Even at FV (or less) the notes are enjoyable just to study and learn.
I agree: US LCS have great bargain bins & they can contain some fun finds for peanuts!
You've got some very popular notes there & some, like the $1.00 from Bahamas & East Caribbean Central bank, are in great shape! The 5 Pesos from Mexico has been a big hit as it was printed by the American Banknote Co & features the gypsy so a lot of collectors pick that 1 up.
I also like the 500 Dong from S Vietnam which features the tiger. I have the 1959 1 Pesos (above the 500 Dong) from Cuba which is a bit tougher to find in better grades & wouldn't mind getting one of those 5 Francs from Algiers (below the 500 Dong). Those are actually tougher notes than most you'll find in a bargain bin. Some of your notes (from Yugoslavia or Indonesia) can go for less than $0.50 in UNC. Older Austrian & German notes are surprisingly cheap in UNC too.
I have an American collector friend who's showed me many of his pick-ups, including a 1937 Bank of Canada $1.00 (& other older world notes) that would have set him back 3 - 4X here (in Canada) compared to what he paid at his shop. I would consider a lot of his finds as “cherry picking.” He loves the fact that his dealer wants to get rid of older World currency & doesn't really mind how much they can get for them on the world market (he's more focussed on US coins/notes). They're both happy campers!
center column notes 3 and 6. 10 and 50 sen are fun notes to look up. the 4th note from Lebanon is interesting too, mainly the whole series of 1980 notes from Lebanon are beautiful designs. Use the whole group to stimulate your excitement for banknotes worldwide.
Use the whole group to stimulate your excitement for banknotes worldwide.
+1
An inexpensive group of notes can also be educational. Inspect them closely & try to assign each note a ballpark grade. Note the level of soiling, tears & other issues with the paper. (Line them up from low grade to highest). Put some of the better ones up to the window & look for minor counting flicks or evidence of circulation you may have missed on first inspection. While up against a bright light (or window pane) check for their security features (watermarks, security strips, planchettes, etc). Use a grading guide/scale to try to assess each notes general grade & decide if the note is original (EPQ with embossing), pressed, washed or altered in any way.
The more you get familiar with the components of a banknote (serials, microprint, tints, borders, etc) the better a collector you will become. You will be able to “talk shop” with comfort should you go to a show or LCS. Go over websites (or your catalogues) to compare what you learned with what the experts have documented. If you get tired or discouraged, just put them away and try another day. Have fun!
