New to the hobbie.... or perhaps just getting back into it

News: Welcome to the Canadian Paper Money Forum.

I'm 35 now.. but when I was approx 12 I started getting into the hobbie of collecting paper money and coins. It came from delivering papers and on collection day getting all the cash, It was my first job and I just wanted to hold onto the money more than spend it or put it in the bank.

While I did end up buying a lot of bonds and such I still have a lot of those old bills. Most of them are very well circulated and nothing too spectacular but I still like 'em for what they represent.

Over the years if I came across a crisp 2,5,10,20,50 or 100 bill I also put it in a plastic bill protector and added it to my collection. Once again while they're crisp and have great edges and no folds in them.. they are still regarded as "circulated" so I doubt that they have any more value than face value.

I did manage to purchase a sheet of 40 $1, as well as 40 $2's. Which I have frame and love having on my wall.

What I would like to know is where are some good places to get good quality bills? I live in Winnipeg and there is one local store, but I was also thinking is there any other good sources to find nice quality bills?

I live in Winnipeg and there is one local store, but I was also thinking is there any other good sources to find nice quality bills?

Personally I think one of the best sources to get quality banknotes is right here on the forum.
You can go to the trading post and see what people have to offer for sale and/or trade....some members can supply pricelists...and you can even post a thread if you are looking for something specific..
The great thing with the trading post is that there are no fees....

FRIEDSQUID

There is more than one store in Winnipeg and I would highly recommend Provincial Stamp & Coin on Portage Avenue.
Al does not have a massive inventory but he does obtain nice (better) notes from time to time and he is a pleasure to deal with.

There is also a show (no admission fee) at the Charterhouse (Best Western) Hotel and the 2nd Sunday of each month with the exception of July and August.  The next show will be this Sunday (June 10th).

You may be pleasantly surprised at what is available - Bank of Canada - some 35's, 1937 to date, some chartereds and some Dominion of Canada notes.  You will also find replacement notes, radars, repeaters, etc.  It is unlikely that you will find an insert note being sold as such.  There is also a baby set of the Centennial notes for sale (one of each of the prefixes and replacement notes but not all of back and front plate numbers) in choice unc or better.

The pricing is very competitive (it's Winnipeg) and you will have the ability to examine the notes (very few are third party graded) before making an offer or purchase.

Welcome to the forum & to the hobby.  I got a kick out of your post because I sort of entered the same way as you did- and then worked at a car wash which added "fuel to the fire" (my desire to collect paper money).  Also- my older brother had all the great coins passed down from my grand parents- so it was only logical that I chose something different. 

I'm completely behind the two replies/recommendations by "friedsquid" and "gendis" as there is nothing quite like going to a show or using the forum to obtain notes.  But I think you should go to a coin/paper money show before you shop online.   When I first started going to those shows there were about 4 or 5 tables with paper money and now just about everyone has paper to show/sell.  I think it would do you well to mix and chat with some of the collectors & dealers.  I know this isn't easy- but it would serve you well to start getting a feel for what people like to collect, to get familiar with a bit about grading notes, and other topics that will naturally pop up if you do initiate conversation.  I met a couple of members from this forum and one of them had a box full of old notes which he traded for much more collectible notes (something you may wish to try).  I did that myself years ago.  The good thing about upgrading notes (what you got) is that most dealers will be gentle with you- and try to work out a good deal with you as they see you're into the hobby.  The thing is- most dealers will expect you to haggle a little so don't be shy about making a reasonable offer.  It might also serve you well to have a limited budget or even decide to window shop your 1st visit to a show and then buy once you know exactly what you'd like to collect (I suggest you get a Charlton guide from the library or a show so it can get you re-acquainted with the kind of notes you could collect).

Good luck!

Ohh this is fantastic!!! Thank you guys sooooo much for the input.

I love the idea of going to a show and chatting with others in the hobbie. I think it would be great to see what else is out there. Personally I think the first thing I think I'd like to get is to get more of the devil's face series.. I have always been facinated by that.

Still a little skeptical about buying things online... so far I've seen a few things online where you have to grade things by the pictures they provide which certainly raises my skepticism...

As a continuation from my "starting out story"... my mother also would give me a silver dollar for every A and B I received on a report card. (I wasn't exactly the most studious child) But from there and with the paper route I really started watching for older coins... for some reason nickles took my fancy.. and I managed to get a hold of everything from 1922 on... (with a few even earlier dated ones) but would really still like to finish it off with a 1920 and 1921..

So thank you all for all of your help folks...  I think this site is fantastic and I'm glad I joined

Just as a side note... after a bit of research... I did find another great auction site.... This past weekend the Torex auctions were held. I managed to win the bid on a couple of silver coins.... I did have my eye on some devils face bills all serial # 00000054 set of 1,2,5,10,20,50 and 100 with the same serial number... *sigh* was beautiful to look at at least...

Anyone else know of any other good auctions or shows I should keep an eye out for?

I would like to know of a few places to find some other good items where I'm not paying a premium or retail prices... if any of you know of some other good auctions, or places to find gems please feel free to let me know.

Keep your eyes out in the "Trading Post" thread ...  you can also watch Heritage Auction Galleries, Lyn Knight Auctions and Stacks Bowers Auctions.... and of course beauties/gems pop up every so often on eBay.

The prices realized for paper money at the CNA auction in Calgary (TCNS) were pretty weak.  Probably half of the notes did not sell and many notes sold for the reserve.  Although the estimated market value for some of the notes was somewhat agressive (especially the Chartereds) you may want to bookmark its site and bid in its future auctions with your Charltons at hand.