America

American banknotes from the 1800s

The oldest banknotes in this category come from the United States. Before the Civil War there was no uniform national paper currency: a large number of state-chartered banks issued their own notes, each with its own designs and its own credit risk. An uncut sheet of banknotes from around 1850 shows how such notes were printed several to a sheet before being cut apart and signed.

The Civil War (1861–1865) brought paper money on a new scale, as both sides financed the war with notes. The category includes an uncut sheet of Civil War banknotes and a 20 dollars from 1864. Uncut sheets are especially interesting to collectors because they show the notes exactly as they left the printer.

Caribbean and Central American banknotes

From the Caribbean and Central America there are modern notes from the Bahamas (1 dollar 2002 and 2008, and a 1 dollar and 50 cents from 2001) and from Belize (5 dollars 1980, 1 dollar 1983–1987 and a 1986 dollar), the country that became independent from Britain in 1981. A 5 francs 1947–1949 from Guadeloupe represents the French Caribbean in the years after the island became a French overseas department.

What do collectors look for?

Condition decides much of the value. Uncirculated (UNC) notes have no folds or handling marks; Extremely Fine (EF) and Very Fine (VF) notes have been in use and show light or moderate folds. Stains, tears, pinholes and writing lower the grade. For older American notes it is also worth looking at margins, signatures and whether the paper is fresh or tired.

Collectors also look for replacement notes. Notes printed to replace faulty sheets are marked differently from the ordinary series; in the United States they carry a star next to the serial number. Low or repeating serial numbers are another speciality.

Each note is described with its catalogue reference where relevant. For coins from the same part of the world, see coins from America, or browse all banknotes.