They're all “spenders” in my book but keep them if you like them. You will hear that a lot. Depends on how much money you need & how much you can hold onto. Just don't expect anyone else to get too worked up over them. Like errors, special serial # are a HIT or a miss (there's no in between). There's a chapter at the back of most decent catalogues called “SPECIAL SERIAL NUMBERS.” If you need 2nd opinions (b/c nobody has seen this # in that special # chapter), then they're likely a miss.
They're also mostly collected in UNC (or Almost UNC) unless solid radar or quite scarce (under 5, rotator etc) if modern. I've posted a 1954 $2.00 repeater in the radar thread which is borderline (EF+) but kept b/c its 60 years old (printed in the late 60's by the signatures). If it were polymer it would definitely go back in the wild.
what about these with the following birthdays?
-they seem to follow the correct format (day, month, year) at least.
I first heard the term “fancy” used sarcastically by a dealer at a show (& he wasn't too positive about it) years ago. I then saw the term “fancy” used on eBay for just about anything. Later, it appeared on a lot of US collector forums for special serial numbers (radars & repeaters). I wish collectors would use it just for birthday notes, area codes, or numbers that mean something to individual collectors. (Repeaters were not in the Special # chapter until recently). Binary # have become the next big thing.
Keep the best (if you can afford it) but don't expect a big premium for a fancy #.
-they seem to follow the correct format (day, month, year) at least.
I first heard the term “fancy” used sarcastically by a dealer at a show (& he wasn't too positive about it) years ago. I then saw the term “fancy” used on eBay for just about anything. Later, it appeared on a lot of US collector forums for special serial numbers (radars & repeaters). I wish collectors would use it just for birthday notes, area codes, or numbers that mean something to individual collectors. (Repeaters were not in the Special # chapter until recently). Binary # have become the next big thing.
Keep the best (if you can afford it) but don't expect a big premium for a fancy #.
I agreed.
What is a birthday (note) to you may (in most cases) not be my birthday and therefore it has very little meaning to me. In my opinion, such notes have very little extra premium apart from the normal selling price, and I am referring to those in UNC condition only.
Unfortunately, I am not the right person to ask. I am a very biased collector. I would not look at the note even if it is a repeater unless it is in UNC condition. If I find one through circulation, I may keep it. And if the note is in UNC condition, I would be willing to pay normal price plus a small premium extra for a repeater. I do not collect banknotes solely based on serial numbers. My aim is the type of banknotes I want, and if they come with fancy numbers, then that is just an extra bonus to me.
As I always say, condition is everything.If I see a note that I want, and if the note is listed as aUNC, I would rather look for one that is in better condition (UNC). Imagine some dealers would list a note for sale in aUNC, when you can see from the image that it is not. Here, I am only referring to modern or newly issued notes. Of course, old banknotes are another story, especially when it is rare.
