Fenntucky Mike

That's very interesting, I never knew that about the otters/dogs, and I have to say that I love the vignette in the feature photo. 

Your comment on specimens being the only high grade examples available makes perfect sense, and for this note is undoubtedly true, but just the opposite can be true with many specimen notes. Circulating notes were often tucked away and either saved or forgotten only to resurface decades latter in uncirculated condition, and specimens were often disposed of/treated harshly because they were nonredeemable or were saved and glued into scrapbooks and the like.  I rarely see any Ukrainian specimens from the same period and if they do surface the condition is typically less than stellar. Specimen notes are some of my favorites. 

+0 = 2,634 No change this week.  

+12 = 2,634

20 Hryven + 1

100 Hryven + 1

500 Hryven + 1

50 Karbovantsiv + 6

500 Karbowanez + 3

On 1/28/2022 at 2:21 PM, ColonialCoinsUK said:

I have had copies of SCWPM and the Specialised Issues for years although Mexican World Paper Money was more recent, and in colour. As my coins do drift further south I ask myself are there equivalent references for the rest of central and south amercia!?

That Mexican Paper Money catalog looked amazing! The full color pictures had me drooling on the computer screen, I almost picked one up but I actually managed to show some restraint this time. It's in my watchlist now though. 

Well you certainly pick a series with a lot of varieties, a guy could go nuts with these. Over a 1,000! 

While I don't currently have any Mexican notes from this period the "two little faces" series is definitely one I've browsed over before in catalogs and online. It looks like a fun set of notes to collect, and a set that you could really stretch your legs out in if you wanted. 

I'm curious, did you skip purchasing the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Specialized Issues and go straight for the Mexican Paper Money catalog/encyclopedia? The SCWPM,SI only lists 3 varieties and I think this entry highlights the importance of having the proper references when collecting.

Excellent first PMG Journal entry and note. 

+2 = 2,622

2 Karbowanez +2

The pop report only increased by two this week but the 2 Karbowanez banknote is the key note of the series. An increase, of any kind, with these notes is big news. 

On 1/25/2022 at 9:58 AM, VE Coins said:

Those sets seem interesting but I've picked up a couple of the new notes individually. I also totally agree with you that packages from Ukraine have been incredibly slow, I just got a couple packages this week that I had ordered early to mid December.

I liked the matching serial numbers aspect of the sets, that's the main reason for me picking them up anyway. Getting the notes individually is definitely a good way to go, and cheaper.  

I don't know if it's the Russian threat, the holidays, or what, but it's never taken this long for packages to arrive from Ukraine before.  As long as they all show up intact, I guess I'll live.  Waiting on these sets, some other notes and coins, and some bonds right now. Just got a package of several specimen notes from Ukraine yesterday, that was a nice surprise. 

On 1/20/2022 at 2:36 PM, ColonialCoinsUK said:

Reply seems to be whether they are still redeemable at the bank or not - so it looks like older contemporary counterfeits should be OK. No population report for these though!

Ahhh! You know I didn't even think about it but that makes perfect sense. If a contemporary was still redeemable and PMG graded, labeled it as such, and then returned the note that could, perhaps, make PMG liable in some fashion for "redistributing" the counterfeit.? I wonder if they would be compelled to report or destroy such a note if one was sent to them? I'm probably WAY overthinking this.  Although it seems more than a little bogus that PMG would not list contemporary counterfeits in the Pop Report, that is not an entirely accurate statement. The 100 Karbovantsiv counterfeit in my journal entry IS listed in the Ukraine population report. Now, maybe that was a mistake and they are going to delete it next week but....

https://www.pmgnotes.com/population-report/ukraine/ukraine/100-karbovantsiv/  

Ok,  I saw your reply to Jennifer and don't think for a second that it didn't make me even more curious as to what notes you may have. 

+33 = 2,260 

2 Hryven + 2

100 Hryven + 31

An increase of 31 notes in the 100 Hryven category seems unlikely, I feel like there will be a correction in the not to distant future. 

+1 = 2,587  

100 Karbovantsiv + 1

Another Forum member offered up a good suggestion for these, and that was to isolate the watermark or note by using some aluminum foil to block out the surrounding area, leaving the watermark area (or note) the only thing visible on the light pad. A definite improvement. 

Without foil.

With.

Watermark isolation.

No change this week. 

On 1/3/2022 at 4:56 PM, ColonialCoinsUK said:

I thought PMG didn't grade counterfeits - I assume this applies to modern counterfeits rather than contemporary ones? Their FAQs don't seem to differentiate but I may be looking in the wrong place!

That's a good question, and maybe one for Jennifer in the Ask PMG section of the Forum. My interpretation is that PMG will grade contemporary and modern counterfeits depending on the context under which they were made, who produced them, available documentation, did they circulate, etc.. Could be mistaken and maybe they have a cut off 1957, which is what PMG considers the start of modern notes based on there submission tiers.  2022, Russia printing counterfeits to disrupt modern Ukraine's economy, probably gradable. Me Xeroxing some Monopoly money, meh, probably not. 

Any interest in banknotes my friend? I assume you have at least a few, most coin collectors do, and if true we like seeing stuff like that over here. 

+22 = 2,586

2 Hryven +1

5 Hryven +2

10 Hryven +1

20 Hryven +1

100 Hryven +3

500 Hryven +3

1 Hryvnia +3

10 Karbovantsiv +1

500 Karbovantsiv +1

1000 Karbovantsiv +5

20000 Karbovantsiv +1

Interesting stuff going on right now, things that I'll have updates on later in another Journal entry.

On 12/23/2021 at 8:07 PM, Revenant said:

I mean, it could be worse. From August 2008 to Feb 2009 the RBZ released the entire 27 note 3rd dollar run (some with varieties) and the 7 note 4th dollar run. 34 notes in 6 months - not including varieties!

Venezuela was also kinda painful this year. They put out 8 new notes, not that I've gotten into most of that - I only have 2 so far, but 2 of the three that have been out a while. The 5 new ones are still working on trickling through.

True that! Nowhere near as bad as 34 notes in 6 months, but definitely a busy year if your trying to stay current and cherry pick the best notes and serial numbers. If I wasn't trying to stay "real time" with my collection it wouldn't be near as painful, and if more commemoratives/varieties are issued next year I may just wait. I'm thinking other than the complete set of commemorative notes in 2022, nothing else will be issued next year unless there is a regime change at the NBU.

+12 = 2,564

2 Hryven + 1

100 Hryven + 6

1 Karbovanets + 1

3 Karbovantsi + 2

5 Karbovantsiv + 1

30 Shahiv + 1

Quote

On 12/15/2021 at 7:34 AM, Revenant said:

Who knows? That may be the plan.

That would follow a similar theme to the $50, a definite possibility.

Quote

there was a Shona chieftain in the late 19th Century called Neharawa. 

I think they should put him on the $100 bill, when they release it. 

+9 = 2,552

10 Hryven + 1

100 Hryven + 1

50 Shahiv + 1

10 Shahiv + 3

20 Shahiv + 1

30 Shahiv +2

Another postage stamp currency submission went through this week. Sweet!

Hmm, Harare is a much larger city than I was thinking. Google Earth shows that they have urban sprawl down to a science and it looks like the northside was maybe developed first, or that's where the upper class is and the southside newer and/or poorer. That's just me drawing conclusions based off of the images.

On 12/8/2021 at 12:44 PM, Revenant said:

I hadn't been too aware of this but apparently Russian battalions have been massing near the border and they're worried that next year Russia might invade with about 175,000 troops. I wonder how bold they're feeling since I don't see how the US and NATO would get out of responding to that ala that Season of "Madame Secretary."

The response would be sanctions, most of the world is lined up to slap sanctions on Russia if they do invade. There will be no military response from the U.S. or any other nation, as far as I know, other than to further equip the Ukrainian military. Things have been ramping up over there in the last year, in the end I don't think Russia will invade but that's like 60/40. I 100% think that Putin wants Ukraine and that he's bold enough to go in but freezing all of Russia's assets and sending their economy back to the stone age is hopefully enough to get him to pump the breaks. 

+26 = 2,543

2 Hryven +1

5 Hryven+3

20 Hryven+ 2

50 Hryven+ 4

100 Hryven + 2

200 Hryven + 2

500 Hryven + 1

2 Hryvni + 3

1 Hryvnia + 2

100 Karbovantsiv +1

10,000 Karbovantsiv + 1

10 Karbowanez + 1

50 Karbowanez + 1

100 Karbowanez + 1

20,000 Karbovantsiv + 1

On 12/5/2021 at 8:07 PM, Revenant said:

Gotta love the Russians when they're being trolls

When was the last time that they weren't trolling someone?  It's what they do. 

On 12/1/2021 at 11:43 AM, Revenant said:

We closed out at 1192 today.

Damn! 

+3 = 2,517

100 Hryven +2

200 Hryven +1