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  • Ukraine, ND (1918)), 50 Karbovantsiv, Pick#5a

    Here is a fun set of notes that just happened to come together for me. I recently spotted the third note down in an auction, it was missing the third printing on the back and dripping with ink on both sides so I picked it up. Shortly after the auction, while cataloging the note in my collection, I noticed that I had a note of the same type with only the first printing on the back. I placed the two notes side by side then grabbed a fully printed note along with a uniface specimen of the front from my collection and arranged a sort of progressive print set for the reverse.

    If I remember I'll be looking to find a complete note from block AK II 207 to match up with the missing print notes, if I'm real lucky I may find a blank back from the same block to use in place of the specimen or an AK II 207 uniface specimen. I may just luck on to one, you never know.
    Ukraine, ND (1918)), 50 Karbovantsiv, Pick#5a Here is a fun set of notes that just happened to come together for me. I recently spotted the third note down in an auction, it was missing the third printing on the back and dripping with ink on both sides so I picked it up. Shortly after the auction, while cataloging the note in my collection, I noticed that I had a note of the same type with only the first printing on the back. I placed the two notes side by side then grabbed a fully printed note along with a uniface specimen of the front from my collection and arranged a sort of progressive print set for the reverse. If I remember I'll be looking to find a complete note from block AK II 207 to match up with the missing print notes, if I'm real lucky I may find a blank back from the same block to use in place of the specimen or an AK II 207 uniface specimen. I may just luck on to one, you never know. 😉
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  • Latest NEWP!

    Mexico, 1950, 5 Pesos, P #341p1 (Proof, Face).

    I always wanted a 5 pesos 'gypsy' note, and although they are readily available for little money I wanted something with impact and I've been dragging my feet for several years on picking up an example. I came across this piece and it was love at first sight, after some bartering with the seller the note finally made it's way home with me. Maybe one day I'll come across a back proof but I'm not at all disappointed that I don't have a pair. The scans don't do this note justice, the plate impressions, alignment marks, and annotations are hard to see in the scan but are plain as day in hand.
    Latest NEWP! Mexico, 1950, 5 Pesos, P #341p1 (Proof, Face). I always wanted a 5 pesos 'gypsy' note, and although they are readily available for little money I wanted something with impact and I've been dragging my feet for several years on picking up an example. I came across this piece and it was love at first sight, after some bartering with the seller the note finally made it's way home with me. Maybe one day I'll come across a back proof but I'm not at all disappointed that I don't have a pair. The scans don't do this note justice, the plate impressions, alignment marks, and annotations are hard to see in the scan but are plain as day in hand.
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  • Fancy Friday!

    I missed the last one so here are a pair of Binary-Radar-Rotators, both with 001100 serial numbers.

    Ukraine, 1993, 5,000 Karbovantsiv, P #93r (replacement). Prefix 866/99 and 873/99, a 99 denominator in the prefix identifies these as replacement notes.
    Fancy Friday! I missed the last one so here are a pair of Binary-Radar-Rotators, both with 001100 serial numbers. Ukraine, 1993, 5,000 Karbovantsiv, P #93r (replacement). Prefix 866/99 and 873/99, a 99 denominator in the prefix identifies these as replacement notes.
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  • article cover image
    Ukraine Issues New 1000 Hryven Banknotes
    The NBU released into circulation a new 1000 Hryen note dated 2023 with the signature of the current Governor of the NBU Andriy Pyshnyy. The notes were introduced into circulation on July 20th and will circulate with existing notes of the same denomination. This is the third signature-date variety and including the 2021 commemorative the fourth type overall, it will undoubtedly be assigned Pick...
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  • Czechoslovakia, 1960, 10 Korun, P #88c

    Czechoslovakia, 1960, 10 Korun, P #88c
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  • Ukraine, 2023, 20 Hryven "Commemorative", Pick #133

    Banknotes have many security features, among them UV inks, fibers, and threads. The use of UV features was, at first, mainly utilitarian but has since evolved into an art form, becoming an integral part of the artistic design in addition to helping deter counterfeiting and aiding in authentication. If you're not viewing your notes under UV then you are missing out.

    Here is a 20 Hryven note from Ukraine, released 1 year after the Russian invasion, the "banknote celebrates the resilience, indomitability, heroism and fortitude that Ukrainians show
    in their struggle against the russian invaders.".

    The note also has a fancy number, 0178710, radar.
    Ukraine, 2023, 20 Hryven "Commemorative", Pick #133 Banknotes have many security features, among them UV inks, fibers, and threads. The use of UV features was, at first, mainly utilitarian but has since evolved into an art form, becoming an integral part of the artistic design in addition to helping deter counterfeiting and aiding in authentication. If you're not viewing your notes under UV then you are missing out. Here is a 20 Hryven note from Ukraine, released 1 year after the Russian invasion, the "banknote celebrates the resilience, indomitability, heroism and fortitude that Ukrainians show in their struggle against the russian invaders.". The note also has a fancy number, 0178710, radar.
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  • Ukraine, 2000, 10 Hryven, Pick #111c

    Fancy Friday, post 'em if you got 'em!
    Here are a couple low serial number notes, 0000006 & 0000005. Fancy low serial numbers are 1-10, with a 7-digit serial such as these I would hold to that, but there seems to be a general acceptance from collectors of U.S. notes that 1-99 are low (U.S. notes have 8-digit serial numbers). Serial numbers 11-99 on U.S. notes definitely carry a premium, and will for the foreseeable future, but I doubt that they will ever be recognized as "fancy" by TPGs. What do you consider to be a low serial number?
    Ukraine, 2000, 10 Hryven, Pick #111c Fancy Friday, post 'em if you got 'em! Here are a couple low serial number notes, 0000006 & 0000005. Fancy low serial numbers are 1-10, with a 7-digit serial such as these I would hold to that, but there seems to be a general acceptance from collectors of U.S. notes that 1-99 are low (U.S. notes have 8-digit serial numbers). Serial numbers 11-99 on U.S. notes definitely carry a premium, and will for the foreseeable future, but I doubt that they will ever be recognized as "fancy" by TPGs. What do you consider to be a low serial number?
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  • Mexico, 2020, 100 Pesos, P #131a

    I have a little extra time this morning so here is another note. A vertically oriented polymer from Mexico, and another BNY winner. The Banco de Mexico has been producing some fantastic notes in the last few years, including another BNY winner in 2021. From the current "G" series notes, here is a pair of matching serial numbers I picked up, prefix AD & AC
    Mexico, 2020, 100 Pesos, P #131a I have a little extra time this morning so here is another note. A vertically oriented polymer from Mexico, and another BNY winner. The Banco de Mexico has been producing some fantastic notes in the last few years, including another BNY winner in 2021. From the current "G" series notes, here is a pair of matching serial numbers I picked up, prefix AD & AC
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  • Philippines, 2022, 1000 Piso P #230a

    A recent addition, this Philippines note was awarded Bank Note of the Year by the IBNS in 2022. A fantastic polymer note well deserving of the award, it received a first place vote on my ballot.

    You can read more about the note and the IBNS here:
    https://www.theibns.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=861%3Abanknote-of-2022-nominations&catid=39%3Abanknote-of-2022&Itemid=51
    Philippines, 2022, 1000 Piso P #230a A recent addition, this Philippines note was awarded Bank Note of the Year by the IBNS in 2022. A fantastic polymer note well deserving of the award, it received a first place vote on my ballot. You can read more about the note and the IBNS here: https://www.theibns.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=861%3Abanknote-of-2022-nominations&catid=39%3Abanknote-of-2022&Itemid=51
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  • Ukraine, 1917, 100 Karbovantsiv, Pick #1b & 1bx

    Contemporary counterfeits are some of my favorite notes to collect, there's an added layer of history and storytelling to them that some of the regularly issued notes don't have. In the attached image there are two notes one authentic one a contemporary counterfeit, which is the counterfeit?

    Note: Pick #1b is the inverted back variety, which is more common than 1a (standard orientation (extremely rare)), I rotated the reverses 180deg to make viewing easier.
    Ukraine, 1917, 100 Karbovantsiv, Pick #1b & 1bx Contemporary counterfeits are some of my favorite notes to collect, there's an added layer of history and storytelling to them that some of the regularly issued notes don't have. In the attached image there are two notes one authentic one a contemporary counterfeit, which is the counterfeit? Note: Pick #1b is the inverted back variety, which is more common than 1a (standard orientation (extremely rare)), I rotated the reverses 180deg to make viewing easier.
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  • Fancy Friday!

    Ukraine, 2021 Commemorative, 200 Hryven, Pick #129Aa
    Here is a set of six binary notes from my collection, one being a super fancy binary, radar, rotator (0011100).
    Fancy Friday! Ukraine, 2021 Commemorative, 200 Hryven, Pick #129Aa Here is a set of six binary notes from my collection, one being a super fancy binary, radar, rotator (0011100).
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  • CAS/Cameroun, 2002, 1000 Francs, Pick #207Ue

    Another note from my theme set, and a two for one as far as vignettes depicting tractors/farming. Yes, logging is considered a type farming. I'd love to have one of those logs to dice up on my sawmill.
    CAS/Cameroun, 2002, 1000 Francs, Pick #207Ue Another note from my theme set, and a two for one as far as vignettes depicting tractors/farming. Yes, logging is considered a type farming. I'd love to have one of those logs to dice up on my sawmill.
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  • Ukraine, 1991, 25 Karbovantsiv "SPECIMEN", Pick # 85s2 (Red Overprint)

    Another specimen note from my collection, and one of my more recent acquisitions. There are at least five varieties of specimens for this series of notes per denomination, red-overprint "ЗАРЗОК" with two varieties of fonts used, perforated "ЗАРЗОК" with two different pin settings used, perforated "ЗАРЗОК" with perforated number code 001-010, and all are rare.

    Let's see your specimen notes, post them here!
    Ukraine, 1991, 25 Karbovantsiv "SPECIMEN", Pick # 85s2 (Red Overprint) Another specimen note from my collection, and one of my more recent acquisitions. There are at least five varieties of specimens for this series of notes per denomination, red-overprint "ЗАРЗОК" with two varieties of fonts used, perforated "ЗАРЗОК" with two different pin settings used, perforated "ЗАРЗОК" with perforated number code 001-010, and all are rare. Let's see your specimen notes, post them here!
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  • 1980 1/2 Sov. with Oden's Raven (Viking Ship) Privy to commemorate the Millennium, not Newmannium, of Tynwald and the New York Viking Exhibition at which the ship was displayed after sailing from Trondheim to Peel.
    1980 1/2 Sov. with Oden's Raven (Viking Ship) Privy to commemorate the Millennium, not Newmannium, of Tynwald and the New York Viking Exhibition at which the ship was displayed after sailing from Trondheim to Peel.
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  • The IoM is considering removing all 1p, 2p, & 5p coins from circulation. With no 1p & 2p coins having been minted since 2016, and the cost of producing such coins being greater than their face value, it is most likely that their fate is sealed and they will almost certainly be removed from circulation. The 5p could be saved depending on public feedback but I think it's 50/50 at best, whether or not 5p coins will remain in circulation.

    The IoM Treasury closed the consultation period, where the public could weigh in, on June 28th and are now going through the responses. A summary will be published and then the Treasury will consider whether or not to proceed with the proposals to withdraw the coins from circulation.

    The last minting of 1p & 2p coins coincides with production moving from Pobjoy to Tower Mint in 2017, Tower Mint having won the contract to produce IoM coins until at least 2027. The current 1p, 2p, & 5p coins are available but there is not a lot of selection out there, so finding nice examples can take a little time.

    Current reverse designs pictured.
    The IoM is considering removing all 1p, 2p, & 5p coins from circulation. With no 1p & 2p coins having been minted since 2016, and the cost of producing such coins being greater than their face value, it is most likely that their fate is sealed and they will almost certainly be removed from circulation. The 5p could be saved depending on public feedback but I think it's 50/50 at best, whether or not 5p coins will remain in circulation. The IoM Treasury closed the consultation period, where the public could weigh in, on June 28th and are now going through the responses. A summary will be published and then the Treasury will consider whether or not to proceed with the proposals to withdraw the coins from circulation. The last minting of 1p & 2p coins coincides with production moving from Pobjoy to Tower Mint in 2017, Tower Mint having won the contract to produce IoM coins until at least 2027. The current 1p, 2p, & 5p coins are available but there is not a lot of selection out there, so finding nice examples can take a little time. Current reverse designs pictured.
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