Thanks for asking Will. First banknote collecting unusually starts like chip collecting -unknowingly- then you find that you have a few notes and an interest. When I began collecting 42 years ago my budget was around 50¢ a week and most of that went for candy budget overruns. So, luckily foreign money is weak against US currency (meaning CHEAP) so for under a dollar I could buy several low denomination notes from other countries. I found these at coin shops where they had boxes of assorted notes for a set price each ranging from 10¢ to 25¢. I was always on the 'hunt' for a note I did not have. The one requirement was CHEAP. As I became gainfully employed my budget increased as well as my quality and scarcity of notes but still very affordable. Along the way people I knew would go on trips and bring back a dollar or two's worth of money from where they had been (usually a handful). It was cheap for them and a shot in the arm for my collection. I have found that over the years those were the notes that I valued the most and have kept a list of all people contributing to my collection (a LOT of chippers are on that list!) When I had reached the goal of a note from every country on earth, I began adding more denominations to them and looking for widely known figures like Einstein, Saddam Hussein, Khomeini, Columbus, and etc. As an extension of money... I found my way into other forms of money, chips being a logical choice and chippers were a branch of the ANA so it made sense.

I am a member of the IBNS (International Banknote Society) and that has put me in touch with collectors like me around the world. I use to use snail mail and had stamps from everywhere, but email is so fast and efficient that's about all I use anymore. I am not sure of the numbers of collectors but it dwarfs the collectors of chips so resources are greater and it's tough to hoard anything! LOL But like chipping there are new finds that affect prices but they are not many. AS far as pricing, I have bought wrappers (100 banded notes) for as little as $6.00 or 6¢ per note and never seen chips that cheap, also I posted a friend's US gold certificate here a short time ago and stated it was for sale at $200,000.00 I have yet to hear if a chip selling for that yet (but that doesn’t mean it has not). Notes can even go higher so whatever your budget there are notes that will fit and not bankrupt you. As with anything else there ARE lots of people trying to get rich off a single sale, eBay is a good example and it is becoming harder and harder to find a bargain. Many dealers/collectors keep reasonable prices, and will buy and trade with you. ALL the good ones have no questions asked refunds for a length of time. The Internet is full of them and I can email a handful of trustworthy and reasonable sites if you like. I recommend staying cheap until you get a sizable collection, but the cheap ones first because you can always get the expensive ones later when you are a more educated buyer (it's hard to get screwed too bad on a note priced at $1.00 or so).

There are banknote bulletin boards but they are not as active as the Chipboard and the interests of the people are much broader (as they are from around the world rather than mostly US). NONE are a close-knit as Greg's board ot as entertaining, they are more business only. That's why I liked this board so much.

For one to get started take a dollar bill and put it in a box. You now have a collection! And it's worth $1. hahaha Really interested? There are dealers that will sell a pile of low value notes from a big number of countries for a small amount of money (and it is most always a great value because it normally well exceeds book value). That way you collection doe not look so pitiful for the first years. LOL Before you have $100 invested ... BUY A BOOK. First book should be the Standard Catalogue of Money 1961-Current notes. This is a book published every year but you only need one every 5~6 years for a NEW collector. An old one will be sufficient to stay in the 'ball park' of values. There are other books but you will know you need them by the time you need them.

OK, Long answer to a short question.... Sorry for rambling.

1999 500 Sum From Uzbeckistan , brought back from my nephew after delivering some "Military Packages" from his B-1 to Bin Laden's neighborhood in Afghanistan since FEDEX did not go there. (This is a note more valuable to me than a clean UNC)