Rare Currency Collecting rare currency is currently one of the most expensive (but potentially lucrative) hobbies existing in the world today. This is why we think that more people should know about rare currency and why they are so interesting – thus, the creation of this website. So, what is rare currency? Well, if we take into consideration the components of the term “rare currency”, then it should be a logical assumption that rare currency entails money or a medium of exchange for goods and services which is thought of as uncommon or extraordinary. So perhaps the more appropriate question here would be this: what can be considered rare currency? Of course coins and paper currency such as bank notes, bank checks and the like are included in the list of currencies that are allowed to be part of the collection. The important part, however, is determining the rarity of that particular example of currency. Currency that are phased out or obsolete, even misprinted currency, are part of many rare currency collections. Rare currency are very special, not only because they are no longer common, but also because a good number of these currencies are historically significant. As far as hobbies go, rare currency collecting proves to be and interesting venture. Rare Currency Values A very important factor in the hobby that is rare currency collecting is the determination of value. Often, it is the value of your rare currency that makes or breaks the quality of your collection, and as such, there are people, experts out there who are specially trained to determine rare currency values. While we cannot claim to be true experts here, we are nevertheless going to post in this section the details that will be taken into consideration when figuring out rare currency values. The first thing you have to do is to find out how genuine your rare currency item is; it is very possible that it is a gag item or a fake. Fakes are, of course, worthless. Another thing you have to take into consideration when determining rare currency values would be the quality of your notes, checks or coins. If they have been restored or cleaned (a practice that makes the piece look better), then they are likely to have less value. Folds, tears and creases on your notes affect your rare currency value as well, so remember that they should be carefully observed – the more damaged your piece looks, the lower its value. Looking into the how common some of the “dead currency” were (were they circulated heavily or lightly?) also has effects on your rare currency values. Finally, make sure that you check the margins and centering on your rare currency; the more balanced and better-looking they are (and the larger the margins), the more valuable it is. Keep these in mind, and you'll mange to build a decent rare currency collection. Rare US Currency Rare US currency is quite popular among patriotic collectors because they are not only valuable in terms of age and rarity, but also in terms of historical significance. A good chunk of the rare US currency collections are based off of their role in the history of the United States of America. As we all know, the prints and etchings on a country's currency are reflections of what a nation stands for (thus the symbolism and tributes to influential figures and events). So much of the collections that focus on rare US currency are grouped according to the period in which they were released and circulated.