DDR 10 Mark quality assessment [solved]

Hello all,

Could you please help me to identify the quality of this banknote?

There is a very slight crease line in the corner (as visible in the attached detail photo), but otherwise no crease line in the middle or elsewhere, so my guess is that the banknote was not circulated. However, due to that little crease in the corner, I am not sure if I can categorise it as UNC?

Thank you for any help!

Due to the number of visible creases, but still “clean” note, I would classify this as Very Fine (VF). I use the IBNS grading standards for my banknotes. https://www.theibns.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=25&limitstart=4

Thank you, Voided!

To be honest, reading through the descriptions on that website, I would say that it falls rather into AU category.

Also interesting, that for AU there could be visible bank handling folds through center if otherwise almost perfect. I have a few banknotes like that, but because of very visible center fold line, I classified them one class down.

I agreed with Voided. I would not accept this note as AU and VF is fair, and that is also the reason that I do not buy modern  banknotes or new issues if sellers have graded it as AU. Just my opinion.

Not sure how to understand the hard fold/broken surface part and whether the banknote would fall into that category.

But folds on the corner seem to be accepted?

Anyway, I have no intention to sell it, I am investigating more for swapping purposes. And if it is requested in a swap, I can always provide pictures for the interested person to judge for themselves.

Not sure how to understand the hard fold/broken surface part and whether the banknote would fall into that category.

A hard fold/crease/broken surface would look something like this:

While a soft fold/crease/non-broken surface would look something like this:

The hard folds show a clean line, a blatant fold. A soft fold is more of a bend in the paper along a defined line; possibly caused by being placed in a wallet unfolded and then being taken out in the condition shown.

But folds on the corner seem to be accepted?

The IBNS does not specify anything on corner folds. I consider them to qualify as XF if there is only one, and VF if there is greater than one. If there is an excessive amount of folds, I would consider it to be F.

- Daniel LeBowsky

Great thread: any discussion on grading notes (+ images) helps us keep these subtle differences a bit clearer in our minds eye (well, hopefully).  It's a tough topic: assessing a note's condition & the more it is pondered openly, the better we understand it.

I agree with @Voided_Username01  & @ahkai  VF+ (or VF30 to VF35 if I were certifying) even though I would need to see the note in person. But from the images I saw, I'd guess the same basic level of circulation.  

@LuluCoins the best image was the close up of the corner.  Take a flashlight and place it at the long end of the note (lighting the surface) in a dark room.  You will see many more minor folds & creases.  Your note has sides & corners that show handling (circulation) but when you see it up close the creases help pinpoint the general grade. 

Certifiers put the notes up on a light box and examine it with a loupe. You'd be surprised what they can detect.  

Here's a link to one thread here on grading banknotes.

I have seen a lot of posts & met a lot of collectors who have asked how to become a better grader.  I always suggest the same thing- get a circulated bundle (100 notes) from the bank & examine each note.  After each examination call out the grade (practice). I know it must sound a bit weird but you can do this several times & it may get you up your game - but overall - it takes time/patience to develop an eye for it (& I have been at it for years- but still mess up from time to time).