Fenntucky Mike

That $5 70EPQ has flown past $250, looks like a slam dunk to clear $300. Any guesses as to where it may land $$$$

While I haven't done a word count of my descriptions, I tried inserting them into the Note Description box in my Registry Set and received a notification that the description exceeded the 5,000 word limit. I then put the same description into the Signature Set (with additional text) and it was accepted. So I'm going with the assumption that the 5000 character limit does not apply to the Signature Sets. Maybe there is a glitch in the system, I'm not sure. If there was a glitch, that might explain why the Registry Set would not display the Crylic characters and the Signature Set did. Hmmm, of course it's just as likely to have been something I did. I don't expect many people to ready through the full descriptions but if someone has more than a casual interest in the series, the information is there for them and me for that matter. Sometimes it's just easier for me to look at my own descriptions in the registry rather than open the original documents on my computer. The main reason for an essentially duplicate Signature Set to a Registry Set, is so that I can give those fine details to people who may be interested or are trying to identify a note. That is a pet peeve of mine, I wish we could post additional images in our descriptions. That would be sweet if people could add additional pictures, to help highlight what they are describing. For example there are a few notes where PMG does not call out a watermark but there is/are watermarks on the notes, a picture says a thousand words. Maybe even 5,000. Yes, for now I'm adding notes to the signature set as I complete the descriptions, or at least have a rough draft of them. No reason for this other than it just seems easier for me to manage.

Note to self. Tried it and it was disturbing, it looks even worse when shrunken down. Some creepy, shrunken, floating head. Weird. Went back to the old avatar.

I've been toying with some of the note descriptions for my Ukrainian registry sets and I'm having trouble staying under the 5,000 word limit. My friends and family would be somewhat surprised by this revelation, as they often have difficulty extracting a coherent sentence out of me at times. I tend to be more of an observer/listener rather than an active participant in conversations, pouncing in with wise cracking comments and/or definitive statements, after which (if my commentary had the desired affect) I'll take my cue and leave on a "high note". Anyway back to the problem at hand, in my descriptions I have a basic template that I then fill in with information and descriptions, normally at least on the coin (NGC) side I almost never run over the word limit, I think I ran over maybe once, but over here (PMG) I'm finding myself running over more often than not. So instead of tapering down the descriptions I decided to make a Signature Set where I can run wild, free of all word restrictions. In the main registry set I put the basic statistics of the note along with a notation directing the reader, if they are so inclined, to visit the Signature Set for more information. Simple enough, right? Well, I wasn't a fan of dumping all those descriptions in the Slot Comment box as it didn't seem conducive to reading and made the set look "clunky", so in the Slot Comment I put another notation to click on the photo icon to read the description, now that looks better. Another reason for moving the description off of the Set Registry is that I like to add the exact text (Crylic) on the notes to the descriptions and when entering this into the registry descriptions and saving ????????'s would be displayed instead of the Crylic text, not the case in the signature set. I treat all of my descriptions as living documents so I'll go in and add comments, thoughts or observations as I learn them or as more updated information surfaces or if I'm wrong and need to make corrections. Now with presumably unlimited space for descriptions I can continue with my extended entries unfettered. For example, I can just copy and paste all the security feature information from the NBU into the description and go into minutia with some of the details of the notes. Also, I will be able to go back at a later date and add historical details about the notes and the state of Ukraine at the time of release, what prompted the issues, etc. giving the notes context. These were details that I was originally going to hold back so as to fit within the confinement of the 5,000 word limit. I have close to a dozen descriptions rolling right now in the registry and signature sets, which I'll go back and continue to refine. I have another 4 or 5 notes that I want to plug in right now and then I'll take a minute to think about how they read and flow, then go back and tweak before adding more descriptions. Overall I think it is a good solution, treat the registry set descriptions like the back of a baseball card and put the bulk of the detailed info in the signature set. Finally, as I'm looking at this journal, I can see it's starting to run away from me and for now I think I just need to SHUT UP! Side note, Why does Jam Master Jay have tinfoil covered crutches in this music video and is that a real or fake coin about 1:50 in? I'm thinking fake, just a prop.

I'll keep my eye on that $5 68 EPQ, I might give it a go. The problem is that like Zimbabwe notes, there seems to be a endless supply of new Ukrainian notes popping up for sale. So I'm mainly focusing on some of those at the moment. Two familiar sellers just put up a bunch of Ukrainian notes and one familiar seller is flooding the market with both, there are currently at least 102 PMG graded Ukrainian notes for sale. I don't think I've ever seen that many up for sale at one time and the PMG population report just keeps climbing every week, these sellers just keep sending notes in. I still say they are looking at registry sets . Discussing notes in an open forum probably isn't the best when we're looking at going after them but I've seen more tumbleweeds here than people. Banknotes becoming more popular should be a good thing for everyone.

LOL, I threw down a low ball bid on that 70 yesterday, just to see how quickly I would be passed. It didn't take long, less than a day. With 15 watching and 8 days left seems like a cinch to jump past $200, I'm thinking it may clear $300. I'm with you, I'd be perfectly happy with a 67 or 68 for this note. 68's for modern world notes are usually readily available at much lower costs.

Cool note, I'm surprised there were that many varieties for a one year issue. I'm guessing the number of varieties is in part due to what a pile of hot garbage the government was/is. Looks like there are two other 23e's out there. I don't mind the 15 YEARS on the holder, but the holders in my sets not matching slightly annoys me. Beggars can't be choosers when the right note pops up though. Just saw a 2019 five dollar note popped up (70 EPQ), Not a fan of PMG keeping unlisted notes off the population reports, makes it a little harder to judge value/rarity. I don't like the sound of that, could have a whole different meaning in Zimbabwe. You may not want The Red Carpet Welcome.

Dig it out! Dig it out! No image available on Verify PMG Certification, well done. Trivia contest or the like could be fun around here, guess the grade, real or fake, etc. Just for bragging rights and the education.

That is a little surprising, especially since it's not just precious metals that are up, but it's metals across the board. Copper, Zinc, Tin & Aluminium all up since a down turn at the start of the pandemic. You would think that would mean "good times" for your shares.

Note to self. I may have to make that jumbled up portrait my new avatar.

Did I say gold will break 1800, what I meant to say was 1900. Holy, you know what! P.S. I did go against my own advise and purchased a fractional gold coin a week ago. It was a coin that I couldn't pass up for one of my sets and as it turns out my cost is now below spot at today's prices.

Prior to me starting a Ukrainian banknote registry set, I was well aware of two "stopper" notes in it, Pick# 50 (2 Karbowanez) and Pick #125 (50 Hryvnia). The 2 Karbowanez note I may never own or even get the opportunity to (this note has an interesting story behind it, which I will write about in a future journal), but the 50 Hryvnia I will have an opportunity to acquire at some point and that time could be very soon. The 50 Hryvnia is a manufactured rarity (I hate that), a commemorative banknote with only 1,000 being produced (S#'s 00000001 - 0001000) in 2011 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the NBU. Two hundred were sold in a set containing a 4oz silver replica of the note, the remaining 800 were sold individually in a commemorative folder. The notes overall design is identical to the 2004 (Pick 121) 50 Hryvnia issue, the only difference being the addition of a green-to-gold SPARK patch with the phrase “НБУ 20 років” (NBU – 20 years) on the obverse. If I were to acquire this note it would easily be the most expensive in my Ukrainian set to date. I've been watching the 50 Hryvnia note for the last 2+ years and it just keeps going up in price and down in availability, so my conundrum is do I buy now or wait 10 years and hope it goes down in price and becomes available. A common question that many collectors struggle with and a question that can only be answered by that individual. Recently the UAH has taken a nosedive against the USD and items purchased in Ukraine are much lower in cost compared to a year ago. I have been taking advantage of this recently by purchasing several coins from some of my Ukrainian contacts at much reduced costs, I have a shipment of a dozen coins on the way as I type this. I have also been paring down some of my collections, selling off duplicates and the such. So, with a falling UAH, an influx of funds (hopefully) from selling off some items, a second quarter bonus at work (please, please, please) and a known available 2011 50 Hryvnia note in Ukraine I'm thinking the time is, well. Right now! (Or at least in the very near future) To be continued.......

**WARNING:READING THIS JOURNAL ENTRY MAY CAUSE SEVERE BRAIN PAIN, DO NOT READ THIS ENTRY IF YOU WANT TO LEARN ANYTHING WORTH RETAINING.** I was looking at my Ukrainian banknotes yesterday and after inspecting the reverse of the 1992 5 Hryven note I couldn't help but say to myself "Damn, that's one crazy stash! What's with all the hair on these notes?". Yep, that thought was all the encouragement my brain needed to leap from the structure of reality and plunge frontal lobe first into the "default mode network". Now having fully left reality I start to wonder if the portrait of Bogdan Khmelnytsky turns into a younger version of him if you turn the bill upside down, kind of like the old "before 10 beers / after 10 beers" joke. Ehhhh No. But the stash did give the feathers a run for their money. Next, I'm wondering who has the best coif on a Ukrainian note? Not a contest you would necessarily want to win, but after extensive research I would have to give first prize to Mikhail Hrushevsky on the 50 Hryven note. In this case I would think less is more, at least in this contest. Not may lookers here so far, but plenty of personal hygiene and style choice questions. Next thought is, who would win Best in Show competing in the Banknotes of Any Denomination with Hair, Also Including Rugs class, better known as the B.A.D.H.A.I.R. category. A few hours later, after scouring the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, my thought process continuing to spiral downward. I've now been sidetracked into "what if I combined some of the greatest bad hair days on banknotes and combined them". Now I'm breaking the notes into categories like best neck beard, mutton chops, stashes, fur coats and hats, etc. Being a little technologically challenged and my imagination being restricted to the tools at hand, I ended up with a cross between James Mason and a Oompa Loompa. The portrait is made from seven different notes, 10 points if you can guess 4 of the 7. To wrap it up, my brain run amok was stopped by the arrival of new parcel yesterday. Huzzah, a new banknote has arrived....... Oh,...Yep, more hair. If you made it this far the short answer is, NO! I do not know how to unread this, blank your memory or poke out your minds eye. All I can say is that I'll be going to the liquor store in about five minutes, in an effort to wipe this from my memory banks. Two days without the structure of work is apparently to long a period for my brain to handle. Feel free to share some Bad Hair Day Banknotes. GOOD LUCK forgetting this and don't say I didn't warn you.

Yep, that is exactly what I did, it happened on two separate occasions. I can't remember if the orders didn't qualify for free shipping or didn't meet there minimum order requirement, but at any rate I ended up with an unplanned Zimbabwe note in my cart each time. The billion dollar note was the first and I admit I added that one to the order strictly for the novelty of having a billion dollar note. I added the Agro-Cheque to the second order because I had started doing a little research about Zimbabwe was getting interested, the price was right, at a high grade and what the hell I already had one Zimbabwe note, lets make it two. Now I'm really interested in the first series and am on the brink of going full in on those. Funny how a collection can start some times.

What is the "(formerly VENUNL1000a)" referring to?

I enjoy following the Cert #'s if possible. I just find it interesting and it gives me a glimpse of the history of that individual note and if it crossed paths with other notes (including notes from different countries) not just in my sets but in other peoples sets. Gives me a glimpse of what these sellers are doing behind the scenes with there submissions, i.e. when submitted, how many, what denominations, etc. Although I haven't been able to translate any of this info into BIG BIG SAVINGS, or that any of it is relevant. It's just another layer of collecting that I've sunk to. I've been to BankNoteWorld a few times, in fact that is were my two Zimbabwe notes came from. Needed to get my cart total up to qualify for free shipping. Off topic, but I took a peek over at Banknote World while typing this and they have one add saying "Gold is at a 2012 high of $1800, now is the time to buy before the market moves higher" and another saying "Price Drop Silver Bullion now is the time to buy". I know I'm over simplifying this but striping those statements down to nuts and bolts. Which is it, buy high or buy low? I just find it amusing that they would have two seemingly contrarian statements scrolling back to back. Not that either statement is necessarily wrong.

You can type your Cert # into that slot, you will get a not valid for slot message, PMG will see that you tried to enter a Cert # review it and then if valid the'll add that Pick # to the slot along with your note. Usually only takes 24hrs for them to add your note and they'll send you a confirmation email when it's done. See Ali's response to me further up the string. LOL, I just did this again for one of my sets a few minutes ago.

Seems odd that they would use the same base designs back to back for the series, in different denominations. If you were going to keep the same base designs, I'm surprised that they didn't just tack three zeros onto the original notes then come up with two new designs for the 500 and 1,000. Were the Pick #'s changed for the second issue of notes? Not a big fan of these old holders, the blueish green tint detracts from the note.

I was taking a scroll through the NBU's website this morning and stubbed my index finger on the headline "OFFICIAL DENIAL: The 1,000 Hryvnia Banknote Does Not Depict an Unlicensed Font", well now you have my attention! It appears that the NBU Had a minor controversy in regards to the font used on the new 1,000 UAH banknote released in October of last year. There were questions raised as to origin and use of the font on the reverse of the banknote, specifically the phrase "One Thousand hryvnia" (see below) and an Adobe copyrighted font called Bickham ---script. The Cyrillic versions (see below) were published in 2016. It's been a little difficult to follow but here is the gist of it, or at least as I understand it. Bickham ---script was created in 1997 and licensed by Adobe, Bickham ---script was then pirated by a well known Russian font thief who slightly modified it and passed off several versions as original, this stolen and modified font was then apparently found on the NBU Banknote Printing and Minting Works network and was used on the new Ukrainian 1,000 hyvnia banknotes, of which 5 million were printed. Supposedly Adobe confirmed the unlicensed use of the font but I have not been able to find an official statement from them. Now, these news stories are not from what I would call mainstream media outlets so I'm taking all of this info with a grain of salt but there was enough of an outcry that the NBU actually responded to the accusations. The NBU released an official statement basically claiming Multiple Discovery. In their statement the NBU explains that "all the images on the banknotes are author's graphics. Artists who work on their design do not use ready-made drawings or fonts. They themselves create vector graphic design elements, including the lettering of the denomination of the banknote." read the official denial from the NBU here https://bank.gov.ua/en/news/all/sprostuvannya-na-banknoti-1000-griven-nemaye-nelitsenzovanogo-shriftu . Stories like these are one of the reasons I really enjoy collecting the notes and coins of Ukraine, it's like the wild west over there. I have to think that this is not the first time a question has been raised in regards to the font used on a banknote. Not necessarily from Ukraine but in general from all countries, feel free to let me know of any examples. You can bet I'll be paying attention to the next series of 1,000 Hryven banknotes to see if anything changed. Hmmmm, my photog skills suck. The 1,000 Hryven Banknote was one of 22 nominated for note of the year (2019) by the International Bank Note Society. The Central Bank of Aruba was awarded the top prize for their 100 Florin bill.

LOL, Five new listings have just popped over the last 24hrs from that same seller, all in shiny new PMG holders. One would be an upgrade and the other two will fit into empty slots in my sets. The funny thing is that the slots the notes will fit in are Pick # specific, meaning that I already have at least one version of the notes in that base Pick # and the ones posted just happen to be the variants I need for those notes. Let's see if the seller posts any additional notes over the next few days, like another ten. I wish this seller would show the reverse of the note so I could see the cert #, that would help answer the question of were these part of the last submission the seller made, meaning the first seven digits of the cert #'s would match the cert #'s on the notes I just bought. Or if these have new cert #'s, not that it would be 100% conclusive. Just the nut job conspiracy theorist coming out in me, and to much time on my hands.

I feel like they were good deals for the most part, I acquired over half of those notes for between $25 - $40. Considering the grading fees plus shipping would probably run me around $22 - 25 a note, plus the cost of purchasing several raw notes so I would be able to select the higher grades, I'm very happy with those prices. Most of the notes pictured are from one seller and it seems that this seller likes to deal in volume and likes to turn over there inventory, so they seem to keep there prices fairly low. I've purchased items from them for a few years now. Its a seller on eBay, one I'm sure you've dealt with and probably most people have dealt with if you're collecting world notes.

Recently, I've been burning up some spare funds I acquired through sales of some duplicates in my coin collections. I've been busy using some of these newly rediscovered monies to focus on gathering up several Ukrainian banknotes for my sets. I have been hitting the banknotes really hard the last two weeks due to several factors eluded to in a previous journal entry (over $1,800 an ounce on 7/8/2020). It just so happened that several notes popped up for sale that were either perfect matches for empty slots or upgrades in my sets. Funny how when you have some extra "mad" money you find the perfect thing to spend it on fairly quickly, hmmmm. Needless to say I bid on all of the notes and won most of them (not a lot of competition for Ukrainian notes). At the time I saw the notes and even more so now, I can't help but have a feeling of being spied on. That the seller looked at my registry set, looked in his inventory and sent some notes in for grading, Bing. Bang. Boom. Notes for me and a profit for them. Good for them if that's the case, that just seems like good business and paying attention to your market if true. I noticed today when looking at the population report for Ukrainian banknotes that the total graded increased by 15 which might as well be a hundred when talking Ukrainian banknotes. Another bulk submission from this seller? I guess I'll find out, let's go for broke. The latest banknotes to roll in this week, more on the way. Man, I need to get going on some descriptions for these notes!

I'd get the 8/8 graded or just keep it in a nice holder like you already have and keep it for my own collection. The only other fancy serial numbers I think you can have with the first five digits being the same (8) are Rotators. Keep researching the S#'s and the notes in general, get a good (realistic) idea of what the value is, and maybe you'll stumble on to something with the Lucky numbers and/or Fancy serial numbers as well. Depending on what you think the other notes are worth, I'd think about not grading and just going the eBay route. Good Luck.

So the question I would have is, would these notes (specifically the 6/8's and 5/8's with lucky number combinations) have a higher hammer price at an auction held in the Asian market or U.S.? Or does it really even matter in this day and age, as long as the auction is well advertised. The 8/8 gets graded the 7/8's probably get graded as well. I see 7/8's (7 of 8 numbers the same not necessarily 8's) selling on eBay (in lower denominations) both graded and raw for between $150-300 I wouldn't think they would struggle, or that any of the big auction houses would necessarily struggle. If they did I'm sure they'd figure it out, they want to optimize the hammer price as much as you. What I would be looking for is the next available major Asian auction that I could cosign to, that's assuming your notes carry a higher premium due to the serial number combinations in the Asian market. Stack's Bowers is holding an auction for the Hong Kong Coin Show later this month, probably to late to hit that one but I would be looking at the major auction houses for a similar show. . A good auction house should be able to point you in the right direction. Stack's Bowers is offering free grading to all coins and notes cosigned to them, until they hit $1 Million in grading fees. Good find and recognizing the potential by the way. I probably would have not noticed the serial numbers at the time and just stuffed the notes in my pocket and walked away. If it was me I'd save at least one for liar's poker, always a blast when someone shows a bill like that. Just be prepared to be called every name in the book after you show it and hopefully take everyone's money, at least if your circle of friends is like mine.

Nice, Nothing like striking while the iron is hot and being able to nearly complete a graded set in a days time. High grades and reasonable prices no less, can't beat that. Sounds like the Venezuelan Bolivars were a perfect choice for your next set.