Paper Currency

Paper currency first made it's appearance in ancient Mesopotamia. Drafts, or paper notes stating worth, were written for people who had grain or cattle stored in certain areas. Other forms of paper currency and drafts were also seen in Japan, where drafts were based on the system of an amount of rice per year. Paper currency for most of it's history has been based, or has been a root of precious metals. Throughout the last century, paper currency has been slowly taken off of a base of precious metals and moved to credit based money, or fiat currency. Fiat money is money that is not fixed to any specific standard, nor is convertible to any set item. The collectibility of paper money has still flourished, however, like coins, with many varieties existing. For instance, gold and silver certificates, which are no longer redeemable for their intended purpose, are a thing of the past and therefore more desirable and collectible. There are also many different varieties of notes, with differences seen in signatures to designs to types. The paper money market is vast and incorporates all countries, both extinct and flourishing. Even fiat, or credit based, currency is collectible. Here at Bellevue Rare Coins, we strive to meet all collectors' needs in their search for a specific item. If you are looking for something that cannot be found on the website, please call our store to give us want lists or ask about our most recent inventory.