ColonialCoinsUK

Very good question . The position of the cut through the vertical 'Banco Colombiano' does vary suggesting there was a counterfoil and they were cut as needed. Similar issues in my collection (e.g. Banco Pamplona) also vary with the position of the cut and it is only remainders/specimens that I have seen which are intact (e.g. Banco Maua & Cia, Banco Internacional) which suggests that the elusive 'cancelled' late S/Ns and/or the Specimens may still have the counterfoil attached. The only notes with EPQ are the 65's and 66's.

I have added an example for the Banco Colombiano from Guatemala to the Impossible Set also indicating that this bank requires much more research. The note is S121b, an example of the 1 peso issue, dated 17th April 1900 and my research so far posed a few questions. Earlier dates of 17th October 1879 and 5th April 1900 are also recorded, as is a Specimen issue, with most of the notes cancelled and not issued (S/N 59999 to 184998) suggesting a single print run. So far all of the examples I have seen are all of the 17th April 1900 issue with the lowest serial number I have recorded being 17929 and the highest being 56372, with maybe ~100 notes still in existence, hopefully more. First, these numbers suggest that the earlier dates were much smaller issues, and correspond to the lower serial numbers and second; there is a group between 41037 to 41085 (from my records) which seems to correspond to all of the high-grade examples known, and about half of the total examples, which suggests a hoard of these notes was discovered at some point. Any information on such a hoard would be much appreciated, as it seems to have been distributed quite some time ago with ungraded notes appearing singly at auctions across Europe and the US. The better notes all being submitted to PMG at different times and graded 63 to 66 with most receiving a 64 – as my example did. I wonder what surprises the higher denominations will hold?

An interesting Mexican note - which reminds me that I haven't completed this set and I don't have a 50 centavos example I do have a couple of 10 pesos examples - one with only two printed signatures and one with two printed and two handwritten, as your note has. One has the stamp on the back and one does not. So it would appear that most combinations are known. Some even have a second set of vertical serial numbers.

I actually managed to get a day-off today (well working from home anyway) so thought I would also catch up with some hobbies - I can't believe my last Journal entry was in August! Work has been hectic, but in a good way, and the hangover from Lockdown finally seems to have worked its way out of the system which means everything is now full steam ahead. Even better that the main projects are very interesting and all working, but I would say that as they were my idea, albeit up to 10 years ago in some cases A further prompt was the Stacks catalogue for January arriving yesterday, lots of missing banks for 'The Impossible Set' but quite a few of the estimates are higher than the value of my whole collection, but it is great to actually see what they actually look like. I do have plenty of examples that still need adding to the Set so that is on the to-do-list, probably number 11959 (not a random number) I hope everyone gets to spend some time on their hobbies over the holidays.

Great update - there seems to be alot of modern specimen notes (and proofs/trials etc) around at the moment so it wouldn't surprise me if some dealers/collectors have started to add these. High grade issued notes, particularly already graded examples, seem to be much more difficult to find even for ones that are only a few years old. It is not just modern notes which are attracting high prices. Stack's Bowers have just had (14th August) a spectacular collection of Latin American notes up for auction including quite a few notes which are unrecorded and/or are the only known example. It just means my 'Impossible Set' is well-named and some people have more money than senseHaving said that quite a few didn't sell as the starting prices were very high, of the 8 lots that I thought may be possible, 2 went for amazing prices, 2 went for high prices and 4 didn't sell so it will be no surprise that I came away with nothing. I had asked PMG about BB numbers and they said they are looking into it - they already use specialist catalogue numbers for some countries in addition to Pick numbers so it shouldn't be that difficult to do(?). As you say Pick numbers for new issues is a major problem, not to mention all the errors and incomplete data for earlier issues means that they will probably have to use the Banknote Book at some point, not perfect either but much much better. Now that your Ukraine collection is very well advanced, and to keep adding things, you just need to include all the former Soviet states, the balkans etc etc

Very impressive example - by far the most 'stamps' I have ever seen! I wonder how PMG would grade that and do you get bonus points for each stamp Amazing proof - beautiful image of Gloria Faure, who wasn't even Mexican! If you haven't already seen it, a Coinweek article from 2014:- https://coinweek.com/mexican-banknotes-two-mexican-women-lady-reputation-beauty-queen I am still amazed that trying to collect all the Series and dates for these Mexican issues is popular. As you have the front proof for Series CA p34l/M4637Ad you probably have one that most people are not even aware of - it will need a big holder . From the many millions that were printed it looks like I don't even have a single example, I think everyone should have at least a basic denomination set so that is something else to add to the 'to-do-list' I do have a number of the most recent issues - some of which scan and some don't but then I seem to be missing an example of the 2020 100 pesos note so I have to resort to taking a picture with my phone!

They appear to have been stamped, or initialled/dated, as they were redeemed, I expect punch holes would have made the note increasing fragile over time. Having just ordered more self-adhesive printer labels I hadn't considered stickers - a quick google search suggests 1932 was the start point for such things - they could glue things like stamps though. Some of my modern Mexican notes have security features which means that they will not scan . It would good to see what has made it into your collection and whether you have had to deal with this and how??

Very good questions - my first thought was the later French Revolution issues. For the Mexican Revolution there were certainly contemporary counterfeits, particularly of the larger, more widespread issues. I can't think of any 'propaganda' notes but that doesn't mean there weren't any . Most 'notes' were text based, had portraits of historical or allegorical figures rather than the various leaders of the different factions, or symbols relating to Mexico and/or the State or City where they were produced, all of which, I suppose, would have made 'modification' difficult. As control of territory changed most notes just became worthless or were re-validated by adding a stamp or overprint - there are lots of stamps/overprints and many notes have several. There are a few advertising notes issued by various companies that looked like currency but were not. I will have to keep a look out now!

https://notes.www.collectors-society.com/registry/notes/ViewPersonalCollection.aspx?UserCollectionID=1822&Tab=list This month saw San Luis Potosi join my Mexican States set which also allowed the Banco de San Luis Potosi to fill another gap in the Impossible Set. Given that ‘Potosi’ was only added to the State name at a later date to highlight the importance of silver and gold mining to the region, it seems only appropriate to add a bank more closely tied to the famous Bolivian silver mine – the Banco de Potosi. Knowing there were some notes from other Mexican and Bolivia banks buried in my collection I decided to concentrate on these two countries for July. As a result, the Tesoreria de la Republica de Bolivia, Banco Mercantil and the Banco Central de Bolivia expanded the Bolivian group in the Set. Unlike most of the banks in the Impossible set, which no longer exist, the last two are still operating. The central bank has the sole responsibility for the Bolivian currency and the Banco Mercantil merged with the Banco Santa Cruz only a few years ago, in 2006, forming the Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz, which still plays a major role in the finance sector of Bolivia. The opposite end of banking longevity is evident by the selection of the extra Mexican banks. Like many of the short-lived private banks, which ultimately make up the Impossible Set, it is specimen notes and proofs, rather than issued notes, that are the only remaining testament to their plans. The Banco Mexicano de Comercio e Industria, a branch spin-off from what is now Deutsche Bank, was one that didn’t fare so with global events overtaking plans to issue their own notes, so the example included in the set is a specimen 1000 pesos note, and is one of my favourite designs, as it is reminiscent of the classical Three Graces of British numismatics. The other Mexican notes is a local low denomination issue by a major company, essential for day-to-day commerce during the Revolutionary period. I am delighted to have been able to add 7 new ‘banks’ to the Impossible Set during July and also begin to uncover their history and the fascinating stories of the places and people involved. So far, it appears that every new note has the potential to be the start of a bigger research project, so that is 52 projects so far !

Sounds like interesting developments with the Ukraine currency - anyone taking bets on the first Million Hyrven note? There are lots of Latin American notes of the same period with coupons attached or, as in the Brazilian example below - covering the entire back of the note! They seem to have been very literal when naming many private banks e.g. the State or City, the major shareholder or the reason for establishing the bank in the first place, as a result I love it that this note was issued by the Coffee Bank

San Luis, or Saint Louis was Louis IX, the King of France who was a devout catholic and led several crusades in the late 13th century, dying on the 8th crusade from dysentery. Pope Boniface VIII made Louis IX a saint in 1297 with his feast day being next month on August 25th. A number of places in the region are named after him, so it is not just the city and the central Mexican State in Latin America with a surprising French connection. The reason for establishing the first Spanish settlement in the state the Cerro de San Pedro and its productive gold and silver mines and this is recognised on the State coat-of-arms which depicts Saint Louis standing on a hill flanked by two silver ingots and two gold ingots. Potosi was added to the name, at a later date, in reference to the famous silver mines in Bolivia probably highlighting that Mexico had an (almost) equivalent! The note representing this bank is 1 peso example from the final issue. The front of the note, as for all denominations, displays the State coat-of-arms and on the left is a vignette of the bank headquarters building, all 1 peso notes are Series D and dated 15th February 1914. The back of the note features a central image of the Mexican coat-of-arms and, on the left, the stamps indicating the 1% duty had been paid allowing the note to be issued. San Luis Potosi therefore becomes Mexican State No. 9.

Great notes and progress on your set Very intricate designs - I wonder how many times that was done before they got it right

So the question is are they keeping the best of everything for their own collection? If they are it must be fantastic

I have a set of Onchan tokens some where - hadn't even considered notes

Same dealer for the quality and rare Latin American notes that have been appearing recently. So, and this is completely in the realm of fantasy and guesswork, but for the older notes I guess Canadians have quietly been big collectors of world notes over the years and some long-standing collections are now appearing on the market???? Plus there doesn't seem to be many specialist Canadian auctions and that probably just leaves direct sale to a dealer for many people??? That's what I tell myself, but seeing what the very rare Latin American notes went for at the cgb sale yesterday I may just have to settle for the good picture (I was hoping to get at least one of the nine but wasn't even remotely close but then the estimates from cgb weren't either Once graded I wouldn't be surprised to see some of them appear in a Platinum night at Heritage as the only known example)