You might have just started collecting paper money or banknotes and you might be wondering what you should be collecting. The answer is as simple or complex as you want to make it. The simple answer is to collect what you like. Every collector is individual, and everyone's interests are unique. Some collectors like serial numbers such as A01 000001, 888888 or something in between. Others collect banknotes they like the look of, or they have a theme such as specific animals or a person or country. Here are some ideas:
Serial Numbers
As mentioned briefly, you can collect bank notes with a specific serial number. Generally, banknote serial numbers start at 000001 and often go all the way up to 999999. Some collectors want the lowest serial number they can get; others want to collect a note from each Range i.e. A01, A02, A03, or A01, B01 etc., or a number that has meaning to them - for example your date of birth.
Error Notes
As with any manufactured items, sometimes things go wrong, and errors are made. Normally these notes don't make it out of the printing plant, but occassionally they do make it out into general circulation. Many different types of error notes exist.
- Missing print - Notes where one colour or plate hasn't printed correctly. This could be part of the design, the serial numbers, or the signatures.
- Overprint - Notes where the previous sheet wasn't dry before the next sheet was laid on top, leading to a transfer of the bottom sheet onto the top sheet.
- Miscut - Notes that are an odd shape, or have left the factory with bits missing.
Skit Notes
Skit Notes are notes that look like bank notes, but actually aren't. Some were designed to deceive, whilst others were designed as advertising, or just for fun.
Pictures & Portraits
Interested in a particular animal or person? See if you can find banknotes with that animal on them. Penguins can be found on an Antartic Dollar, and Elephants on Zimbabwean currency. Roman Buildings occur on some currencies as well.
As for portraits, one of the most obvious is that of Queen Elizabeth II. There are currently some 26 different portraits on different bank notes on Commonweath currencies.
Banknotes of the World
One of the most common collections is to collect a banknote from every issuing bank in the world.