What is a Replacement note?

Replacement currency notes are printed as replacements for any error notes that were discovered in the quality control phases of the currency printing process. Thus, the exact number of printed notes produced remains the same[important so that governments keep an exact count of published currency items].

Because serial numbers on each currency note are unique, the replacement note is produced with a symbol in the serial number, identifying it as a replacement for a faulty/error note.

Different nations have different designations for these replacement currency items; the most widely used (e.g. US) is the “*”.
These * notes are fondly known as STAR notes.

In Canada (see picture above) early replacement notes were identified with an “*” but later were marked with an “X” as the 3^rd prefix letter. 

We believe that the reason for changing from the * was pragmatic. As folks noticed the unusual * on their notes, they "saved" these notes; thus, removing them from circulation. Hence, Canadian replacement notes with "X" are considered more rare and more collectible.

Who has signed your notes? The fun of AUTOGRAPH NOTES

Autograph Notes

All US currency notes carry the engraved signature of the current US Secretary of the Treasury. Of great interest to those of us who watch these signatures, is the signature of Jack Lew, as Treasury Secretary. Recently, Lew called out to China to end its government sponsored cyber attacks against US and world financial entities. Lew wants all  nations to abide by rules of conduct that support a healthy global economy. Truly, when Lew speaks, the world listens!

Ever since Lew’s confirmation as Treasury Secretary, his engraved signature has been added to our US currency.

Collectors also find handwritten autographed signatures on currency notes. These notes are affectionately called “Autographed Notes.” 

Here is an autographed one dollar note

Early in our American currency history, hand-written signatures were added to notes as a security measure against counterfeit. However, as the explosion of and need for currency increased, hand signatures became impractical and thus, engraved signatures were used. 

Autographed Notes are tremendously valuable, rare, highly sought-after, and extremely collectable. 

They represent not only the note and the financial, political and social history surrounding that specific note, but also the famous person who has chosen to hand sign – autograph - the note. 

Famous persons autographing these notes have elected to capture that moment, as well as themselves, for history. Interestingly, these “autographs” may include courtesy signatures of the Treasury Secretary, the Treasurer, or both.  

Two or more signature combinations may be extremely rare and in many cases, one-of-a-kind.  Thus, the assignment of a replacement value on some of these notes is nearly impossible. 

Autographed notes increase in value depending on the original note’s rarity as well as its face value, official grade or condition, the person or person s autographing the note (and the authentication of the signature), the quality of the signature and ink, and the scarcity of such autographs.

If there is an Autograph Note that you are looking for and it is not listed on our web site at treasuredstocks.com, please give us a call at 870-670-4255 or email Jeff:   jeff@treasuredstocks.com

For a look at some rare and collectible currency, including autographed notes, visit us at

http://www.treasuredstocks.com/currency/

Short Snorter notes make history come alive!

What is a 
“Short Snorter” You Ask …?

A   short snorter is a currency (bank) note that has been autographed by various persons meeting, working, serving, or traveling together. We believe that the true short snorter origin occurred during the mid-1920s in Alasaka by Alaskan Bush Pilots. From there, it spread throughout military and commercial aviation circles, including the US Space missions. 

Here's a SHORT SNORTER example

Friends, colleagues, or even travel companions would all pull out a note, usually a small denomination and usually of the local currency. Each person would then sign each note (if there were ten in a group, each note would have ten signatures). They would keep their signed note with them at all times. 

Upon request from one of the signers, the person would have to produce the note, pay a dollar, or buy a drink (or a round of drinks) for the requestor. In other words, once the short snorter was signed, the collector would have to produce it upon request; if not, they were obliged to give the signer money or a drink which often meant buying a round of drinks for all of the drinking buddies. 

Snorter is a word derived from “snort” which is a slang expression meaning strong alcoholic beverage. Short, in this context, refers to something less than full. Thus, “short snorter” is used to denote the drinks the person would have to buy, if he or she did not produce the designated note.

For our US military, short snorters were more than a drinking game or challenge; they were a symbol of good luck, friendship, and camaraderie. Short Snorters also became a unique keepsake and permanent historical record of persons with whom one served. 

If notes could talk, each of these signed and preserved short snorter’s would “speak” volumes; every short snorter is a unique piece of history! Importantly, preserving this history has become a mission of the Short Snorter Project. 

The Short Snorter Project is a tax exempt organization with a historically inspiring mission. According to their web site, donations to their organization are “used to further educate the general public about  short snorters and the people who carried them.”  Their main goals are to … “place permanent displays in prominent museums and to attend large gatherings to communicate the tradition of the short snorter.”

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For a look at some rare and collectible currency items, including unique short snorter notes, visit us at

http://www.treasuredstocks.com/currency/  

We are official members of multiple numismatic-related organizations. Thus, Treasuredstocks.com welcomes any and all questions regarding our coin and currency postings and our passion for collecting coins and currency of all types. 

We are here to assist you! Please give us a call at 870-670-4255 or email us at jeff@treasuredstocks.com

Graded coins and currency items are trustworthy and highly collectible.

Why purchase a GRADED note or coin?

Everyday, interested sellers and collectors call us here at Treasuredstocks.com and ask the "what's it worth" question. They have found a note tucked away in their relative's estate or a yard sale junk box and want to know what the item might be worth to me or to other collectors.  

When I ask them if the note has been folded or torn or if it has certain other defects, I often hear, "Oh I missed that"  and "does a little corner tear really  matter?"

One of the most important reasons  you should insist on having a coin or note graded, is to avoid the risk of purchasing a counterfeit copy. I know a dealer who paid several thousand dollars for a note and sent it in to be graded only  to find out that is was a worthless counterfeit! That is why dealers and collectors are willing to pay more for graded currency and coins. 

A second, perhaps equally important reason in favor of grading is to assure clear understanding and easy communication. A graded note will "translate" perfectly between and among all interested collectors, buyers and sellers. Furthermore, grading allows years of auction data to be adequately analyzed so that value can be assessed. For me, speaking with someone about an ungraded note is always speculative; speaking to someone about a note that is officially graded is clear and specific.

Consider this: If the person selling the note or coin really has a valuable product, why hasn't he or she had it graded?  Two reasons are plausible: Either there is something wrong with the note or he is unaware of established guidelines and grading benefits.

When trying to purchase an ungraded note or coin, beware of red flag statements like "though it's not graded, the note/coin looks perfect."  One of my favorites that I have heard several times is, "It used to be folded, but it isn't any more." or "the condition  is pristine, I pressed it with my iron this morning."

"But who should grade my coin or note?" you ask  


Treasuredstocks.com is an official dealer of coins and currency with the two major international grading firms: PCGS and PMG. If you stay with either organization (PCGS /PMG), you will receive the most resale value for your item(s).  

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For more information about this and other collectable coins and currency, please visit our web site at  http://www.treasuredstocks.com/or email  jeff@treasuredstocks.com

Those UNIQUE MPC Notes

No two notes are identical; each is unique
Here are A few 'notes' about Military Payment Certificates (MPCs)

Here is a picture of one of my favorite MPC notes

As a military veteran of the United State Navy, I recall receiving my pay with  

Military Payment Certificates, fondly known by us as MPCs, and spending these MPCs at the base PX. I am an MPC Collector and I think that these beautifully engraved Military Payment Certificates are some of most artistic pieces of currency ever made.  

The United States military devised the MPC program immediately following World War II. In post war Europe, US dollars became very valuable due to the high inflation rates of local currencies. Hence, US servicemen stationed overseas could purchase very high value items for relatively small numbers of US dollars. 

To overcome this problem and help stabilize foreign economies, MPCs were developed and used from the time immediately following World War II until about the end of the Vietnam War (1946-1973). In the opinion of many military veterans and collectors like me, MPCs include some of the most beautiful currency notes the US has ever printed. I look at these currency notes and see not only the financial impact they made for me but the military, political and social environments surrounding them. 

MPCs are paper money in cent denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 50 and dollar denominations of 1, 5, 10, and 20. The MPC Program was at its peak during the Vietnam War.

For a look at some rare and collectible currency, including MPC notes, visit us at

http://www.treasuredstocks.com/currency/  

We are official members of multiple numismatic-related organizations. Thus, Treasuredstocks.com welcomes any and all questions regarding our coin and currency postings and our passion for collecting coins and currency of all types. 

We are here to assist you! Please give us a call at 870-670-4255 or email us at jeff@treasuredstocks.com

Delightful Disney Dollars -- and the end of an era

Learning more about the uniquely American “Disney Dollars” is totally enjoyable, entertaining, and fascinating. 

We hope that this Disney Dollar Dialogue will guide and support your Disney Dollar Adventure.

The Disney Dollar idea sparked during a visit to a 1987 Disney Collectors Merchandise Convention by Mr. Harry Brice. Brice was a Senior Artist at the Silhouette Shop on Main Street in Disneyland. He told his associates that he couldn’t believe the amount of money people were paying for Disney merchandise and suggested that Disney could make and print souvenir “money” for currency collectors as well as Disney patrons. 

First released in 1987,  Disney Dollars were recognized for very high quality printing (EPI of Battlecreek, MI) along with intaglio steel engraving and expensive 100% cotton paper, giving Disney Dollars the feel and appearance of beautifully crafted currency. They have anti-counterfeiting features such as reflective ink and imprinting, unique serial numbers and letters, tiny specks of glitter (we call pixie dust), and expensive micro-printing.  

Disney Dollars were produced and printed from 1987 to 2009, with the exception of 1992 and 2004 (the 2005 series was also used in 2006). Most recently, Disney Dollars are once again 2013 being produced.

Important characters on each bill include Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto, and many others. Each side of the bill incorporates its denomination and each currency item has a serial number series year. These numbers/letters denote when they were printed and where they originated. Some bills were printed in small amounts such as the limited edition $50 and some were printed in large quantities. 

Each bill is signed by Scrooge McDuck as treasurer – he is considered the CFO, bank administrator.  

Disney Currency designs changed yearly, often reflecting the general theme for that year. Bills also include letter designations, located after the serial number. For example, an A series relates to a note initially sold at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA (A is for Anaheim), D denotes Walt Disney World in Florida, and T (available starting in 2005) designates Disney stores. There are also a few very rare B (for Designer Charles Boyer) and F series.  

Though there have been lapses in the printing of these notes, since4 1987 and especially now in 2016 when Disney Dollars are no longer produced, Disney Dollars still can be used for face value at Disney theme parks and the Stores. They do not expire. Once used in this manner,  however, they are destroyed.

The best way to purchase Disney Dollars is through collectors like Treasuredstocks.com. Rationale: The Walt Disney Corporation has stopped producing Disney Dollars in favor of the Disney refillable gift cards as they are convenient, efficient, and provide better control, tracking, and profit. 

Because of their appearance, features, and unique characteristics, currency plus Disney collectors place great value on Disney Dollars; thus, Disney Dollar collectors are found world-wide! Hence, competition for these beautifully engraved and often quite rare notes is rising, dramatically increasing values on these prized historical items. This competition has escallated since May of 2016, when Disney Dollars met their Demise.

So please, enjoy your Disney Dollar Adventure and Inspiration. There is no longer any need to “Wish upon a Star” for Disney inspiration –  it’s all right here at Treasuredstocks.com



For more information about these and other collectable coins and currency, please visit our web site at  http://www.treasuredstocks.com/or email  jeff@treasuredstocks.com