CPM Forum

General => What's It Worth? => Topic started by: admin on February 12, 2005, 03:11:37 pm

Title: Before you ask "What's it Worth"...
Post by: admin on February 12, 2005, 03:11:37 pm

We use the latest "Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Government Paper Money" book as our base. It is currently in its 22nd Edition, 2010. The book sells for under $20. Highly recommended. Click here to visit a preferred dealer (http://www.colonialacres.com/cgi-bin/dispitem.cgi?item=2010_papermoney).

Along that line of thought, we're also not here to save you from buying a book. If you have more than a few notes... well, hopefully the point is taken.

Determining the "value" of a note is difficult at the best of times. A number of factors all interact:

• Rarity of the note

• the age of the note (what year it was issued)
• the signature combination of the note
• reference this link (http://www.cdnpapermoney.com/English/BoC/Denominations.htm) for help determining the first two bullets. Keep in mind that an old note that had millions issued, will be of less "value" than a new note with a very limited issue.
• Special issues of the note, such as replacement notes and test notes (usually found by the serial number, please provide it)

• Grade of the note

• the condition or grade of the note (see this link (http://www.cpmsonline.ca/grading.php))

• Other factors
  
  • the popularity of the note. For example, the 1935 $20 note (http://www.cdnpapermoney.com/English/BoC/1935_20.htm) is popular because of the pretty portrait of the young young Princess Elizabeth, (later to become Queen) and commands a slightly higher value than normal because of it
  • the amount a particular buyer is willing to pay for it. I know it sounds obvious, but a "book" value is only a guideline. If a collector needs a note to complete a collection, you may get a higher price than normal. Likewise, the "book" value of a note that nobody is interested in is meaningless.

Grading is the most controversial component of paper money collecting today. Small differences in grade can mean significant differences in value. The process of grading is so subjective and dependant on external influences such as lighting, that even a very experienced individual may well grade the same note differently on separate occasions.

Accurately determining and considering all the factors can really only be done with the note in-hand. Here at the Canadian Paper Money Forum, we will try to provide reasonable advice, but it is really impossible to be 100% accurate via this medium. Providing a scan can help (you can post an image to your message with the attachment feature, or by using ImageShack (http://www.cdnpapermoney.com/forum/index.php?topic=9190.0)).

We'll try to help out, but don't hold us to it in a court of law.

We need:

• The Charlton number (ie: BC-37a). See the main site www.CdnPaperMoney.com for help
• its serial number including the letter prefixes (if any).
• The grade of the note (see above for links) OR:
• A general description of the note with its date of issue and signatures