I've bumped an Error thread to see if it could gain some traction on the Paper forum plus started a Radar thread (thanks to @blue-m for contributing). They can be pretty tough to source (sometimes harder than radars which are so popular). Please post yours!
I'll start off with this number 1 (P-208a) 100 Pesos banknote from the Philippines (printed in 2010):
Thanks @BluHawk. The note in question was printed in France while the majority of 2010 100 Pesos, Filipinos would have used/encountered, were either the P-194 100 Pesos or a large number of commemoratives that circulated at the time (P-199/P-202). I prefer these P-208 (with the blue tint) over the P-222 (all purple) just because I like the contrast of the two tints vs the drab newer version. However, the newer version had a few surprises with the number of new signatures.
And they're not that hard to buy (very affordable) on eBay (like Bank of India special numbers). That is due to the low number of digits (6) vs a 7 digit low # (tough) or an 8 digit low number (very tough BEP/US banknotes) & the fact that they must have been set aside for dealers to sell. I have yet to see a low # (under 1000 or 100 or 10) of any Euro 11 digit note & will probably be very surprised when I see my first.
Here are two other 2010 #1 banknotes from the Philippines, a NG (New Generation) P-206a printed in France:
At the same time this 20 Pesos note, printed in the Philippines was being issued:
Here's another example P-55a, a 50 Pesos from the Dominican Republic #84:
What is considered a low# (I can hear you all ask)?
Well, for most collectors, it's any serial number below 1000. Obviously the larger the serial number (such as an 8 digit USA note) the higher the premium. A 7 digit serial number (Bank of Canada, etc) has a healthy premium but they're significantly higher for notes under 100, under 10 & then a special bonus for #1. Just for some perspective on how hard these are, note with 8 digits is 1 in 100,000,000 but a #1 note with 7 digit is 1 in 10,000,000. Most #1 notes in Canada (& I believe in UK) are reserved for dignitaries so they're very scarce to find. Some collectors will only seek notes below 100.
Notes with fat prefixes (like 51K or C78N) as seen on GB notes with 6 digits typically don't see the same type of premium that notes with a single/double letter prefixes do. The reason- the more prefixes versions the more low # versions should be out there (& a 6 digit note easier vs a longer string of digits- tougher). That's the perception (not sure how true it is though).
Plus, notes should be in excellent condition. Notes in VF condition are discounted by as much as 60% of their premium.
Finally, just like radars (& other special serial numbers), the farther back the series the more sought after as most low # notes were not kept back then. There are exceptions to this rule, naturally, but in general that's the trend.
I have a few in my collection. I personally find them fascinating, however they're rather hard to get due to the high demand.
My personal favourite is my serial number 1 South African 2 rand. I got it for an extremely good price from a South African dealer.
Another excellent note in my collection is my 1955 Southern Rhodesian /- 10. Which I purchased it from an Australian auction house at the regular price of a non 1955 note. I have a few other low serial notes, however I don't have great pictures of them. So I'll picture them and add them to the thread at a later date.
I have a few in my collection. I personally find them fascinating, however they're rather hard to get due to the high demand.
-Yes, they can be tough to acquire but relative to low# CDN, US or UK notes, world notes are typically inexpensive. I have seen (& bought) many low# world notes that are a fraction of what their CDN, US or UK comparable notes would be. Or there is no premium attached (as was the case for the P-29 from Malta below). I have seen comments on other forums that world currency collectors don't seek special serial numbers (to the same degree) as the above countries* & I tend to agree with that observation.
I have a few other low serial notes, however I don't have great pictures of them. So I'll picture them and add them to the thread at a later date.
-I'm looking forward to seeing your posts @crownapple. Amazing RSA & Southern Rhodesian low # notes! Thanks for sharing!
Here's a low #201 Five Reals note from Brazil (P-253c):
This #439th Pounder from Malta had no premium for its low # (which I have found quite often the case with world sellers):
*(not just the 3 countries listed but Australian/New Zealand collectors & several Asian collectors seem to be getting in on the special serial number craze).
I have a few in my collection. I personally find them fascinating, however they're rather hard to get due to the high demand.
-Yes, they can be tough to acquire but relative to low# CDN, US or UK notes, world notes are typically inexpensive. I have seen (& bought) many low# world notes that are a fraction of what their CDN, US or UK comparable notes would be. Or there is no premium attached (as was the case for the P-29 from Malta below). I have seen comments on other forums that world currency collectors don't seek special serial numbers (to the same degree) as the above countries* & I tend to agree with that observation.
I have a few other low serial notes, however I don't have great pictures of them. So I'll picture them and add them to the thread at a later date.
-I'm looking forward to seeing your posts @crownapple. Amazing RSA & Southern Rhodesian low # notes! Thanks for sharing!
Here's a low #201 Five Reals note from Brazil (P-253c):
This #439th Pounder from Malta had no premium for its low # (which I have found quite often the case with world sellers):
*(not just the 3 countries listed but Australian/New Zealand collectors & several Asian collectors seem to be getting in on the special serial number craze).
Thank you. It's taken longer than I wanted to get nice pictures, but unfortunately I haven't had too much time to root through my things as I'm currently moving. And I must say that Maltese note is absolutely beautiful.
It's taken longer than I wanted to get nice pictures, but unfortunately I haven't had too much time to root through my things as I'm currently moving. And I must say that Maltese note is absolutely beautiful.
-Don't worry about it- moves can be stressful enough as it is. Thanks for the compliment.
Here's a Cayman Island (P-13) $10 note I won at a very good/fair price. Its a PMG GEM66 EPQ:
(What I discovered was that the seller had submitted a small run of low # notes so bidding was quite tepid for mine & subsequent auctions. I couldn't have bought a similar note, have it submitted for the price I won this note at)
Here's another note (which barely qualifies as a low #) from the Philippines. It's a 2016 Twenty Pesos with the first “Duterte-Tetangco” signature. It was about $0.75 more than the price of a regular #, super common “Aquino-Tetangco” 20 Pesos seen in 2016:
I know sets like these have been done a few times in the past. Do you know where The BoC even announces/sells these?
- I have only heard of these sales - never actually attended a sale (or heard of one while actively collecting). Like most collectors I was a dabbler for my first 20 years (collected & then stashed my collection away), & repeat so I may have missed a sale during a dormant stash cycle. I do believe they were probably sold from the Bank of Canada museum in Ottawa back in the 90's but that's just going by my old foggy memories. I bought mine on eBay about 15 years ago but have seen a few similar sets sold since.
Crownapple - they are absolutely delightful to look at. Such good condition & low numbers.
