Storing and Grading Your Dollar Bill Collection
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
Now that you’ve started collecting your currency you need a good way to store and protect those one dollar bills. Most collectors use a plastic sleeve that allows you to study both the front and back of the bill. It’s important to use a plastic sleeve without PVC plastic in it.
The PVC in the plastic can deteriorate over time and that will allow gases and acids to be released from the plastic onto your currency, ruining the bill. Many coin, stamp, and hobby stores will have an appropriate system for you to safely house your dollar bill collection.
Some collectors not only put their currency collections in plastic sleeves, but then store them in boxes to protect them from the sunlight and other light that may cause fading or other deterioration problems.
You can store them according to series, serial numbers, or the Federal Reserve Banks they were printed at.
Paper money is graded according to its condition. While there is no one absolute standard for grading currency, most collectors, dealers, and price guides will adhere to a basic standard.
For example, UNC or CU would mean crisp uncirculated. This means that there is no sign of wear, previous handling, nor folds, creases, or dog-eared corners.
AU would mean almost uncirculated. There may be a slight imperfection like a fold on one corner or a bend in the center that isn’t creased.
EF or XF would mean extremely fine. There could be three light folds or one hard fold that breaks the surface of the bill, but means the bill is clean and bright. There could be a rounding at the corner or corners.
VF would be very fine. A bill rated VF could have several folds, but the bill would still be crisp and very little dirt. There would be minor tears and the corners may be worn just a tad.
F would stand for fine. This would mean that the bill may be a bit soft. This grade would be about average for a bill that has been in circulation.
VG stands for very good. This type of bill could have tears or small holes. It is no longer crisp and there may be some staining.
Good(G), fair and poor. This would be the ratings for notes that are a bit shabby. It could have missing pieces or writing. This is a bill that is pretty worn out.
What grade of dollar bills do you look for? Do you save them or spend them? Let us know.
Tags: Collection, collectors, grading, storing
September 24th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Another way that you can store your dollar bill collection is by using currency wallets and albums, with built-in sleeves. This form of display, although brilliant, is a little bit expensive compared to simple plastic sleeves or housing the collection in boxes.
The use of stock sheets are also another common option. Stock sheets are album pages with a three ring binder feature. This method of storage makes browsing through and reorganizing much easier