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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

One-mark bill brings but a quarter


 Both sides of a 1937 German
The Collector™ Glenn Erardi The Spokesman-Review

Dear Collector,

Is this German one mark bill worth anything? I think my grandfather got it when visiting Germany before WWII.

To counter the hyperinflation that hit Germany in the 1920s (when a loaf of bread could cost a billion marks), the government issued the “Rentenmark,” a series of notes which helped stabilize the economy and replaced the emergency notes called “notgeld.” Each Rentenmark was equal to one trillion old marks. Your 1937 bill, bearing an eight digit serial number, is currently worth less than 25 cents.

Dear Collector,

I paid about $2 for this old Japanese money when on a trip to Japan. I don’t know when it was used; can you tell me how old it is?

Although it carries no date, your one yen note was issued during the war, probably in 1943. The bearded gentleman on the bill’s face is Takeuchi Sukune (1798-1861), a minister who served four consecutive emperors. His portrait is to be found on a large number of Japanese currencies. Your note, appearing to be in fine condition, is listed at $3.

Dear Collector,

Many years ago when my father died, among the things I inherited was an 1871 silver dollar. I’ve kept it in a safe deposit box since then. Before it’s passed onto my grandson, I’d like to know its value?

The enclosed photos of a “Seated Liberty” dollar show that it was struck in Philadelphia, which would put its value at $200. Comparable coins with a Carson City mark (CC) are worth considerably more because fewer dollars came from that mint.

Dear Collector,

I have a Series 1935A $1 bill with HAWAII printed on it. How much is it worth?

The U.S. issued overprinted silver certificates with brown seals that could be declared worthless in the likelihood that Japan would invade Hawaii during WWII, Similar notes were used in other theaters of war. If your bill has a unique or low serial number, it would be worth more than market value of $20.

Dear Collector,

What can you tell me about this Bank of England one pound note? Is it old, is it valuable?

Based on the Troy weight of “7,680 grains of wheat taken from the middle of the ear and well dried, enough to make 240 silver pennies,” this British monetary unit dates from the Middle Ages. At 12 ounces (20 pennyweights Troy) the Troy pound is still used today as the standard for gold and silver. Your undated note is part of the 1948-1960 issue. Employing a watermark and security thread (it would be another 40 years before the U.S. would adopt both of these counterfeiting measure), your note has a collector’s value of $6 to $10.