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Want List Currency Holders Banknotes Catalog
All prices are in US$, postage extra, to be added. I can accept payment in your own currency, provided they are
in UNC condition at face value. I'm always interested in buying banknotes and telephone cards both common
& rarity, offer what you have for sale for immediate purchace. I welcome your want list & comments.
Grading abbreviations: P(Poor), FR(Fair), G(good), VG(very good), F(fine), VF(very fine),
XF(extremely fine), AU(about uncirculated), UNC(uncirculated). Also the following
in-between grading abbreviations are used: aXF(about extremely fine) - lowercase "a" in front
of any grade means that the grade almost/nearly meets the standard. VF-XF - means that the
grade is somewhere between VF and XF. VF+ means that the grade is somehow better than VF,
but not as good as VF-XF or aXF. UNC- (uncirculated minus) means that the paper note is
uncirculated, but has some very slight fold which is so insignificant that it might as well be
called as UNC, but not AU-UNC or AU.
Other abbreviations: PNL / UNL (Pick not listed / not listed in a catalogue).
NIC - not listed in any catalogue. ND - no date printed on the banknote. NFS -
Not For Sale. Wmk - watermark. Ph - pinholes. Ch - centerhole. Et - edge tears.
St - stains. Wst - weak stains. Scs - small coffee/tea stains. Rs - rust spots. Sd -
soiled. Fx - foxing. Cnk - chunk. Cnr - corner. Nh - No holes. Nt - No tears. Obv -
obverse / front. Rev - reverse / back. Pch - punchhole. KGV - King George V.
KGVI - King George VI. QEII - Queen Elisabeth II (United Kingdom).
*BDN* - birth day notes. OVD - Optically Variable Device (hologram, kinegram).
Grading Guide - definition of terms
UNCIRCULATED: UNC A perfectly preserved note, never mishandled by the issuing authority, a bank teller, the public
or a collector. Paper is clean and firm, without discoloration. Corners are sharp and square, without any evidence of
rounding. An uncirculated note will have its original, natural sheen.
NOTE: Some note issues are most often available with slight evidence of very light counting folds which do not "break"
the paper. Also French-printed notes usually have a slight ripple in the paper. Many collectors and dealers refer to
such notes as AU-UNC.
ABOUT UNCIRCULATED: AU A virtually perfect note, with some minor handling. May show very slight evidence of bank
counting folds at a corner or one light fold through the center, but not both. An AU note can not be creased, a crease
being a hard fold which has usually "broken" the surface of the note. Paper is clean and bright with original sheen.
Corners are not rounded.
EXTREMELY FINE: EF(XF) A very attractive note, with light handling. May have a maximum of three light folds or
one strong crease. Paper is clean and bright with original sheen. Corners may show only the slightest evidence of
rounding. There may also be the slightest sign of wear where a fold meets the edge.
VERY FINE: VF An attractive note, but with more evidence of handling and wear. May have several folds both
vertically and horizontally. Paper may have minimal dirt, or possible colour smudging. Paper itself is still relatively
crisp and floppy. There are no tears into the border area, although the edges do show slight wear. Corners also show
wear but not full rounding.
FINE: F A note which shows considerable circulation, with many folds, creases and wrinkling. Paper is not excessively
dirty but may have some softness. Edges may show much handling, with minor tears in the border area. Tears may
not extend into the design. There will be no center hole because of excessive folding. Colours are clear but not very
bright. A staple hole or two would not be considered unusual wear in a Fine F note. Overall appearance is still on the
desirable side.
VERY GOOD: VG A well used note, abused but still intact. Corners may have much wear and rounding, tiny nicks, tears
may extend into the design, some discoloration may be present, staining may have occurred, and a small hole may
sometimes be seen at center from excessive folding. Staple holes and pinholes are usually present, and the note
itself is quite limp but NO pieces of the note can be missing. A note in VG condition may still have an overall not
unattractive appearance.
GOOD: G A well worn and heavily used note. Normal damage from prolonged circulation will include strong multiple
folds and creases, stains, pinholes and/or staple holes, dirt, discoloration, edge tears, center hole, rounded corners
and an overall unattractive appearance. No large pieces of the note may be missing. Graffiti is commonly seen on
notes in G condition.
FAIR: FR A totally limp, dirty and very well used note. Larger pieces may be half torn off or missing besides the
defects mentioned under the Good category. Tears will be larger, obscured portions of the note will be bigger.
POOR: PR A "rag" with severe damage because of wear, staining, pieces missing, graffiti, larger holes. May have
tape holding pieces of the note together. Trimming may have taken place to remove rough edges. A Poor note is
desirable only as a "filler" or when such a note is the only one known of that particular issue.
Standard International Grading Terminology & Abbreviations
Country / Grade     Uncirculated Extremely Fine Very Fine Fine Very Good Good Poor
USA & English     UNC EF or XF VF F VG G PR
Brazil     (1) FE (3) S (5) MBC (7) BC -8 (9) R UTGeG
China     - - - - - - -
Czechia - - - - - - -
Denmark     0 1 1+   1   1-   2   3
Finland 0 1 1+ 1 1- 2 3
France     NEUF   SUP   TTB   TB   B   TBC   BC
Germany I (BFR) II (VZGL) III (SS) IV (S) V (SG) VI (G) VII (GS)
Italy     FdS   SPL   BB   MB   B   M   -
Japan Mishiyo Goku Bihin Bihin Futsuhin n/a n/a n/a
Lithuania     (0) NP (1) YP (2) LP   (3) P   (4) LG   (5) G   (6) M
Netherlands FDC / UNC PR ZF F ZG G -
Norway     0   1   1+   1   1-   2   3
Poland - - - - - - -
Portugal     Novo   Soberbo Muito Bo -   -   -   -
Romania NC - FF F FBC BC M
Russia     -   -   -   -   -   -   -
Spain - España     Lujo   SC, IC or EBC MBC   BC   -   RC   MC
Sweden     0   1   1+   1   1-   2   -
                               
Some translations of the abbreviations of the above grading terminology
France - Republique Francaise Germany - Bundesrepublik Deutschland
NEUF - New BFR - Bankfrisch  
SUP - Superbe VZGL - Vorzüglich
TTB - Tres Tres Beau SS - Sehr Schön
TB - Tres Beau S - Schön
B - Beau SG - Sehr Gur erhalten
TBC - Tres Bien Conserve G - Gut erhalten
BC - Bien Conserve GS - Gering erhalten Schlecht
   
   
Italy - Republica Italiana Lithuania - Lietuva (Lietuvos Republika)
FdS - Fiore di Stampa NP - Nepriekaistingas
SPL - Spledido YP - Ypatingai Puikus
BB - Bellissimo LP - Labai Puikus
MB - Molto Bello P - Puikus
B - Bello LG - Labai Geras
M - Mediocre G - Geras
  M - Menkas
   
Netherlands - Nederland Spain - España
UNC - Ongecirculeerd EBC - Extraordinariamente Bien Conservada
PR - Prachtig SC - Sin Circular
ZF - Zeer Frai IC - Incirculante
F - Fraai MBC - Muy Bien Conservada
ZG - Zeer Goed BC - Bien Conservada
G - Goed RC - Regular Conservada
  MC - Mala Conservada
                               
The above grading terminology is probably incomplete. Please submit corrections and new aditions.
   
How Many Grades are there for grading world paper money?
   
Grades and in-between grades I have written down that are used by collectors and dealers all around the world:
Poor, Fair, Good, Good+, G-VG, aVG, VG, VG+, VG-F, aFine, Fine, Fine+, F-VF, aVF, VF, VF+, VF-XF,
aXF, XF(or EF), XF+, XF-AU, aAU, AU, AU+, AU-UNC, aUNC (or UNC-), UNC, Choice UNC, Gem UNC.
   
So, how many? Yes, twenty nine (29)! Should we use instead a 29 or 30 grade numerical scale? Wouldn't that
be easier to remember and use? Probably not, but as you can see to properly grade a note at least 29 grade variations
are needed and possibly more than 30. Here's a numerical grading scale which could be used internationally:
   
10 = UNC  
9 = AU-UNC  
8 = AU  
7 = XF-AU  
6 = XF  
5 = VF-XF  
4 = VF  
3 = F(ine)  
2 = VG  
1 = G(ood)  
0 = PR  
   
(use + or - signs for more precise grades)                
                               
Information sources:
International Bank Note Society Membership Directory. June 1996 Edition.
For information how to join IBNS go to my page at:
"Standard Catalogue of World Paper Money. Volume II - General Issues to 1960. Eighth Edition". By Albert
PICK, Colin R. Bruce II, Neil Shafer, George S. Cuhaj. Published by Krause Publications, Inc.