High Notes

A journal by Fenntucky Mike

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2023 Commemorative Banknote "We Will Not Forget! We Will Not Forgive!"

Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?

On February 23, 2023 the NBU issued into circulation the commemorative ₴20 banknote "WE WILL NOT FORGET! WE WILL NOT FORGIVE!", Andriy Pyshneyy, Governor of the NBU, presented the new banknote during a press conference earlier in the day. The commemorative note will have a limited run of 300k, all the notes will have prefix ЗС and be dated 2023 with Pyshneyy's signature donning the face. Serial numbers will range from 0000001 to 0300000, with 200k being available in folders and the other 99,900
Control Coupons

[Notes] Without A Face (Part 3)

Having compared scans of the notes, as well as images of the notes under UV light, we'll take a look at the notes with backlighting. All four notes display similar qualities. The parquet watermarks are clear with blocks of four lines running diagonally alternating 90 degrees every other block of four and the back ink is clearly visible through the face and appears violet. I don't particularly see anything off about any of the notes when backlit.  Control note. QA note.
Control Coupons

[Notes] Without A Face (Part 2)

As previously mentioned in Part 1 we're comparing three different Ukrainian P # 83x notes with one another, hopefully they are authentic, and with a control note. We previously examined scans of the four notes now let's take a look at all of the notes under UV.  The control note displays all the typical UV features that are to be expected, UV security fibers, background on the face and latent imprint to the left of the depiction of Lybid. There are varieties of notes with and without the la
Control Coupons

[Notes] Without A Face (Part 1)

On my last submission I mentioned that one note came back as QA "Questionable Authenticity" (1991, 5 Karbovanstiv, Pick # 83x), while not completely shocking I was a little surprised and disappointed. Not so much in that it was not authenticated but that there wasn't a cut and dry decision made, if it had come back as a not genuine, counterfeit or altered note, no problem, but now the note is hanging out in limbo with no clear designation. While the Questionable Authenticity tag does give me a p
Signatures

Sign On The Dotted Line, It's Gonna Work Out Fine'.

The Forum is back up and working again for me! Yes!  Anyway, there has been some news from Ukraine over the 4-week break. In the past month two new notes were released, with one sporting the signature of the new Governor of the NBU, Andriy Pyshnyy.  On Dec. 12 the NBU put into circulation 100 Hryven notes dated 2022 and bearing the signature of the newly appointed Governor. This was a quick turnaround from appointment, Oct. 7th, to new notes, Dec 12th, I'm sure some U.S. collectors woul
Specimen Notes

I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of [Specimens]! (Part 2)

I sent off a second submission of specimen notes to PMG and I have to say that the team at PMG did a fantastic job as the notes arrived just prior to hurricane Ian and were sent back shortly after Ian passed. Even though PMG had to shut down due to Ian, the submission was processed well under the stated turnaround time. Amazing job!  Unlike my first submission, in which all the notes straight graded, it seems that I had a few problem notes in my second, one I knew of and two I didn't. In add
Fenntucky Mike

Fenntucky Mike in Specimen Notes

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Unlisted Varieties

Secret Secret I've Got A Secret (Part 2)

In further researching the subject of Type 1 & 2 notes of the second series control coupons of 1992, 500 Karbovantsiv notes only, and acquiring and examining roughly 75 circulated notes and a dozen uncirculated, in addition to viewing another 100 or so examples online, there appears to be additional identifying markers between the two variants. Whether these markers are due to plate, ink or production variations is not known, by me anyway,  but they have so far held true when used with the o
Signatures

Times Makin' Changes [To Signatures]

On Oct 4th, 2022 the Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, Kyrylo Shevchenko, submitted, to Ukrainian President Zelenskyi, his letter of resignation siting health issues.  Shevchenko has headed the country's Central Bank since July 16, 2020 when he was tapped by Zelenskyi and appointed by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. In the past 27 months Ukraine has issued new circulating banknotes in all denominations with his signature, as well as commemorative notes in all denominations of the 30th Ann
Fenntucky Mike

Fenntucky Mike in Signatures

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Auctions

The [Price] Is High But I'm Holdn' On... Part 2

After a 2-3 month stint stretching through the dog-days of summer/numismatics and a tumbling Euro, English Pound, and virtually every other currency, against the USD, there were several auctions being held across the globe in recent weeks with heaps of top notch world notes in them. Most have now come to fruition and with mixed results for me. In the world of Ukrainian banknotes top notch notes, the rarest of the rare, including rare varieties, are still commanding strong prices (surprisingly),
Fenntucky Mike

Fenntucky Mike in Auctions

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NBU Defaces Banknotes In Time Of War

Damage, Inc.

With the war in Ukraine having entered its six month, and with the taking and retaking of territories within Ukraine, there has been a need by nonmilitary personnel to get out of said areas quickly, as the need arises, sometimes at a moment's notice. That being said, such evacuations mean that there is little time for preparation and items must be left behind and along those lines the NBU has instructed the banks in the warzones to deface/deliberately damage all banknotes in the event of an evac
Control Coupons

Secret Secret I've Got A Secret (Part 1)

Not really, but I thought I'd share a few of the lesser-known varieties of Ukrainian Control Coupons from the second series, what I consider the second series (P#88-93, excluding 91A & 91B, issued 1992, '93 & '95), not found in the Standard Catalog Of World Paper Money and draw a few conclusions along the way. Descriptions of the second series from the latest, probably last printed, edition of the SCWPM. 2019, 25th edition, try to ignore the notations I've added many more since this
Fenntucky Mike

Fenntucky Mike in Control Coupons

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Non PMG Slabs

All You Other [TPG's] Are Just Imitating.

Most of my graded notes are in PMG holders, like 99.9%, but on occasion I will pick up a note from an "off brand" slabber or PCGS, not because there is a great note housed in the holder but for the holder itself.  Buy the note not the holder, not in these instances.   I just find it interesting/funny/weird when I see Ukrainian notes housed in "off-brand" holders and since they are all dirt cheap, I'll pick them up from time to time and add them to my collection.  Some of these act
Fenntucky Mike

Fenntucky Mike in Non PMG Slabs

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Banned Banknotes In Ukraine

Here We Go Again

Ever since the forcible annexation of the Crimean Peninsula by Russia in 2014 the NBU has banned any currency depicting "illustrated maps, symbols, buildings, monuments, archaeological sites, landmarks, landscapes, or any other objects, situated in the territory of Ukraine occupied by Russia.", and for obvious reasons the NBU has now banned the use of all Russian and Belarusian rubles in Ukraine. This most recent ban took effect on February 24, 2022, the day of the invasion, and was an amendment
Specimen Notes

I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of [Specimens]!

Well, after a few years of talking about it I finally sent a submission into PMG. I wanted to test the waters first, so I only sent in a batch of 10 specimen notes. Notes that I feel are properly listed in the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money with appropriate Pick #'s and accurate descriptions. Some of the notes would fill holes in my PMG registry set, others don't currently have homes in the registry but hopefully PMG will create them when I request some new sets. We'll see.  I didn't have
1,000 Karbovantsiv 1918-1921

I've Been Everywhere Man! (Supplemental, Part 2)

I have yet to figure out the reason for the existence of the "black" prefix and serial numbers on some 1,000 Karbovantsiv notes of 1918-21, and as such I've been collecting data on the subject in the form of additional notes with the "black" prefix and serial number variety/error/damage.  Not that I needed a reason to collect more notes.  In my current mania I've managed to acquire several more examples of this phenomenon and I think I'm starting to lean heavily towards the existence of these be
NBU

In The Future To Come...

...will the National Bank of Ukraine stick to it's current product schedule? I've been tracking the NBU product release schedule closely, I always keep an eye on it regardless but more so now, and it has been changing on a monthly basis, even prior to the Invasion. They have been paring the gold issues down since the initial release of the schedule in Nov-Dec of 2021, and now there is no gold commemorative or bullion issues on the latest iteration. Even the silver issues have been cut way b
Fenntucky Mike

Fenntucky Mike in NBU

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Fantasy Notes

Leave Out The Fiction. Heck No!

Since the Invasion of Ukraine there have been several fantasy issues released by private entities. The sellers motives aside, some are quite attractive and of high quality with all the typical modern security features, while some are lacking in those areas and were seemingly "Xeroxed" on plain paper. Regardless, I thought it would be interesting to list a few here that caught my eye and see what others thought about them and of thier existence in general. I've posted this one already in the
Shahiv Issues

Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing, Baby (Part 4, The Ultimate Flim-Flam)

"Pop quiz hotshot". How many of these notes are authentic?   Since we covered the 50 Shahiv I thought I'd pull out some of my 40 Shahiv contemporary counterfeits and give them the same treatment. Plus, I'm boooored right now (rainy day here in Michigan) and why not spend some time looking at banknotes! Let's get to the hints.  Front: As always, we're looking for quality, in the artistry/production of the note and the three "S's" sharpness, separation, and spacing are ke
Auctions

The [Price] Is High But I'm Holdin' On.... Still.

It's been a while since I've last talked about the hammer prices of Ukrainian banknotes, and coins for that matter, both continue to command strong prices at auction. This is due to many factors no doubt, such as inflation, individuals still high on the hog with Covid money or generating additional income due to Covid, the war in Ukraine generating interest and sympathy, along with a collector base/demand in general that has been slowly growing, even prior to any of the previous factors already
Fenntucky Mike

Fenntucky Mike in Auctions

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Shahiv Issues

Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing, Baby (Part 3, Ignorance Breeds Imitation)

"Pop quiz hotshot". How many of these notes are authentic?   Before you answer I'll give you a couple of hints, areas that I look at when first viewing a 50 Shahiv note. Front: It goes without saying that we are looking for detail, as would be the norm for officially produced notes, and consistency but there are two areas, or design elements, that are typically dead giveaways with these. One is the diamond matrix surrounding the denomination inside of the wreath. The ma
Shahiv Issues

Who Are You! (A Variety?)

Being an avid collector , you first start with types, then the known/standard varieties such as signatures, watermarks, replacements, etc. and when you run out of those you start searching for supplemental material and/or new varieties. That being said, I sat down with my Ukrainian shahiv notes the other day, organizing labeling, studying as one would normally do and while making a determination on whether or not one of my 50 shahiv notes was a contemporary counterfeit and comparing it to a few
Fenntucky Mike

Fenntucky Mike in Shahiv Issues

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1,000 Karbovantsiv 1918-1921

I've Been Everywhere Man! (Supplemental, Part 1)

For the first time in quite a while I was able to sit down and spend some time with my collection. With temps in the low 40's yesterday, and a constant drizzle staring me in the face as I looked out the window, it wasn't a difficult decision.  Even though I've not had time to sit down and enjoy my notes that doesn't mean I haven't had time to make a few additions, and I've been busy. More on that later in a future Journal entry.  One of my recent purchases was another Ukrainian 1,000 karbovansti
2021 30th Anniversary Commemorative Banknotes

No, Not Another Souvenir!

On January 17th the National Bank of Ukraine issued the final banknotes commemorating the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence. Two commemorative sets were released containing all six denominations with matching serial numbers. The first set comes in a NBU envelope, the notes loose, with an issue limit of 3,000 sets and serial numbers ranging from ЯА0007000 - ЯА0009999. The second is in the form of a hardcover booklet, again, containing one commemorative note of each denomination with matc
1,000 Karbovantsiv 1918-1921

I've Been Everywhere, Man! (Part 2)

With three different production sites, dwindling supplies, war on several fronts and a desperate need for banknotes to circulate among the public, compromises were made and as a result several varieties of 1,000 Krabovantsiv banknotes exist. Below we will touch on what I consider major varieties.  KYIV With Kyiv being the first and most stable location, the notes printed there were of good quality and consistency. As a result, there are no major varieties that can be directly link to t
1,000 Karbovantsiv 1918-1921

I've Been Everywhere, Man! (Part 1)

If you like collecting varieties (and I do) there are tons of them out there for Ukrainian notes, and probably my favorite varieties to collect are for the 1918-1921 1,000 Karbovantsiv banknote. It's a great note to collect by variety as it is probably the most readily available note from that period, it's fairly cheap (especially in lower grades), and it will definitely keep you on your toes as there are many varieties, especially if you collect by prefix. Before we get to the varieties let's s
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