How to get started?

OK, so... I've thus far drawn a line and kept my collection to just coins and not allowed myself to get into banknotes or stamps, etc. I have a few notes from countries that I've traveled to, and I have the previous design series of US bills tucked away, but it's not something I've pursued. But this forum and seeing people's photos of beautiful banknotes is tempting me. And it is true that when you look at one's collection of, say, WWII-era French coins, you're only seeing half the picture of what money was like at that point in history. So, I'm thinking of getting my feet wet with some banknotes from my favorite countries and historical time points.

What's the best way to get started? Should I pick up a used copy of the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money first? Is it worth buying a bulk lot of banknotes off eBay the way I did when I started with coins? What kind of price per note do you usually try to stay under?

Quote: "Jesse11"​OK, so... I've thus far drawn a line and kept my collection to just coins and not allowed myself to get into banknotes or stamps, etc. I have a few notes from countries that I've traveled to, and I have the previous design series of US bills tucked away, but it's not something I've pursued. But this forum and seeing people's photos of beautiful banknotes is tempting me. And it is true that when you look at one's collection of, say, WWII-era French coins, you're only seeing half the picture of what money was like at that point in history. So, I'm thinking of getting my feet wet with some banknotes from my favorite countries and historical time points.
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​What's the best way to get started? Should I pick up a used copy of the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money first? Is it worth buying a bulk lot of banknotes off eBay the way I did when I started with coins? What kind of price per note do you usually try to stay under?

​There is a lot of ways to get started. Bulk is a good way to start, but don't expect anything of true value. You can collect in a number of ways. By material (ie Polymer banknotes), by nations, by year, so and on so forth.

Quote: "Jesse11"​OK, so... I've thus far drawn a line and kept my collection to just coins and not allowed myself to get into banknotes or stamps, etc. I have a few notes from countries that I've traveled to, and I have the previous design series of US bills tucked away, but it's not something I've pursued. But this forum and seeing people's photos of beautiful banknotes is tempting me. And it is true that when you look at one's collection of, say, WWII-era French coins, you're only seeing half the picture of what money was like at that point in history. So, I'm thinking of getting my feet wet with some banknotes from my favorite countries and historical time points.

​We have the same 'problem'
I might get into banknotes soon, idk

The reason why I started off with coins was mostly due to the lower cost and easy to get my hands on. Banknotes were exchanged back after my travels, but the coins stayed.
To me the banknotes were more intriguing due to all the colours and amazing designs. When I bought my first bulk of 100 banknotes, I spread them out on my parents' dinner table, and was just stunned by the letterings, colours, designs, sizes. Some notes was small as stamps, other as big as A4 paper sheets.

Now I have over 1,500 banknotes in 8-9 binders, and when friends are visiting my wife really wants to show them my banknote collection (and she doesn't even collect banknotes herself, shen just loves them anyway!). My friends can sitt for hours just looking at them, asking where they're from, who's portrait it is, or why a naked lady is riding a shark (Cook Islands, for those who's not familiar with the deisgns). Then I can tell them the mythological story about Ina and the Shark, for example.

Ina and the Shark:


The mythological, and hostorical, stories behind many designs on banknotes world wide really intrigues me, and who can resist a colourful banknote displaying the culture and daily life of an island nation? Just look at this Maldivian banknote and say, "nah, I don't want that one" ten times.

You can start with a mix of 100 different countries
I bet the next 100 will be more difficult (and more expensive) to catch

Well, I took the plunge and bought the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, 1368-1960, 15th edition for $15 at my local coin shop. I blame this new forum entirely.

Now, where to find a bulk lot of pre-1950s notes...?