Nice!

I've been noticing a lot of Zim 68's, in various series/denominations, going unsold so I'm hoping prices will start falling across the board in the near future. For notes from all countries that is. 

Now that this series of notes is done, or at least that is what is being said, I wonder how you would rate these notes against other Zim series as far as aesthetics and historical significance or interest? I don't know enough about each series of notes to speak of their historical significance or how interesting that history might be but I could give an opinion on the aesthetics. My ranking of the most attractive Zim banknote series would be (1) the first series, 1980-'94, (2) the fifth series, 2016-'22, (3) the second series, 1994-2004. My second and third place series are pretty much interchangeable to me in all fairness, but I ranked the fifth series second for conversation's sake. 

On 9/29/2022 at 5:26 PM, Fenntucky Mike said:

Nice!

I've been noticing a lot of Zim 68's, in various series/denominations, going unsold so I'm hoping prices will start falling across the board in the near future. For notes from all countries that is. 

Now that this series of notes is done, or at least that is what is being said, I wonder how you would rate these notes against other Zim series as far as aesthetics and historical significance or interest? I don't know enough about each series of notes to speak of their historical significance or how interesting that history might be but I could give an opinion on the aesthetics. My ranking of the most attractive Zim banknote series would be (1) the first series, 1980-'94, (2) the fifth series, 2016-'22, (3) the second series, 1994-2004. My second and third place series are pretty much interchangeable to me in all fairness, but I ranked the fifth series second for conversation's sake. 

I'd be just fine with upgrading on the cheap but I sadly know it's because the air is coming out of the stock market and the economy, people are struggling with inflation and the "little extras" are getting squeezed. 

I consider the first series of the 1st dollar and the 5th/6th/RTGS/New ZWD series (because that series wore a lot of hats) about even on aethetics. The OG notes are just of their time while the new ones are modern. But the new ones are one of the few that feel like a spiritual successor to the first series and not something slapped together and rushed out. They tried with the 3rd dollar design to make them look nice and like a revival of sorts after the bearer checks but the two square images together on the back is a lazy design flop that disappoints vs the first dollar notes and the newest ones. The 4th dollar series of '09 just look a bit lazy and tired, but not quite as lazy as the bearer checks.

As far as historical significance the 3rd dollar probably wins as the series at the peak, the end, and the worst of the hyperinflation, with the infamous Trillions notes.

The 2nd dollar bearer checks span the more interesting time period - The Fear. Operation Sunrise. The long, slow, death-spiral of the country.

On 9/29/2022 at 5:26 PM, Fenntucky Mike said:

but I ranked the fifth series second for conversation's sake. 

On 10/7/2022 at 11:46 PM, Revenant said:

Oh Snap! 

I'm still holding out for a $50 though, haven't found one yet in the grade I'm looking for. 

I enjoyed your descriptions for the $50 & $100 notes, the $100 particularly. 

On 10/8/2022 at 5:32 AM, Fenntucky Mike said:

I enjoyed your descriptions for the $50 & $100 notes, the $100 particularly. 

Thanks! BTW, my wife says we're cute together. 

@Revenant@Fenntucky Mike

So what has Bonezdogg got that you two haven't ?

On 10/8/2022 at 5:37 PM, ColonialCoinsUK said:

@Revenant@Fenntucky Mike

So what has Bonezdogg got that you two haven't ?

A bigger budget!  That's a jealous rage emoji if you couldn't tell. 

Bonez has some very high grade notes in that set, including a 70! Awesome stuff!  There are quite a few 70 notes in that series and I have seen several go up for auction but that's not something I will be chasing, for modern's 68 is my number, on occasion, a 69 if the price is right. I've talked about this before, but I just can't justify using my limited funds chasing notes graded 70, too many other notes out there that I would rather have. That's not to disparage others who do go after 70 notes, I get it, just not my thing. 

On 10/8/2022 at 11:13 PM, Fenntucky Mike said:

A bigger budget!  That's a jealous rage emoji if you couldn't tell. 

Bonez has some very high grade notes in that set, including a 70! There are quite a few 70 notes in that series and I have seen several go up for auction but that's not something I will be chasing, for modern's 68 is my number, on occasion a 69 if the price is right. I've talked about this before, but I just can't justify using my limited funds chasing notes graded 70, too many other notes out there that I would rather have. That's not to disparage others who do go after 70 notes, I get it, just not my thing. 

 

Same here, although a 70 is appearing shortly and if the price isn't silly I may just bid so I have one. Personally, as with coins I find the search for new varieties more interesting - I don't have any 70's in metal either

On 10/8/2022 at 6:38 PM, ColonialCoinsUK said:

I don't have any 70's in metal either

Not me, I got caught up in ASE's when I got into graded coins a four or five years ago but have since abandoned that train of thought for the most part.  I do still go after 70's in some of my modern coin sets but that's a little different as the money involved is negligible when compared to chasing notes. The main difference between coins that I chase in 70 grades and notes graded 70 is that I can submit modern coins on my own and be very confident that most or all will come back as 70 and then I can add one to my set and sell the rest for a small profit to be put into my banknote addiction. There is no way I could submit notes with the same success rate, apparently nobody can.

On 10/8/2022 at 5:13 PM, Fenntucky Mike said:

A bigger budget!  That's a jealous rage emoji if you couldn't tell. 

Bonez has some very high grade notes in that set, including a 70! Awesome stuff!  There are quite a few 70 notes in that series and I have seen several go up for auction but that's not something I will be chasing, for modern's 68 is my number, on occasion, a 69 if the price is right. I've talked about this before, but I just can't justify using my limited funds chasing notes graded 70, too many other notes out there that I would rather have. That's not to disparage others who do go after 70 notes, I get it, just not my thing. 

 

My first thought was, "More money."

My main issue with chasing 69s and 70s is the value proposition. Yes, it is maybe technically incrementally better than the 68. But most will never spot the difference or care. I'd rather have a set of 67s and 68s that together tell a story as a set than a 69 or 70.

All that said, if I had it, if I won the lottery and money was no issue, I'd probably make an offer to buy Bonez out.

That said, that this point I've made some 70s and 69s on the NGC side. I think there's 3 70s in my NZ silver Kiwi set that I had graded myself.

My Zimbabwe and Venezuelan coin sets now feature 69s that I earned myself. very proud of those. 

On 10/8/2022 at 4:37 PM, ColonialCoinsUK said:

@Revenant@Fenntucky Mike

So what has Bonezdogg got that you two haven't ?

Being only a little snarky and salty here, he/she has a more expensive set, all of which he/she bought already graded near as I can tell, so I take his/her ranking as a measure of his/her wallet and not an indication of skill as a collector / grader. I'll end there and not indulge too much in a sour grades rant.