fun notes)

Slovenia

Solomon Islands

Somali Democratic Republic

Somaliland

Soneat Islands (fun notes)

South Africa

South Korea

South Pacific States (fun notes)

South Sudan

South Vietnam

Spain

Spain (fun notes)

SPECIAL NUMBERS

Sri Lanka

STOCKS & BONDS - FOREIGN

STOCKS & BONDS - UNITED STATES.

Sub-Saharan African Union (fun notes)

Sudan

Suriname

Swaziland

Sweden

Switzerland

Syria

Tahiti

Tahiti (fun notes)

Tajikistan

Tanzania

Tatarstan

Territory of West Junee (fun notes)

Test Banknotes (fun notes)

Thailand

Timor

Titanic (fun notes)

Togo

TOM STEBBINS PRINTS (fun notes)

Tonga

Toroguay (fun notes)

Tortola Islands (fun notes)

Tortuga (fun notes)

Transnistria

Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago (fun notes)

Tunisia

Turkey

Turkmenistan

Uganda

Ukraine

Ukraine (fun notes)

Union of Soviet Socialist Antarctic Republics (fun notes)

United - Current Issues

United Arab Emirates

United Federation of Planets (fun notes)

United States

United States (fun notes)

United States (ACC State) (fun notes)

United States (fantasy MPC) (fun notes)

United States - Company Scrip

United States - Current Issues

United States - Old Checks, etc.

United States - Savings Bonds

United States - Souvenir Cards

United States - Tax Stamps

United States - Travelers Cheques

Untied States (fun notes)

Untied Video Artists (fun notes)

Upper Mermaidea (fun notes)

Uruguay

Uzbekistan

Vanuatu

Vatican City

Vatican City (fun notes)

Venezuela

Vietnam

West African States

West Indies Federation (fun notes)

West Junee (fun notes)

World Super Currency (fun notes)

Yemen Arab Republic

Yemen Democratic Republic

Yugoslavia

Zaire

Zambia

Zambibwe (fun notes)

Zanzibar (fun notes)

Zealandia (fun notes)

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe (fun notes)

ZZ - SOLD AT AUCTION

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Banknote Glossary

Some Paper Money Terms

Allied Military Currency (AMC) - notes used in WWII by Allied military forces. These were issued for use in such places as France, Germany, Italy and Japan.

Altered Note - this is a piece of paper money which has had one or more of its prominent features changed in order to make it worth more.  This could also apply to a previously devalued note which has had a fake overprint applied in an effort to make it acceptable in a country where the old notes have been officially overprinted.

Assignat - this is a note of the French Revolution from the 1790's.  This money was not backed by gold or silver but by seized Church property. 

Back - the side opposite the face of a note, basically the paper money equivalent of the reverse of a coin. 

Banknote (Bank Note) - this can be spelled as one word or two.  If you're a dealer and you run classified ads, it's definitely one word!  This term has comesto indicate any paper money, whether or not it was issued by a bank. 

Broken Banknote - this is a note of the 19th century which became non negotiable or worthless as money due to the issuing bank going out of business.  Sometimes a bank was never really in business but issued notes as a money-making scheme. This type of bank was called a wildcat bank. 

Cancelled Note - one which has had its legal tender status removed and been declared worthless. Cancellation may be performed by punch or pin perforation, cut cancellation or an overprint. 

Cartones - basically these are cardboard issues from the Mexican Revolution years which were presumably issued to help with the shortage of coins during the war. 

Check - These have been around for quite a while and are essentially paper instruments ordering a bank to pay out a sum of money to a specified individual or organization, usually after being signed or stamped. Often old checks are collected along with paper currency.  Many are very ornate. 

College Currency - In the course of teaching business practices and the handling of currency, some business schools in the late 1800's produced their own fake 'banknotes' for use by students in the classroom. These are highly collectible today. 

Colonial Currency - Specifically the paper money issues in North America while under the rule of Great Britain prior to the Revolution, from about 1690 to 1774. 

Commemorative Note - Similar to a commemorative coin, such a note is made to commemorate a specific person, persons, or event.  It should be noted that there are far fewer different commemorative notes than there are coins. 

Contemporary Counterfeit - A counterfeit note which was made during the time the genuine notes were circulating. Generally this term refers to an old counterfeit of an old note, as opposed to a modern reproduction or counterfeit of an old note.  Many old contemporary counterfeits today are worth as much or more than the notes that they were supposed to be imitating. 

Continental Currency - These were banknotes issued during the American Revolution from 1775 to 1779 by the Continental Congress.  The expression "Not worth a Continental" comes from the fact that the currency rapidly lost its value during the war. Today, of course, these notes are highly valued by collectors.

Copy - A replica of a note, not intended to fool anyone into thinking it is genuine currency.  It may or may not have the word "COPY" somewhere on the bill.  Other interchangable terms include facsimile, photocopy, replica, or reproduction note.

Counterfeit Currency - Paper money forgeries created to pass as the genuine item. 

Counterfoil - Certain old notes had basically a detachable stub which would be kept by the issuer as a record of the note having been issued. 

Currency - Any form of money in use as a medium of exchange or value. 

Demonitized Note - Similar to a cancelled note in that the legal tender status and redemption value of the note has been removed.  A demonetized note has not necessary been cancelled, however. 

Devil's Head - This describes an early Canadian note vignette of Queen Elizabeth II which, it was said, contained a likeness of the devil in her hair. There was a hue and cry raised over this and the Queen's hairdo was modified as in this vignette.  It could be said a "Devil's Head" note is one that has been demonitized (oohhh!!). 

Educational Note - This refers to any of three issued U. S. large size silver certificates from the 1896 series. They are in $1, $2 and $5 denominations and are considered by many to be the ultimate in beauty as far as U. S. paper currency is concerned. 

Error Note - Any banknote which after printing is not of the quality intended for release, for whatever reason. It may be smudged, be lacking some part of the printing, the serial numbers might not match up, etc. 

Essay Note - This is a design of a trial note which may have subsequently been authorized or rejected by the issuing authority. It may be used to test the viability of the design or to check the difficulties of manufacture. 

Face - The front of a piece of paper money, basically the paper money equivalent of the obverse of a coin.

Facsimile Note - A copy of a note, not intended to fool anyone into thinking it is genuine currency.  It may or may not have the word "COPY" somewhere on the bill.  Other interchangable terms include copy, photocopy, replica, or reproduction note.

Fantasy Art Concept Note - This is a print of a design or denomination that may not even exist, usually of high artistic and/or production value (i. e. not to be confused with some "lower-end" novelty bills that are cranked out by the thousands, although some fantasy art bills have been printed in the thousands due to popularity). Some of these creations can look quite real to the casual observer.  These are not to be confused with counterfeit, replica, or reprint notes.  They are created by artists and usually have some disclaimer and a copyright notice on them somewhere.  Some, such as money artist R. J. Reed, sign some of their actual works, adding additional value.  Many of today's "higher end" creations have security features on them similar to genuine currency and can include a security thread, ultraviolet light-sensitive embedded security threads or hidden letters/words/images, microprinting, perfect front-and-back registration, holograms,  individual serial numbers, could be printed on polymer or hybrid paper, and other advanced features.  These are artistic creations and not to be confused with counterfeit, replica, or reprint notes.  It does include some series (such as the Marie Byrd Land series) which may be refundable or partially refundable depending on their "face value," "exchange rate," and "date of expiration."  So in this sense these type of "notes" could be considered a form of money in that, in theory, they could be used as a medium of exchange since they may carry, at least for a limited time, some sort of "value" in their refundability or "quasi-redeemability" (i. e. "Reedeemability").

Fantasy Note - This is a faux note of a design or denomination that may not even exist. Some of these can look quite real to the casual observer.  These are not to be confused with counterfeit, replica, or reprint notes.  By no means are all fantasy notes considered fantasy art concept bills.  However, all fantasy art concept bills are a type of fantasy note.

Federal Reserve Bank Note - This is a special type of U. S. currency issued sporadically from 1915 to 1933 by the country's Federal Reserve banks. 

Federal Reserve Note - Sounds like the above but actually these notes are issued through the Federal Reserve banking system but backed up by the Federal Government and comprise almost all of the notes you'll encounter in circulation today. They've been around in one form or another since 1914. 

Foxing - This may be considered sort of the paper money hobby's equivalent to toning on a coin, except that the yellow-brown stains of varying intensity which are foxing are generally undesireable, whereas toning on a coin may be desireable, depending on who you talk to.  Generally considered a minor defect unless its a really noticeable stain. 

Fractional Currency - In general, banknotes of a value less than one of the issuing authority's standard units.  When talking about U. S. paper money, this term refers to the less than a dollar denominated, government-issued notes from 1862 to 1876. 

Gold Certificate - A note issued by the United States which was at one time redeemable in gold coin for the face value.  Issued between 1863 and 1922, these certificates are all still worth their face value today but can no longer be exchanged for gold.  Other countries have issued notes redeemable in gold from time to time. 

Greenback - This term generally refers to all of the U. S. Federal Government issued notes since 1861, even though some of them don't have green backs. 

Guilloche - This is the technical name for a geometric design found on many banknotes. Generally these guilloches are used not only to make the note look pretty but to make it tough to copy, thus they are a security device. 

Handsigned Note - One which has one or more actual autographed signatures of an authorized person. Signatures may also be engraved or handstamped. 

Hell Banknote - A fantasy note which has been created specifically for use in Chinese funerals, where these notes are burned. 

Hologram - A special type of photographic film used in 3D imaging. These are sometimes used on notes as a security device although their use has been somewhat limited to date. It's a relatively new technology.  You'll see holograms on many credit cards.

Incredible Reedserve Note - A play on the term "Federal Reserve Note" which is used by money artist R. J. Reed on some of his concept note creations, such as the Piwi Island bills.

Inflation Note - This type of note has an extremely high denomination and generally is seen in countries where massive inflation rates are occurring due perhaps to war or other severe economic pressures.  Examples in the 20th century include post WWI Germany, post WWII Hungary and present-day Yugoslavia, where multi-billion-dinara notes were issued a few years back. 

Interest-bearing Note - This is a piece of currency upon which is written a promise to pay interest after a specified passage of time. 

Invasion Note - Any note issued by a country's military to troops during the course of an invasion into another country.  This term has also come to represent JIM notes, explained next. 

Japanese Invasion Money (JIM NOTE) - This currency was issued by Japan during the Second World War for use in countries which they had overrun and occupied, including Burma and the Philippines. 

Military Currency - Any note officially issued solely for the use of its armed forces by a country's military. If it's issued in an occupied country by these military forces, it's often called occupation currency. 

Military Payment Certificate(MPC) - These certificates comprise several series of U. S. military notes issued solely for use by its military and only in establishments of the U. S. armed forces. The idea behind these was to prevent or limit activities by military forces with respect to the black market.

Movie Prop Money - these are facsimile notes or totally concocted notes for use in movies, tv shows, theatrical performances, etc. and are sought after by some currency collectors.  Another term for this is stage money.

National Currency - U. S. banks with a federal charter issued these notes which are also called national bank notes. They were backed by Treasury bonds and were issued from 1863 to 1935. 

Notgeld - this term means 'emergency money' and is applied to some early 20th century local German issues as well as a number of other countries.  A lot of the later so-called notgeld were actually issued as souvenirs and collectibles and have much less rarity and value, though they are still enthusiastically collected by a number of people today. 

Overprint - This is an extra printing which has been added to a note sometime after the note's original issue and it's been added by the authorized issuer or successor. These overprints may serve as cancellations or as a means of changing the value of a note. 

Paper Money - This is a generalized term that represents all money produced in the form of a paper note.  It also is applied, however, to certain items produced from bark, plastic, cardboard and other materials.

Photocopy - A replica of a note, not intended to fool anyone into thinking it is genuine currency.  It may or may not have the word "COPY" somewhere on the bill.  Other interchangable terms include copy, facsimile, replica, or reproduction note.

Pick Number - The catalog number of a note listed in the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, the hobby's bible. Each number is unique for any one country. You could have a P-1 for Bolivia and a P-1 for Brazil, but they would be totally different notes. 

Plate Number - A small number that sometimes appears on currency showing the number of the plate used to print it. These numbers are especially in use on U. S. paper money.  If you've heard of the term "web note," you use the location and style of plate number to determine whether or not you have a web note, that is, a U. S. Federal Reserve note that has been printed within the last several years on an experimental press known as a "web press." 

Playing Card - This was a type of emergency issue produced by the French colonial authorities in Canada sporadically between the late 17th century and mid-18th century due to a major shortage of coinage.  Basically they cut up actual playing cards into pieces and marked them as currency. 

Portrait - This is a person's picture appearing on a piece of currency. 

P.O.W. Note - Currency produced for use in POW camps by prisoners of war under terms of the Geneva Convention.

Private Issue Note - A currency note that has been issued by a private (non-governmental) issuing authority.  This term is also sometimes used to describe fantasy art concept bills, although a private issue note can also be one considered as, and used as, actual money in some instances.

Proof Note - This is a design of a note and may be complete or not but was not issued for general circulation. As such, serial numbers and signatures are usually lacking and often there are punch holes through the area where the signatures would normally appear.  Proofs are produced to test the technical operation of the press and the quality of the results, among other reasons.  Sometimes proofs exist in colors different from the genuine issues and may represent color trials. 

Propaganda Note - This is a copy of a note (sometimes crude, but with the intention of attracting a person's attention to it) with some sort of message printed on it.  A note like this might be produced by a country which is at war with another.  The country might plant or airdrop a bunch of these phony propaganda notes onto the enemy's soil so they would be picked up and read. 

Radar Note - One whose serial number reads the same, forward or backward.  Some collectors, particularly those of U. S. currency, collect paper money with radar serial numbers. 

Rag - A very well-worn piece of paper money, generally in an uncollectible state except for rarer issues. 

Ragpicker - A slang term for a paper money collector, i. e. one who sorts thru rags, seeking out the collectible items. 

Raised Note - one which has had its original value raised by means of an overprint from the issuing authority.  A raised note can also refer to one which has been altered in appearance in some way by unscrupulous individuals in the hopes of passing it as a higher value note.

Redeemable Note - one that may be exchanged at a bank or via a government issuing authority for other currency in circulation.

Reedeemable Note - some fantasy art concept notes (such as the Marie Byrd Land series) may be refundable or partially refundable depending on their "face value," "exchange rate," and "date of expiration," by money artist R. J. Reed.

>Reissued Note - one which has been withdrawn from circulation and then put back in later on. 

Remainder - an unissued or unfinished note which never was placed into circulation by the authority backing it.  A remainder usually is missing some aspect of the typical issued note, usually a date or signatures, and sometimes a serial number as well. 

Replacement Note - one which has been issued to replace a damaged, destroyed or lost note.  You can usually identify a replacement note by its serial number.  Some, such as on U. S. currency, have a star at the beginning of the serial number.  Thus, replacement notes of the United States are known as "star notes."  Notes from other countries might have an asterisk, or start with the letter R or the number 9, for example, depending on the country.  Usually a replacement note is in demand, depending of course on its condition, because it's quite a bit scarcer than the so-called regular notes.

Replica - A replica of a note, not intended to fool anyone into thinking it is genuine currency.  It may or may not have the word "COPY" somewhere on the bill.  Other interchangable terms include copy, facsimile, photocopy, or reproduction note.

Reprint note - This can be an actual note which had a first printing and then another subsequent printing (usually due to demand in commerce).  It could also refer to an officially reprinted copy of a note such as the souvenir cards bearing reprints of currency notes by the U. S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing.  These official reprints are not actual currency and have no redeemable value.

Reproduction - A replica of a note, not intended to fool anyone into thinking it is genuine currency.  It may or may not have the word "COPY" somewhere on the bill.  Other interchangable terms include copy, facsimile, photocopy, or replica note.

Revalidated Note - a note which was made no longer legal tender, then restamped and re-released as legal tender currency at a later date.

Safe Conduct Pass - this is a variety of propaganda note that promises safe conduct to enemy soldiers who surrender and turn in the note. These passes are usually airdropped behind enemy lines. 

Scrip - this is a type of substitute paper money that can be used to purchase goods or services or may be redeemable for cash in some instances. 

Security Strip - this is a special strip of material inserted into a note during manufacture that may be magnetic or can glow under ultraviolet light or utilize some other property that helps to make counterfeiting that note a little more difficult. The more recent U. S. Federal Reserve notes from denominations of $10 up have a security strip in them.  The newly redesigned notes have a strip that glows under uv light.  To the casual observer, the strip can sometimes look like a fold in the note. 

Serial Number - This is a system used in the majority of currency issued to keep track of the number of notes in circulation and to make counterfeiting more difficult because each note has a unique number. These numbers can be important to the collector, who often has a passion for low or special numbers. A bill with a serial number consisting of all the same numerals, for example, is highly sought after. 

Shinplaster - slang term for U. S. continental currency notes issued during the American Revolution.  Because of their nearly worthless status at the time, the notes were said to be good only to stuff in your boots to fill the holes and keep your legs and feet warm.  This term also has been applied to small fractional notes from the U. S. and Canada. 

Short Snorter - refers to one or more notes which have been autographed as souvenirs, especially by members of an armed forces group. These are collected by a number of individuals today. 

Siege Note - a type of emergency currency issued during a siege to reduce a money shortage usually caused by hoarding.

Slabbed Note - This is a piece of currency that has been encased in a plastic holder by a third-party authentication/grading service.

Silver Certificate - a U. S. banknote which guaranteed payment of its face value in silver by the U. S. Treasury. These are still legal tender but are no longer redeemable for silver. 

Small Size Currency - this generally refers to U. S. paper money issued on and after July 10, 1929.  It is quite a bit smaller in size than the older so-called large size note shown here. 

Specimen - a sample currency note, often but not necessarily with serial numbers of all zeroes. The original purpose of such notes was to provide banks and other agencies with examples of newly-issued money.  A number of such specimens have been created expressly to satisfy collector demand.  Some of these were regular-issue notes simply overstamped "SPECIMEN" in the official language of the issuing nation.  In most examples of specimens, they are over- stamped in this way. 

Stage Money - these are facsimile notes or totally concocted notes for use in movies, tv shows, theatrical performances, etc. and are sought after by some currency collectors.  Another term for this is movie prop money.

Stutter Note - a note which has a serial number that is a repeating number. 

Uncut Sheet - this refers to a sheet of paper money which was how it was printed prior to being cut up.  Obviously there are different numbers of notes to a sheet for different countries or different historical times.  Many obsolete "broken" banknotes were printed four to a sheet.  Modern U. S. currency is printed with 32 notes to a sheet and is said to be a 32-subject sheet.  Partial sheets, where the complete sheet has been cut up into smaller sections, also exist for some notes.  U. S. currency sheets are available at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, in $1, $2, & $5 denominations.  They are also available by mail order from the Bureau and also sometimes from dealers and at certain coin shows where the Treasury sets up an exhibit. 

Uniface - a note which has been printed only only one side.  Many old U. S. "broken" banknotes are uniface notes. 

Validation Stamp - generally a rubber-stamped, hand-applied impression placed on a note to authorize it's use in a certain area or to validate the issue in some way.  It could also be used to change the original value of a note or to re-issue a previously withdrawn note. 

Vampire Note - this is a slang term for a certain German 10,000 mark note design, of which there are a couple of size varieties and two different back types of the larger size note.  It's referred to as the "Vampire Note" because, if you turn the bill a certain way, it was said you could see a vampire reportedly sucking the blood out of the neck of the German worker pictured.  This is the German equivalent of the Canadian "Devil's Head" note. 

Victory Note - this is any of a series of Phillipine notes issued from 1944 to 1949 with the word "Victory" overprinted in large letters on the back. These coincided with the return of Gen. Douglas MacArthur's forces to recapture the Philippines from the Japanese in World War II. 

Vignette - This is any picture or scene on a note other than a portrait. 

Watermark - During the production of some paper, a special mark or design is implanted into the paper which is usually only visible or fully visible when the paper is held up to a light source.  Watermarks have been used by many countries as a security device for their notes for quite a long time.  The United States finally adopted a watermark for use in the newly-redesigned Federal Reserve notes. 

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Email: rjreed@misterbanknote.com
Mailing Address: Richard J. Reed
PO Box 52438
Sarasota, FL 34232-0320

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