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Compounded Fun

Almost impossible to find, this Compound Interest Treasury Note was a recent addition to my $10 large size type note collection. 81% complete after this addition, acquiring the remaining notes is a difficult and expensive task. Low grade net notes are my best hope, and I recently acquired this note on eBay. For the grade, it looks really nice. What say you? To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

Finally Finished My Education in 2013

My $5 Large Size Note Type Set Is Now Complete I finally got the last Educational Note, a $5 Silver Certificate from 1896 that ranks as number 5 in the book 100 Greatest American Currency Notes by Q. David Bowers. This note also completes my $5 Large Size Note Type Set. It has been a fun journey building the set. It's not going to win any awards for points, but it is the first set in it's category to be 100% complete. The note appears appropriately graded, but has the look of a higher gr

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

PCGS Crossover to PMG Upgraded AND Downgraded

Thrilled and Disappointed at the Same Time I bought this 1890 Treasury Note professionally graded by PCGS as Very Fine 30, and crossed it over to PMG for my $5 Large Size US Currency Type Set. It came back upgraded to 35, but downgraded to Net for repairs. After a close look, I can see where it was repaired. It was very professionally done and does improve the overall look of the note. I was thrilled to get an upgrade to 35, but disappointed to get the downgrade to Net. I can understan

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

New Addition to My $2 Large Size Currency Type Set

General Hancock Rides Again! I really like the design of this Silver Certificate note, very ornate on both front and back. It is a mid-grade note designated with exceptional paper quality, and fits nicely in my type set collection. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

Brown Back Pin Up

Could you live with pinholes to save $1,000? This beautiful $10 Brown Back is from the National Bank of Commerce in New York. It is signed by non-other than J.P. Morgan himself, signing as J Pierpont Morgan on the note. It is interesting in several respects. First, it has two pinholes, one in each top corner. I imagine that the note may have been pinned to a bulletin board at either a bank teller station or a bank executive's desk or cubicle area during the late 1800's. It never circulated a

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

Coup Topples Egyptian Ruler

Independence Day For More Than the U.S.A. On this day we celebrate our independence in the U.S.A., another country half way around the world is celebrating theirs. Democratically elected President Morsi was overthrown by the military in Egypt and a new government is forming. What does the future hold for this nation that many think reached its peak power over 3,000 years ago? Only time will tell. King Tut was another ruler of Egypt whose reign ended early. He was Pharaoh of Egypt for ten

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

Island Girl #1

My Next Vacation? First, thank you PMG for adding world note competitive registry sets to the Collectors Society experience. The variety and richness of world note designs really brings to life the history and people of other countries. This note from the French Pacific Territories is like an ad in a travel magazine. It just makes you want to go there! This is from my first world note registry set. I consider the set done, since I have one note for each Pick number. To see old comm

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

Big Game Hunt Ends

Bison Added to the Trophy Case I recently added this mid-grade Bison Note or Buffalo Bill (great names) to my $10 large-size type set. This design is very popular with collectors, and prices reflect it. Notes graded 67 recently hammered at $17,600 to $18,800. 66's sold for $11,750. Too rich for my blood. I came down the grading scale to nab this trophy. This note design is rated as number 6 in the book 100 Greatest American Currency Notes (Q. David Bowers). Portraits of Lewis and Clar

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

Battleship Joins the Fleet

A new addition to my $2 Large Note Type Set I added this Battleship Note to my collection recently. I am showing the reverse in the photo because it is one of the most iconic and recognized designs in US currency. This note is rated number 22 in the book 100 Greatest American Currency Notes (by Q. David Bowers), and is also one of my favorites. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

I don't drink beer often...

But when I do, I drink Dos Equis. Every note needs a name. There is the Grand Watermelon, the Rainbow Note, the Lazy Deuce, the Bison Note, the Educational Note, the Battleship Note, and the Porthole Note. This one reminds me of those Dos Equis beer commercials with the most interesting man in the world. I shall therefore name this the Dos Equis Note. I can't think of anything better, can you? Stay thirsty, my friends. http://notes.www.collectors-society.com/registry/notes/MySets_Lis

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

Fancy Back 1890 Treasury Note Finishes Collection

Happy New Year! Moving on to 2013. I am very pleased to announce today that my $1 large-size currency type-set is now complete, and I am also the first registry participant to achieve a 100% complete set in that category. My set won't win any awards for points, but it did win an award a few years back for best presented set. At the time, the set was still missing a few notes. I feel better about the award now that it is complete. I finished the set by adding the 1890 $1 Treasury or Coin

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

After the Storm...a Rainbow

Hurricane Sandy Devastates the Northeast 8 million customers lost power across 16 states. New York Stock Exchange closed for two days. New York subways flooded. High tides, massive flooding, pouring rain, fire, wind and snow. Over 100 dead. No food, no water, no gas, no heat. This was the super storm Sandy, causing epic destruction in the Northeast. A long and painful recovery is ahead.   And after the storm...a rainbow. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those impacted by t

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

My Apologies to Abe

The first (and only) note for my new $5 U.S. large currency collection. The first (and only) note for my new $5 U.S. large currency collection is this 1914 Blue Seal Federal Reserve Note from the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank. My apologies to Abe Lincoln as I am only including a picture of the more interesting back of the note, which shows beautifully detailed vignettes of Christopher Columbus in sight of land (on the left) and the Pilgrims landing (on the right).

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

Mongolian Delight

Merry Christmas to Me! This rare and spectacular Mongolian $10 note from 1924 (Pick #5r) was added to my collection of world notes shortly before Christmas.

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

Martha Has Arrived at the Party!

Fashionably Late, She Missed the Award Presentation. I recently added this nice Fr. 223 large-size 1891 Silver Certificate to my $1 type collection. A portrait of Martha Washington graces the front. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

Thank You for This Award - Best Presented Set 2010

I am Truly Honored and Humbled! I would sincerely like to thank PMG for bestowing the award for 2010 Best Presented Set to my large size $1 bill currency type set collection (The Newport Ridge Collection - Large Ones). I am truly honored and humbled to win the award in the first year it was presented. I started as a coin collector, and actively participate on the coin side of the Collector's Society, but gradually became interested in collecting currency, especially large size US bills. I

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

Going Global

I am getting tired of boring designs and high prices for U.S. currency! Although I really like the designs of the large-size U.S. currency, the sky high prices limit my interest and collecting ability, especially in these difficult economic times. I just can?t justify paying that much for nice notes. As for the small-size and more modern U.S. currency, the designs and greenback color (or lack of color) of most notes really put me to sleep. What?s a currency collector to do? Well, I have d

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

Crossover From PCGS to PMG

A Big Risk I bought this note as PCGS 62PPQ, and wanted to cross it over to PMG for inclusion in my registry set. This was a big risk for me because PMG will not grade it without taking it out of the PCGS holder. I took my chances and was very pleased with the outcome! It graded straight across as PMG 62EPQ.

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

Large Size $50 Gold Certificate

Once upon a time, some U.S. paper currency was "as good as gold." This beautiful mid-grade large-size $50 gold certificate boasts the ?Exceptional Paper Quality? designation, rare for bills in this grade range. This is the latest additional to my gold certificate collection. They really get tough from here. This may be my last gold certificate addition for a while. I bought this one on Heritage in January 2010.

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

New Legal Tender

Not one of my favorite designs, but a pretty low serial number. Legal Tender Notes were first issued in 1862, in order to help the Union finance the Civil War. Gold and silver coins were disappearing from circulation, and a new and different monetary medium was needed. They were not exchangeable for silver or gold coin, so some merchants were reluctant to accept them at face value. Even the Philadelphia mint would not accept legal tender notes in payment at par for the proof coins it struck

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

Getting My Education

Getting a quality education is important in order to succeed in today?s highly competitive working environment. However, getting another type of education is important to currency collectors?I am talking about the ?Educational Notes? series of Silver Certificates produced in 1896. They are arguably the most beautiful notes ever produced for circulation by the United States government. Educational Silver Certificates have inspired many collectors to further pursue the hobby, including myself

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

It Was Raining Cats and Dogs....and $10,000 Gold Certificates!

One of my favorite numismatic stories goes like this: The last Gold Certificates issued for circulation were Series 1913 and Series 1922. On April 5, 1933, as part of his New Deal financial measures, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an Executive Order requiring the public to turn in Gold Certificates (as well as gold bullion and coins) by May 1st. The deadline was extended and on December 28, 1933, FDR further instructed private holders of Gold Certificates to deliver them to the U.S. T

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

Martha in Da House!!

And she brought her silver certificate with her!! A new addition to my $1 large-size note type set. This is the first federal paper money depicting a First Lady of the United States, in this case Martha Washington. It was issued in 1886 and at one time could be exchanged for one silver dollar.

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

Martha's Got Back!!

Ornate and Beautiful! Here is the reverse of my Martha Washington $1 silver certificate. It is one of the more ornate and detailed reverses, and I really like the artistic style of it!

GSA_Gem_Quest

GSA_Gem_Quest

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