| Collecting cash is a well-established hobby and has | | | | counterfeited and altered. When the national bank |
| been enjoyed by numerous people for decades. | | | | system was created, privately issued bank |
| That is, collecting old money. We all collect | | | | money was excessively taxed to the point of |
| money-or at least try to before bills come in-but | | | | being outlawed. While US government money has |
| how many of us collect money, the antique range | | | | always retained monetary value, obsolete old bills |
| from previous decades or even centuries? | | | | from closed banks are worth nothing. Yet, they |
| Old money collectors of the paper variety, even | | | | remain an interesting collector's item. |
| though not fairly as common as coin collectors, | | | | Obviously a lot of old money is very expensive in |
| still are active and manage to find some rare | | | | this day and age. Authentic old money and notes |
| items from time to time. This variety could include | | | | from the 1800's and early 1900s are for the |
| pre US colonial currency, obsolete money from | | | | most part out of the price spectrum of casual |
| the 1800s, currency from the Confederate | | | | collectors. This is why collecting souvenir cards are |
| States of America, and souvenir cards of older | | | | becoming popular as you can collect a piece of |
| money that's too rare to actually find and | | | | history without paying an astronomical price. |
| purchase. | | | | Where can you find this type of money? It's not |
| One such collector's item in older money is called | | | | an easy task. While you still might be able to |
| fractional currency. During and after the Civil War, | | | | collect a Thomas Jefferson 2 dollar bill, the really |
| the United States began to run short on change | | | | unique old money collectibles cannot and will not |
| so started printing paper money worth less than | | | | be easily found or purchased. The finest route to |
| a dollar. 50 cents, 25 cents, 15 cents, 10 cents | | | | find older money nowadays is through dealers, |
| and 5 cents were all denominations printed | | | | collectors, auctions and old money paper shows. |
| because of the lack of coins. They are presently | | | | One useful contact would be the International |
| much sought after collectibles. | | | | Bank Note Society's journal and webpage which |
| Another interesting type of money to consider: | | | | offer not only contact information for trades and |
| private banknotes from the 1800's. Before the US | | | | auctions, but also let's you preview images of old |
| government created a national banknote, many | | | | currency on their website. Old money collecting is |
| private banks issued their own paper money | | | | a unique and interesting hobby. More fun than it's |
| without government backing. These banks | | | | really worth in dollar amount. |
| eventually closed and those banknotes were | | | | |